Accomplishments:

�         Updated IST 220, 331, 440W to subversion

�         Continued with IST 111S revision

�         Continued with IST 230 revision

o   Mostly complete

�         Continued IST 331 revision

o   Put materials in for Lesson 2 based on materials provided and my experience

o   He’s going to be pushing things to Course Committee to get the okay to move forward

o   Need to check copyright on materials

�         Continued with IST 402 revision

o   Update by faculty, that process is started

o   Met with Chris Holobar to discuss how best to place materials for use in the course

�  Going to run the reference materials that she wants through the library to see if they are available as e-books

�  Will be put in contact with someone to put together a reference page for the course instead of having students go through the e-reserve link in ANGEL.

�         Requested IST 495 site to be created. It is set up

�         Updated chart on my whiteboard

�         Attended Exploring Research-Based Principles of Learning. Here are my reflections on my blog: https://sites.psu.edu/rep129blog/2011/09/27/reflections-on-exploring-research-based-principles-of-learning/

Ongoing Projects:

�         Working on Spring 2012 courses: IST 111S, IST 230, IST 295A, IST 331, IST 402, IST 495

�         Working on Summer 2012 courses: IST 210, IST 220, IST 240, IST 250, IST 260W, IST 295B, IST 301, IST 302, IST 420, IST 421, IST 440W

�         Check for flash and video that doesn’t show up from the WC version.

�         Adding peer evals in drupal to courses. I found that to make a block I first need to create a menu item. Then I can drag the menu item in blocks to the appropriate place.

�         Working on checking courses (content isn’t always there) from WCLD to be placed in Drupal through OIDI task list

�         Updating syllabi & content in drupal

�         Started working on Captivate training in drupal

�         Signed out http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Design-Expanded-Grant-Wiggins/dp/0131950843/ref=dp_ob_image_bk to start preparations for SLOAN-C conference presentation

Immediate Decisions / Issues:

�         Need to know the steps to apply template to a course that does not have it (i.e. IST 240, 495)

�         Would like to have a better working knowledge of…

o   Kaltura

o   Jaycut

Something that I learn this week:

�         When I get a zip of content to be placed in Drupal extract at the same level as you need to update. For instance, I got a zip of all of 220 to add to drupal from John. After extracting the overall folder, I was able to add the extracted items (even though they were zips) into the subversion files

�         Do not add the .xxx files to subversion

�         If an image doesn’t show up in drupal add a forward slash (/) before sites in the code

�         When having code issues, copy the code that works in a text editor and compare with a similar one that doesn’t. Easier to isolate the problem.

Back Burner:

�         Gaming, Simulations, and Virtual World Research Committee

�         Need to read the book Understanding by Design: http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Design-Expanded-Grant-Wiggins/dp/0131950843/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

Days off / Conferences:     

�         Oct 10 Simeon Parent-Teacher Conf (PM)

�         Understanding and Valuing Diversity on Oct 18: Understanding and Valuing Diversity  DIV 008

�         March 24 TLT Symposium – thinking of using this opportunity to practice session for Madison Conference

�         Conference Nov. 8-11 – SLOAN-C Conference: http://sloanconsortium.org/aln

Running:

I’ve been running since I got back from vacation back in July. It’s been great to get back into some type of shape. Along with all of the commuting by bike and the outdoor activities with the kids, I’m feeling good but a bit tired. On Monday, I started the last of 3 running programs. I found the 1st 8-week program to be tough intentionally. It really jarred me, and I needed that. The last 4-week program was much more lax. I found myself getting off track with it. This program is 8 weeks and involves some different types of runs and cross training. I’m thinking that this will help me get back on track for my 10K run on Thanksgiving Day. What I found this week is that I’m tired. But I did a lot of easy running and had one day that I ran a pace run. The pace run was in the low 9 min/mile time frame. I’d love to be able to run the 10K in around 9 minute miles. I’m feeling positive about being able to do that with this program.

Leaving the Past in the Past:

Having hit my 40th birthday has me thinking about my past and how to move forward with my life. I don’t know how to honestly say this without being somewhat offensive to those I grew up with, but I still have a ton of animosity for the community where I grew up and lived. If you are someone who went to my high school, you might disagree with me or have ill feelings toward me and what I have to write here. Honestly, I just want to move on. I need to just say it and hope that this will allow me to lose this. I wished away most of my early life and couldn’t wait to escape. In fact, earlier this year, I deleted my high school from my profile on facebook. In my mind, the only reason that I went there was because it was compulsory, and I lived there. If I had my choice, I would have left a long time ago. So what was so bad about where I grew up? I must preface this with the fact that I’m close to my family and have not problems that are the result of abuse, etc. But in my heart, I can’t stand going back to my home area. First, there is no diversity there at all. It is all sameness. As a youngster, I heard the “n” word more than I’d like to remember. Being a child of a mixed culture marriage, I had many uncomfortable moments that were the result of hearing some of my close friends say awful and unspeakable things. The hardest thing for me to get past is the memory of the treatment of one of a black female student who came to our school when I was a sophomore in high school. I remember watching 3 guys who would scream at her going down the hallway. I could have said something but was too scared that me and my family might have retribution from it. I could go on and on about scenarios that happened. I’d like to think that I’m a better person now, but with the angst that I still feel, I’m not sure. I’d like to forgive and forget. But it’s been a hard process, and I’m not sure that I’m any better today about this than I am today. Hopefully by putting this out here, I can start the process of getting past all of this.