More tales from Textbook Land (And still long...)

[Chromatix]

The one tip I can give, from the receiving end of teaching, is to make sure you know how to use your presentation equipment. Thoroughly.

After my first lecture with a particular professor, I had to go up to the front and explain to him how to switch his laptop's DOS box to full-screen, so that the (old) projector would get a bold, readable font to display instead of the very lightweight Courier New. The DOS box was what he was using to demonstrate how to run the Java compiler.

I hear of people not even knowing how to convince their laptop to put a signal on the external video port. So if in doubt, take your stuff and your laptop's manual to an empty lecture theatre and try it out. If it might be needed, make sure you can access the network and any fileservers from there too.

[South Texan]

If I hadn't seen the feminine products strewn all over after having been used as paintbrushes to redecorate the stall, I'd think a murder had been committed.

I wasn't touching THAT mess period.

I cannot be the only one who spotted that pun.

[lupo pazzesco]

I'll toss in a nifty pat on the back in sympathy for you guys, but considering that I'm "the opposition" it may not be welcome.

I picked up my books today at two different college bookstores (one campus doesn't carry the books for the other ) and managed to get done in record time. There were only a few people in line when I showed up, but the folx at the counters all had that vaguely harried look to them.

School starts Monday. Here's hoping I didn't make a mistake taking Photoshop AND a class on Illustrator at the same time...


Eric the Grey

If you were in and out in record time, didn't throw any SC or EW fits, and weren't an intentional pain in the ass, you are not the opposition. No, my friend, you are an ally, thus any pats on the back are welcome. As are offer of lottery winnings, booze, cookies, and tea. I'm just throwing that out there...

Classes start for us on Monday, too, then I switch to both taking classes AND working long hours at the store to get through the Seasonal Rush. That's going to be FUN. I'm taking a class on Sociological Theory, one on Criminology, and one on Drug Policy and Society. And as of now, only one class has fulfilled a book request. I have no idea what the other two are using. This does not bode well for the semester, methinks...

To be fair, we always moan about the stupid people procreating all over the place. At least this one knows her limitations and appears to be doing something about it.

True. At least during school, that is...I'm both curious and scared to see what her ideals will be after graduation though...

I cannot be the only one who spotted that pun.

<Snickers> Hopefully not, but I was wondering when someone was going to pick up on/mention it. Dorky of me, I know, but I found it amusing to throw in there...

[depechemodefan]

I cannot be the only one who spotted that pun.

Hee, I noticed it too. But that was horrible. Carrie!

"So, I told him we couldn't have sex until I--holy shit! This book is $230!! What? Oh, no, I told him we couldn't have sex because I didn't want to catch a SUV while I'm in school."

sex until what? And I hope that $230 book is a dictionary, or else a set of "Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary, 39th ed."

SC: What do you mean it's only $54!! I have a quote that says you'll give me $97!!....
CW: Oh, she was pretty lucky. I bought the last of our inventory need and gave her $42.

I'm surprised she didnt' come back to you and demanded $54 instead of $42. But yeah, Karma was a beautiful thing that time.

[lupo pazzesco]

And I hope that $230 book is a dictionary, or else a set of "Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary, 39th ed."

Actually it was a package deal for Organic chemistry that had the textbook, solutions manual, organic model kit, and online access codes for the quiz website all wrapped into one. It saves about $50 compared to buying all the components separately, and saves about $15 if you're buying the components used. We worked a deal with the publishers since the book itself runs about $150 new/$120 used and the students had to buy model kits and access codes on top of that. We do try to help where we can.

I'm surprised she didnt' come back to you and demanded $54 instead of $42. But yeah, Karma was a beautiful thing that time.

I would have LOVED to see her try. I would've have cheerfully told her with a smile that other people had sold their books back and took the $54, so as our inventory goes up, the prices for the books go down. And gee, wasn't it too bad she didn't come earlier to--oh wait, she DID. Darn, guess she really showed me, didn't she?

[EmiOfBrie]

<from a customer in the aisles, talking on her cell phone> "So, I told him we couldn't have sex until I--holy shit! This book is $230!! What? Oh, no, I told him we couldn't have sex because I didn't want to catch a SUV while I'm in school." (please gods, never let her procreate...)

...calling the year 2505....calling the year 2505.....one of your denizens has escaped into the 21st Century

[AdminAssistant]

Out of curiosity, what class?

