question - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 25, 2005

question

Date: Aug 25, 2005

scheduling/classroom assignment issues were worked out about two weeks ago, at least in my college. my chair said the problems were isolated to a few particular issues.

Date: Aug 25, 2005

in addition, the awful chalk boards in LAB, COB, and College Hall classrooms were replaced with what i call "magic marker" boards. thank you jesus!

Date: Aug 25, 2005

I heard that Math classes. which used to be held in Southern Hall where the department is located, were scheduled all over campus except Southern Hall.

Date: Aug 25, 2005

math classes have been taught outside of southern hall for some time, as have all of the departments that resided in southern hall.

Date: Aug 25, 2005

I understand from a friend that classes were scheduled in rooms that weren't really rooms and some classrooms had multiple classes scheduled in them, doesn't sound like a stunning success

Date: Aug 25, 2005

How about the ever changing Coast schedule for us? Good grief, I want a degree and all I continue to be is jerked around by whoever is supposed to be the chair of education. From what I hear - it's the chair of the teacher education department in Hattiesburg. Someone ought to take a close look at what is happening to not only me, but lots of other students in my same predicament.

(love the icons)

Date: Aug 25, 2005

Coast junior wrote:

Good grief . . . . all I continue to be is jerked around by whoever is supposed to be the chair of education. From what I hear - it's the chair of the teacher education department in Hattiesburg.

Good grief, coast junior, do you know who that might be? I suggest that you take a look in the USM Campus Telephone Directory.

Date: Aug 25, 2005

Charlie Brown wrote:

I suggest that you take a look in the USM Campus Telephone Directory.

Hint: look under the T's.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

in addition, the awful chalk boards in LAB, COB, and College Hall classrooms were replaced with what i call "magic marker" boards. thank you jesus!

There's nothing wrong with chalk boards. Chalk boards are the most reliable form of delivery for information. They last a really long time, require no special cleaning regimen, and require inexpensive writing media (chalk). Those who sing the praises of dry erase boards will be as irritated as the rest of us when the boards are stained and hard to read because they have been maintained poorly. Additionally, those dry erase markers are expensive and have relatively short lives.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

in addition, the awful chalk boards in LAB, COB, and College Hall classrooms were replaced with what i call "magic marker" boards. thank you jesus!

Some LAB boards were replaced. Many of the "old" ones remain. No system to it that I can see.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote: in addition, the awful chalk boards in LAB, COB, and College Hall classrooms were replaced with what i call "magic marker" boards. thank you jesus!

Technological Regression wrote: There's nothing wrong with chalk boards. Chalk boards are the most reliable form of delivery for information. They last a really long time, require no special cleaning regimen, and require inexpensive writing media (chalk). Those who sing the praises of dry erase boards will be as irritated as the rest of us when the boards are stained and hard to read because they have been maintained poorly. Additionally, those dry erase markers are expensive and have relatively short lives.

Good point, T.R. I actually had a student in class who was allergic to the fumes from the dry erase. I heard one faculty member had to inform the custodial people how to clean them with cleaning fluid instead of water. Physical plant didn't give them any training on how it must be done. Glad I left ASAP.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

i had several asthmatic students alergic to chalk dust. the problem with the chalk boards in LAB and College Hall is that chalk wouldn't write well on them. plus, don't put any technology in a classroom with chalk--i taught in a room in the business bldg. where a computer was covered with chalk dust.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

stinky cheese man wrote:

i had several asthmatic students alergic to chalk dust. the problem with the chalk boards in LAB and College Hall is that chalk wouldn't write well on them. plus, don't put any technology in a classroom with chalk--i taught in a room in the business bldg. where a computer was covered with chalk dust.

Had some of these problems also, S.C.M. The "black boards" were actually green and in very poor shape. The real black boards were excellent. Our custodial people didn't clean the erasers and that produced the dust problem. Once we got them top clean the erases daily the problem disappeared. Of course, the custodians were changed and the problem reappeared. Daily cleaning of the black boards was also a problem.

The Math department had a much better situation. Since most of their classes were in the building with the department, the chair and faculty were able to get to know the custodians (gave them Christmas bonuses, offered them food etc in the department office etc.) and had clean boards, erasers and chalk available in each classroom. We were jealous.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

For me and my students, scheduling was a nightmare. One of my classes was moved four times in two days. Students who checked the night before on one class were out of luck--it had gotten moved over night. When I got to another class, I was there with three other faculty members and students from three other classes. They still can't find a room for me to teach that class--apparently they've offered a room in Osceola McCarty Hall (impossible, since I have to get to another class 15 minutes later); I've also been given a classroom that accommodates 21 students for a group of 30 (impossible as well). Finally, I have a disabled student who NEEDS to know in advance where he is supposed to be . . . Students with difficulty getting around campus are the ones who are really suffering in all of this.

