1. I got to play Kinect for the first time last night.
2. I'm listening to Modest Mouse (they always make me smile).
3. I got some new followers, which always feels nice (even if I do know them, and coerced them into following).
I'm once again, you guessed it, sitting in the computer lab at my University. I'm supposed to be standing at a white board right now, pontificating about the normal curve, and how Correlation does not equal Causation, and other things that will help them do well on homework and tests, but I'm sitting in the room, alone.
At the first of the semester, I went to each of their classes and said, "Hey, I'm Paul. I'm going to be doing study sessions to help with this semester's class. If you come, I promise it will help. I was thinking I would do them on Friday, at 11:30 in room LA 026. By a show of hands, how many of you would be able to make that?" I cannot tell you how many hands I saw. I thought room LA 026 would not be able to hold the number of students who would come. But, as stated above, no one comes most days.
Now, this doesn't really bother me. I don't mind having an hour to check my facebook and write my blog, but I feel bad for the students. Chances are, many of them did poorly on this last test. Chances are, I could help them do better. Chances are, they don't have classes on Friday and would rather get a C in the class than give up their early weekends. I guess I really can't blame them.
Anyway, I called Steve and he said that my hard drive should show up today, and that my computer might be fixed today. Then I might actually be able to find time to read everyone else's blog, and my numbers might improve. I might even be able to start writing things that were a little more exciting. Oh well.
Have a nice day.
Paul, you know people are idiots most time. You put free Help in front of them, they don't take it. Kind of like that old saying: you can drag a thirsty horse to a watering hole but you can't make it drink.
ReplyDeleteHope your computer is going to be okay
Have a nice too my friend!
I had the same problem with I was a TA at University. Ultimately students have to take responsibility for their own education. You've done your part. They need to do theirs.
ReplyDeleteEven if it does suck that most of them aren't taking advantage of the help you're offering, the few that do will be better off for it & that makes it worth it.
ReplyDeleteThat's good news on the computer, though.
I would come.
ReplyDeleteAll you can do if offer the help. It's up to them to take you up on it.
ReplyDeleteGood news about your computer. Thankyou for taking the time you have to come and comment on my page. Really appreciated. :)
Hope you have a great weekend.
I had the same thing happen to me and felt the same way - bad for the students. Then a few came and I think it caught on that they really got a lot from my sessions because I almost had too many by the end of the semester. Quite interesting what makes folks come and what makes them choose to not.
ReplyDeleteAh well, it's a shame that people often don't live up to their commitments - even the ones they make to themselves! Still, the opportunity is there!
ReplyDeleteI would show up too.
ReplyDeleteGreat news about the computer.
How is Kinect? Haven't tried it yet.
I hate the whole curve thing...
ReplyDelete@AG
ReplyDeleteSo true. It really doesn't bother me too much, I just care to much about people, ya know?
@Haven
So you konw exactly what I'm talking about. My wife said that same thing as you though: It's their responsibility. I was there, ready to go.
@Vinny
Yeah. I had a huge group last semester, and they all said it helped a ton. We'll see if any catch on this time around.
@dbs
Thanks guy. I know you would. :)
@Sprite
I feel like I've neglected all of you for so long. Little golden posts that I just didn't have time to look at. I really did like your hammer time thing though. It gave me a good chuckle.
@Shelby
Yeah, that's how it was last semester for me. Slow at first, and then word got out. I'm not sure if it will this semester though. We'll see. :)
@MM
Sad but true (about not living up to commitments of course).
@AC
I know you would guy, and I thank you for it. The kinect is baller. So fun. There are still a few glitches, but I would say awesome technology, that really is VERY cool for how far we've come. Def something to try. My biggest issue with it is that it takes a lot of space to play it...
@Missy
Why? It's really pretty interesting. In fact, tomorrow's post will be partially about it. I think the more you understand it, the cooler it becomes.