So I’d like to kick this off by saying that faculty development day always sucks, if only because of the timing. It’s always right before the semester starts, when there are about a billion more important things you should do with your time. Even the most riveting presentation will seem too long, because dammit, there are syllabuses to write. So with that in mind, I’d like to tell you about a highlight of our staff development day.
It was a 2+hour department meeting. It kicked off with something called “helium stick.” Everyone at each table had to hold on to a very long stick using one finger (need I say which finger I used?) Our goal was to work collectively to lower it to the ground. That sucked up about 15 minutes that I’ll never get back.
For the next 2 hours we watched a series of YouTube videos about the 21st century student. It told us a bunch of stuff we already freaking know, like the fact that students like to text and surf the web and post scandalous things on myspace. Doy.
We’d go around from table to table, sharing what we learned. At one point, a colleague nearly broke down and said in a quivering voice that all of this technology was all well and good, “but if students can’t connect on a deeper level with literature…I believe it will be the death of our civilization.” Ugh. The skeptic at our table summed it all up when he advised everyone to “buy gold and get a panic room.”
To watch the lamest of the videos we watched, click here and try not to sympathy cringe for these poor students who are acting like idiots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBeWEgvGm2Y
Now you know why I need a sabbatical.
PS: Spring development day was no better. I attended an “Emergency Preparedness Meeting.” Earthquake tips? No. It was hosted by the police department and told us what to do if we have a “shooter” on campus.
“…buy gold and get a panic room.” Heh, I couldn’t have said it better myself….
For the record, I love your blog. Keep up the outstanding work with your compassionate crankiness, and perhaps someday Mr. Stewart will hire you as his chief education consultant? 
Comment by MS — September 11, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
Thanks for the fan mail…I’m really trying to get this blog going so I can retire and not be cranky any more.
Comment by Cranky — September 12, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
I cannot believe that people think power teaching is not completely stupid. I can’t see learning anything in one of those classes, even if I COULD take the professor treating me like a 4-year-old seriously. The fact that there are so many positive reviews for his videos fills me with a peculiar mixture of sadness and disgust.
Comment by Nellodee — September 30, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
Can I just say you have to be the most out there and awesome teacher I have ever had? I knew it would be a fun class just from the syallabus, I mean who really thinks that, come on? but yeah I’ve been sitting here laughing throughout this entire time I have been reading, a well-spent 10 minutes =D
Comment by cassandra — May 7, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
I think that video gave me an aneurism. I felt a little piece of my brain die, and a little piece of my soul was sucked away with each clappy-happy-dappy engagement. I am sorry you had to watch that for professional development, but not quite as sad as I am that I watched it too.
Comment by Sara — December 5, 2009 @ 10:42 am