I got a message from a University professor over the Christmas break and didn’t mind!

Does it hurt to read an email?  I came across a posting from one of my classmates on a social media site: 

No more than 5 minutes after reading this post my cellphone let me know I had just received a new email.  It was from my PE teacher.  What a coincidence.  This wasn’t the same teacher my classmate was referring to in her post however, it was a different one.

What was so important that couldn’t wait until next semester resumed?  It was an email wishing us a good break, but also passing on useful writing workshops that the University Library was hosting in the new year but needed to be registered for in advance.  As I had been inspired by my Language and Literacy Professor and a workshop presenter from the 2011 Uvic EDSA conference, to develop my writing further I decided to at the least, read what was being offered.  I’m glad I did now.  I choose two workshops to attend.  The first: “Introduction to Academic Writing” and the second “Pre-Writing Strategies”, both offered in the library and for free.  Seeing as it was my PE Prof. who sent the information and recommended we attend, he’ll surely be fine when I email him back “during Christmas break” to tell him that I will not be able to attend his class on January 19th as the first workshop runs during this time.

[side note: I have just started using Google Calendar and am loving it.  I mention this now only because while I was typing the above I actually stopped and entered the workshops dates it into my Google Calendar, which also updated my cellphone calendar. NEAT!]

Technically last day of first term is December 19th.  Today is the 17th.  So to be fair, these messages were sent within the term.  I don’t usually consider a term finished until I have received  my grades.

Since receiving the email from  my PE Prof about writing workshops I have received an email from my Music Prof..  Apparently she was unaware of the grading policies prior to starting the course and judging by the tone of her email well over 48% of the class had been assigned a grade within the A range; a supposed violation of the University’s Grading Policy.  The grades that were submitted were rejected for review and she is now in the process of re-assessing our grades.  I really don’t understand.  I wanted to read this policy myself but for some reason cannot find it detailed out on the University website.  I may also be missing it.  I think I’ll let this issue fly for now until I see my grades.  I should restate that comment as I know how I did, I just want to make sure my Prof”s think the same!

So back to what really made me stop here and blog.  Two more days before we can officially say the term is over, so If you got them (to our Prof’s: and by “them” I mean EMAILS) send them quick, time is ticking.

*Psssst: if you still have an email after the 19th you’d think I’d like, I’ll still read it! don’t tell!

I think that raps things up for this blog post.

My Journey Begins right here right now!

It’s hard to believe that only six months ago I had decided to pull the plug on technology in my life.  I had been living up to that point for two years cellphone free and rarely used my Facebook account anymore as it was becoming frustrating with all the redesigns it would go through.  I had never really fully committed to the social media scene as it emerged so turning my back to it was pretty easy.  I have to admit though, it was tempting and I did make a lame half-hearted attempt with Facebook but it was short lived.  I was with the group that believed we already knew who we wanted to know and would stay in contact with them in our own way, no need to make anything public; a very sheltered view as I am starting to realize and also a very stubborn one to overcome.

Then,  well…. School started and I was sitting in my EDCI 336 (Information and Communication Technologies in Education) class (still cellphone free I must add).  We discussed Twitter.  Something that I had never really thought about too closely and never in a million years would have guessed would be applicable in Education.  Turns out I was wrong.  About 2 weeks into school it was my birthday and from my parents I received a BlackBerry cellphone, go figure.  Apparently I had been plugged back in,but not on my own accord.  So to say the least being in a Technology course right off to bat and receiving a cell phone gave me reason to “2nd chance” technology.

It was a rocky start plugging back in.  I had decided to jump right in and start relying on my Black Berry as my planner for school, to communicate via text with family and friends, and of course give Twitter a real chance.  I never really liked the whole idea of Twitter.  In a conversation ON Twitter with @MrWejr we briefly and causally discussed how Ashton Kutcher and the Kardashians ruined the Twitter scene for many with their daily rants about their Hollywood lifestyle.  BUT THEN, as I was updating my Twitter application on my Black Berry, I somehow entered my password incorrectly 10 times ( I know…. Don’t ask) and I received a non-avoidable “wiping data” message that even pulling the battery and SIM card would not interrupt.  It was all gone.  Was I ever ticked.  Murphy’s Law: I would start to rely and get bitten. I contemplated unplugging again however my brother asked me “did you back it up?”. Yet  another aspect of technology that daunted me, learning how to back everything up, learning how to synchronize etc etc.  So to answer my brothers question  “NO I did not do my due diligence” and so gave myself a 3rd chance.

I am now familiar with backing up my cell phone, and while I was on that bandwagon I also learned how to backup my computer too.  Little steps but non the less they are steps in the right direction.

I plan on continuing with this Blog as a way of reflecting on my thoughts and my progression from pre-service to full-service.  What’s next?  There’s just so much information out there.  I have so many ideas and not enough fingers to put them to “Blog”.

Thank you for reading my post.  Feel free to comment if you’d like.

-That is all, until next time!