Well, I don't feel a very good teacher this week. The class lost it's unified flow, partially because of illness, then some work completion stuff. I felt I had to slow things down, that I had lost people and needed to stretch to herd everyone in. But I worry that it may not been that helpful or in some cases, too helpful, a little too much hand holding. I guess I am second guessing myself. But the great thing about teaching is that you get again the next day and try again. It may never be perfect, but you can keep trying. My plan is to use this weekend to get myself more oriented toward the next parts of the course and to keep making it better.

A disappointing result with the Wiki assignment, so far. Probably not more than half had it ready to go and fewer had their photos. Illness has been a factor all across campus, and I am feeling under the weather. Of course, this makes me less patient and understanding. But I also am disappointed with myself. How could these instructions be made better? Why is that so many seem unaware, or at least, unprepared? Now, with a test breathing down their necks, some of them are already behind. Last week all seemed stable and heading in a good direction. Now I am worried and not entirely sure of how to make things better.

Not sure why I was getting a sour attitude about this course. Totally unreasonable. This is a great group of students and we are looking at some cool and interesting stuff. Once again I remember that I love what I am doing. How could I forget :)

I am a little disappointed with myself, and with my students, about today's class and the current developments. I want to hold their attention and create engagement, but some of the stuff today was interesting to some, but probably not to all. Also not all are up to speed with the homework. The online lectures are not happening enough, and this is apparent in the quizzes and review questions. I think they are a little overwhelmed with using the website and I need to keep repeating what is expected. I hope Friday will be better.

This appears to be a great group of students. They are attentive and don't seem to mind the jokey tone or sudden tangents. I sense some slowing down of taking notes, so I will get on top of that. Also I want to be careful that the geeky, more technically-oriented students do put off those who are less so. I have to be careful about in-jokes and cultural references that work for insiders. This can created a two tiered class that can spiral down. But these are my worries - the students seem great and I predict they will make this an enjoyable class for me to teach.

Day 3: I was patient again today, letting things develop at what seems to be a natural and comfortable pace. I get so revved up during the first weeks of semester that I can lose some of the focus of a course and without enough attention to the pace, can impact the arc of a course. So, anyway, I am behind from what I had planned (such as finishing the history of pc and getting in the first quiz and starting the pirates of silicon valley film), but that's okay. Not too far behind and I am pleased with how the students are buying in. Something is going right!