A struggle to come up with a set of User Stories for my students to split during a breakout activity next week. 🏫 Stories needed to be challenging but not too challenging, and had to exemplify a variety of splitting techniques. My brain hurts but I think I have what I need.
Apple Keynote has been updated recently. They added a feature many people wanted: not only the ability to play a sideshow within a window, but also be able to see the Presenter view. They’ve done this by giving you two windows. I think I like it.
I’m really looking forward to the @jen4web class in HTML, delivered via email every day in April.
Syllabus design links
Creating a syllabus for a new course: The answer-seeking method – Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD
Spent the AM preparing for tomorrow night’s webinar. 🏫 The students will be doing Pair-Shares where they look at each other’s recent homework. I decided to force the pairing for the first round, to pair students who I think can help each other. The second round will be random.
Currently reading: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell 📚
Finished reading: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 📚I have to say I didn’t like it much. I got tired of reading about the “Ninety-eighth Western Hall.” I felt like I was missing some sort of obvious allegory but couldn’t see it. I know many others liked this book, and of course, I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Getting ready to grade a bunch of Agile Activity Backbone assignments. 🏫 This is the first step on the path toward creating Story Maps.
First shot done! I feel very lucky. Waited 3 hours in a line of cars but totally worth it, everyone at the vaccine site was super professional and friendly.
Wrapping my head around teaching the next few webinars. 🏫 The material is so intertwined that it’s hard to get things into the right order. Grateful for Zengobi Curio - Note Taking, Mind Mapping, Brainstorming which helps me to move topics around and visualize the order.
I finally figured out that I’m using Derek Sivers’ concept of the /now page page incorrectly, but I like the way I’m using it to Work Out Loud. Today was mostly in recovery from teaching last night, and attending the PMI PMExpo.
How to debrief activities during webinars? 🏫 I’ve been pleased this year with good old Zoom chat. In the past, I would ask for volunteers to answer questions after an activity. This year, I’m asking all to respond in chat (and I am quiet for 60 seconds while they think). Better!
Finished reading: Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson 📚
Currently reading: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 📚
Successfully battled the NH Vaccine website into submission and now have a vaccine appointment for Thursday
Battling the NH Vaccine website. Today is the first time those of us 50+ can sign up.
Added my Now stream at micro.blog to https://nownownow.com. I like Working Out Loud and this seems like a good way to do it.
Got Internet back, the old DSL instead of the new fiber. Decided to stick with a business account even though I’ll have to go with 250Mb symmetrical instead of 1G. It’s worth it to be able to complain more vociferously when the Internet is down. Should have fiber in weeks.
I hate it when companies fail. I was supposed to get fiber today. Didn’t work and that’s OK. But the same company turned off my DSL connection, as if the two departments were unaware of each other. No resolution in sight. I’ve done all the unconnected work I can do.
Worked through the next 8 webinars, moving from the planning map to mostly complete Keynote slides.
Finished grading the latest assignment. This assignment built on the last one, and the next one will build on this one. I wrote all of my comments in a separate document before pasting the comments into Canvas. Now I can easily compare what I recommended to what they did.
Another wonderful day skiing with my cousin in New Hampshire.
Working on Webinar 8, the mid-point of the semester. Trying out a new way to get students to write small User Stories for their Agile projects, using some ideas from Bill Wake.
Proud Auntie! I just found out that my nephew sang in the chorus on this 2021 Grammy award-winning album: Dame Ethel Smyth The Prison
I just finished reconciling bank accounts and credit cards. I’m getting ready for Toastmasters this evening, where I will be the Table Topics Master, working with the theme “New Beginnings.”