Introduction to Theatre

[lupo pazzesco]

Introduction to Theatre

Theatre? Oi...yeah, I've gotten a few students taking that class wanting to know why in the world books are required for that class at all! It's theatre, for crying out loud!!, etc etc...

Of course when I point out the books are plays by Arthur Miller, Shakespeare, etc, they get real quiet. It's so cute watching their faces when they realize they aren't as clever as they thought they were, thinking theatre must mean NO books to read!

[Eric the Grey]

If you were in and out in record time, didn't throw any SC or EW fits, and weren't an intentional pain in the ass, you are not the opposition. No, my friend, you are an ally, thus any pats on the back are welcome. As are offer of lottery winnings, booze, cookies, and tea. I'm just throwing that out there...

I might have to do that for our bookstore crew. They do go through hell this time of year. Perhaps some cookies, assuming I can find a decent tin of them.

No, I've worked that side of the CS counter in the distant past, and the lesson has never left me. I know what it's like to deal with the general public.


Eric the Grey

[Buglady]

Can we have a "Back to School" group therapy session?

I like this idea!! I'm in the final year of a second degree right now, and I spent pretty much all of last semester muttering to myself, "I must not slap my group project mates, I must not slap my group project mates...". Bunch of whining idiots, all of them, and illiterate to boot... I'm sorry, HOW is it possible to be in third year college and still have no idea how to use (a) the library catalog system, (b) GOOGLE, or (c) the index in the back of your own textbook?

Not to mention the ones who failed to show up for any group meetings, didn't do their work, and wondered why I was being so meeeeean to them. Um, I'm on a scholarship, dumbass. I have to get good grades to keep said scholarship. That entitles me to be snarky to people whose actions have an impact on my grades. Unless you want to fork over some cash. I promise I will be very nice to you and hold your hand and not call you a dumbass ever again if you give me $500.

Good luck with the first class

[lupo pazzesco]

I might have to do that for our bookstore crew. They do go through hell this time of year. Perhaps some cookies, assuming I can find a decent tin of them.


Eric the Grey

Awww, that'd be sweet!!

Now...if I could only get someone in my city to be just as sweet to the staff at my store. Especially me...

[AdminAssistant]

Of course when I point out the books are plays by Arthur Miller, Shakespeare, etc, they get real quiet. It's so cute watching their faces when they realize they aren't as clever as they thought they were, thinking theatre must mean NO books to read!

We (the main professor, other GTA's, and myself) are making them fork over about $70 for an anthology. But we're not requiring any other textbooks. Personally, I think they're doing too much reading, as I'd rather spend more class time explaining and doing exercises than having to go over the plot of Desire Under the Elms for the 14th bajillionth time. (Of the many O'Neill plays out there, did they HAVE to pick the creepiest one?) But, as this is my first semester teaching this class, I had no say in the planning of it. I've taught a similar class before, and only required Oedipus Rex and The Cursed Scottish Play (the one with the witches).

These guys are reading 1-2 plays a week. Granted they're mostly contemporary (and thus relatively short) plays. AND, there's no Shakespeare. No Moliere. And of all of the extant Ancient Greek drama, they're reading Medea. It boggles my mind.

Sorry to threadjack! (The classes went...okay, btw. The students mostly just stared at me. I will make them talk!!!)

[KhirasHY]

Introduction to Theatre

Introduction to Theatre...with Freshmen.

...



........



You poor, poor teacher...

[earl colby pottinger]

Well!

Bitching about bathrooms WARNING! GROSSNESS AHEAD!!
And my mom who had 5 boys still keeps wishing she had a girl, claiming she would by nice and tidy compare to me and my brothers.

The Woes of Web Orders
Another of clicking repeatedly to make the web go faster.

Choice overheard comments that made me giggle
'My Fair Lady' strikes again. Plus at the price of gas, who wants to catch a SUV now-a-days.

Buybacks...How I Loathe Thee...
$97 ... $54 ... $42 ... If she only complain a little bit more she might have got it down to $35. Or just a day later and she could have ended up with $0.00. To think she could have got twice the money if she had come back when she originally should have.

Note to Self
Men were not made to giggle, neither were women either come to think of it. Giggling is for teenage girls only.

[AdminAssistant]

Introduction to Theatre...with Freshmen. You poor, poor teacher...

Aw, thanks.

It's not so bad, and there's actually a pretty decent mix of freshmen, sophomores....and a few procrastinative juniors . And most of them have actually seen plays before, so that's a plus.