2020 - E-Learning - Day 7

9:49 a.m. - I got in another bike ride this morning, and it was a beautiful morning other than the wind picking up in my face on my way back, but I just thanked the universe for some free resistance and kept on peddling.  My weight has gone down for the fourth day in a row, which is AWESOME news.  I've been trying to be more active during the day...more walks, yardwork, to-do list items...and I've been trying to lay-off the chips and sugary snacks.  I need to keep the trend going down.  I want a flatter belly and decreased love handles!

Things for today

• Possible
• Send Carmen and Cole Easter cards and gift certificates.
• Scheduled
• Write recommendation letter for Kaitlyn Taylor (still waiting response from her)
• Other
• 
  

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/8)

The coronavirus news feels like a consistent roller coaster - sometimes there is news that is "light at the end of the tunnel", and sometimes there's news that is "there will be a lot of death".  Sometimes there's news of drugs to help; sometimes there's news of not enough PPE.  

• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases. 
• 
  
• PREVIOUS
• 62942 tested; 12,262 positive; 307 deaths
• 19.6 % of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.5% of all positive cases recorded have died
• YESTERDAY
• 68,732 tested; 13,549 positive; 380 deaths
• 19.7% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.8% of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 75,066 tested;  15,078 positive; 462 deaths
• 20.0% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 3.0% of all positive cases recorded have died
• The numbers are going the wrong way.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Figure out if I'm going to get new stickers for the truck.
• Figure out how to get that oil tube piece in the HHR.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

2020 - E-Learning - Day 6

7:07 a.m. - The temps are suppose to be the warmest today than they have been in the past six months, so it's time to get out this morning for a bike ride - something I haven't done since last fall.  It's going to feel good to get out on the bike, like the ability to get outside and do things has felt great.  And since the temps are suppose to plunge after today, I'm going to get out there this morning before the 10 a.m. start to the work day.

4:45 p.m. - It's been a positive day for exercise...a bike ride and two walks!  I did eat a lot tonight, though, so I hope I didn't just ruin all that exercise work.  Dang Amber made chocolate cookies, and I had some of them too.  I'm going to head to mom and dad's to sharpen those blades, so I plan on keeping myself busy until 8 p.m. to stay away from snacks and more cookies.

I also have set a record for the most research papers scored in one day.  It's not an impressive number, but it's a start!  I also updated my English III guidelines and sent them to Mrs. Hasson for approval, so hopefully I will hear back on that soon.

6:30 p.m. - Another positive evening outside tonight.  I got the blades sharpened, put back on the decks of the push mower and riding mower, and put mowers back in the shed.  I also swept up the garage, moved the sandbags out of the truck and turned the truck around to face the road.  I would have liked to got a little gas in the truck and checked the oil and put the spare tire back, but the tire needs fixed, and I still don't have the main set of keys to the truck, so there's still time for that.  I have a visit with Chase at 7:15 tonight, and that will put a wrap on the evening.  I hope I sleep a little better tonight...maybe I'll remember to put the cats downstairs to keep them from waking me up early.

Things for today

• Possible
• Send Carmen and Cole Easter cards and gift certificates.
• Scheduled
• Write recommendation letter for Kaitlyn Taylor (still waiting response from her)
• Other
• a.m. bike ride - DONE..Wow! It felt good to get outside and pedal away some energy.  I took several deep breaths just to take in the fresh air.

Things that I NOW think about with the coronavirus. (4/7)

This is suppose to be "good news"?  I read this today about the good news about the models being wrong about the number of deaths that could be expected. "But the newest version of the model underscores just how important social distancing continues to be: It assumes that those measures -- such as closing schools and businesses -- will continue until August, and it still predicts tens of thousands of deaths."  OH MY GOODNESS - August?

• Illinois Stats
• February 29 was the first reported positive case in Illinois. 
• March 20, there were 585 reported positive cases. 
• PREVIOUS
• 58,983 tested;  11,256 positive; 274 deaths
• 19.0 % of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.4% of all positive cases recorded have died
• YESTERDAY
• 62942 tested; 12,262 positive; 307 deaths
• 19.6 % of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.5% of all positive cases recorded have died
• TODAY
• 68,732 tested; 13,549 positive; 380 deaths
• 19.7% of all tests recorded have tested positive
• 2.8% of all positive cases recorded have died
• The numbers are going the wrong way.

Things I Could Do or Need to Do In the Future

• Get the lawn tractor blades sharpened - DONE
• Tackle some "someday" topics on my Blogger list.
• Figure out if I'm going to get new stickers for the truck.
• Figure out how to get that oil tube piece in the HHR.

Things At/For School

• Continue scoring research papers.
• Finish course syllabus

Things For E-Learning

• Continue The Rest of the Story
• Still can update EnvisonMe sites

Exploring Literature in the Age Beyond Spark Notes

While the internet and social media have brought to us many, many joys like Facebook, interactive video chats, Twitter, gaming, movies, etc..., this information and communication revolution has also brought with it an endless supply of outlets and resources that basically allow students to cheat on assignments that involve literature.  In fact, students can purchase packaged essays and research papers for just a few dollars.  In my college days, paper copies of Spark Notes could be seen around campus as students attempted to speed through the process of actually reading something, but today's resources go well beyond those now ancient measures.

Teachers don't assign papers and essays and comprehension questions over great literature to be demons.  There are legitimate and important concepts and lessons and discussion items that are beneficial.  Why does Atticus Finch take the case of Tom Robinson when Finch absolutely knows there is no chance of winning?  What a great opportunity for students to discuss how civil rights progress works.  Students will tell you, though, they just don't have time to read and do school work.  And in many cases, they are correct.

That new phone they are using, the car they are driving, the nice jeans with holes in them...those things cost money.  So many students are turning to part-time jobs during the school year to provide an income.  Other students are involved in time-consuming extra-curricular activities - sports, music, FFA, and many other activities.  Then there are video-games, Netflix, Tik Tok, and other entertainment venues that simply are more fun that reading a book and writing an analysis paper.

So enters the short-cut.

For teachers, it's harder and harder to craft authentic, meaningful literature assignments designed to limit the opportunities for cheating.  I suppose an argument could be made for trying to stay ahead of the resources and select good novels that are brand new, but who is going to buy those novels?  I have been asking my school for new textbooks since I arrived, and I've consistently been told there are no funds available for those kinds of resources.  I know I would get the same answer regarding a class set of novels.

In the end, it may be pessimistic, but I've basically given in.  In fact, I went so far as to provide copies of a Spark Notes packet for a novel that we have done in class.  I figured if students were going to short cut the assignment, at least they should all have the same short-cut, because in the end, a short-cut is created by someone, and like I try to express to students, they are getting someone's perspective, someone's thoughts and views and opinions.

I was surprised at how few students actually took me up on taking the packet, but what was interesting was that students would still attempt to find other short-cuts even when provided a short-cut.

We can only do what we can do.  How students cheat or short-cut or refuse to work is ultimately beyond our control.  Our job is just to do our job and try to not stress too much over the parts of our job that we can't control.  So there is still a good place for good classic literature; we just have to understand that students may not have the same appreciation.