Let me make it plain that I do NOT mind about moving from building to building, nor am I concerned that all my classes meet in LAB, where my office is. But I would like to have assurances that (1) my classrooms are appropriate to what I teach; (2) that I actually HAVE a classroom prior to the beginning of the term; and (3) that students are given information about classrooms in a timely fashion--so that I can actually expect to SEE them on the first day.

EW

Date: Aug 26, 2005

One place I worked years ago got dry erase boards. The faculty figured out that erasers didn't work well on them but toilet tissue did. The chair of the department saw everyone walking around with a roll, and thought the faculty were so underpaid that they were stealing the toilet paper.

I always used to forget to bring dry markers to class. At the end of the fall semester near Xmas my undergrad class presented me with a lovely wrapped gift--one red marker and one green marker!

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Technological Regression wrote:

There's nothing wrong with chalk boards. Chalk boards are the most reliable form of delivery for information.

You got that right. Given the choice of a chalk board or a powerpoint projecter, I'll take a chalk board anytime.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Those of you who prefer chalk boards obviously never tried to write with chalk on the chalkboards in LAB and/or College Hall. As Stinky Cheese pointed out, it was impossible even when using kiddie sidewalk chalk. Be glad that you have decent chalkboards.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

sorry to say but my initial report on college hall is erroneous. i'm teaching there and for one of my classes i've got a good ole traditional chalkboard, but it's one i can write on without kiddie chalk (thanks math department!). the other room uses the dry eraser board. i snooped around and college hall is a mixed bag--so for those liking chalkboards, they're there. for those liking the other type of board, you've got them too. now if they could just figure a way to get that entered into ad astra--you could put in your preference!

Date: Aug 26, 2005

You liberal arts folks crack me up. Forget the chalkboard vs whiteboard debate. The #1 critierion for a room is the ventilation. 40% formalin trumps all!

Of course, the best classroom of all is a sturdy 16' jon boat with a reliable motor & plenty of fuel. And I bet the esteemed Dr. Dave Beckett agrees with me on that! (Maybe your ideal classroom is a classroom, but my favorites have always been rivers.)

<SIGH>

I'm about ready to go run some trot lines, or barring that, some Dendy multiple plate samplers!

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Invictus wrote:

I'm about ready to go run some trot lines, or barring that, some Dendy multiple plate samplers!

Don't you mean Denny's multiple plate samplers?

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Nice pun, but no, I meant one of these, except that only lightweights buy these fancy ones. Real lotic limnologists make their own...

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Retiree Another wrote:

Those of you who prefer chalk boards obviously never tried to write with chalk on the chalkboards in LAB and/or College Hall. As Stinky Cheese pointed out, it was impossible even when using kiddie sidewalk chalk. Be glad that you have decent chalkboards.

If the room ever has chalk in it!!!

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Short order cook wrote:

Invictus wrote: I'm about ready to go run some trot lines, or barring that, some Dendy multiple plate samplers! Don't you mean Denny's multiple plate samplers?

and trout lines???

Date: Aug 26, 2005

WE don't got trout, sugar. Trot is what the man said, and trot is what he meant.

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

WE don't got trout, sugar. Trot is what the man said, and trot is what he meant.

well, d...!

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Actually, catfish, the WE was a typo. Shudda been "We"

Date: Aug 27, 2005

Third Witch wrote:

Actually, catfish, the WE was a typo. Shudda been "We"

After not being able to tell trout from trot, I am hardly in a position to comment on WE and we. I will say that the only trot line I am familiar with is the the one from A to C with a stop at X and I didn't think Invictus was referring to dressage.

Date: Aug 27, 2005

Catfish bait wrote:

Third Witch wrote:
Actually, catfish, the WE was a typo. Shudda been "We"
After not being able to tell trout from trot, I am hardly in a position to comment on WE and we. I will say that the only trot line I am familiar with is the the one from A to C with a stop at X and I didn't think Invictus was referring to dressage.

Well, you would find out about the other kind if you consulted a dictionary:
trotline - a strong fishing line suspended over the water, with short, baited lines hung from it at intervals. Webster's New World

In other words, you can catch other things than trout--probably even catfish.

Date: Aug 27, 2005

I apologize for my ignorance, my arrogance, and my laziness in not looking it up. I now know more today than yesterday (but not as much as tomorrow!)