Last Year #14: Ready, set . . .

I'm feeling a bit ackish.  As in Bill the Cat:  "Aaaack pthththt!"

Three of my classrooms become visible on Blackboard at midnight, tonight.  I'm teaching three sections of interpersonal communication, using the textbook Looking Out, Looking In by Ron Adler and Russell Proctor.  (When I started teaching it the authors were Adler and Neil Towne) I'm letting my students use either the 13th or 14th edition and will need to rewrite my bi-weekly tests so that they can be answered with either edition.  I've tried less expensive textbooks over the years but have not been happy with any of them because they don't cover the appropriate material or they are written poorly.

A rundown of the various prices for the 14th Edition (all currency in $ not GBP or EU).

Amazon
Buy new hardcopy .....  113.56
Rent hardcopy .............. 71.25
Buy new for Kindle ....  138.49
Rent new for kindle ...  92.49

Used (other dealer) ...... 100.00

COCC bookstore
Buy new hardcopy ..... 184.75
Buy new ebook .......... 100.49
90 day rental ............... 59.41

Cheapest prices I found on 13th Edition: 
 At Bookbyte, 90 day rental was $20.
At ecampus.com a quarter rental was 9.57

Did there "need" to be a 14th edition?  It looks like there is a bit of new stuff about social media and mediated communication, but not that much added from the 13th addition.  I have concerns about the textbook racket.  But more on that anon.

I've spent much of today making last minute changes to the first week.  I'll be getting rid of all my written lectures this year, replacing them with short videos and prezis that will give students a brief overview of the specific parts of each chapter they should target for successful course completion.

Kake looking tough circa 1995

Sadly, the goofy "welcome" video I made this afternoon convinced me that I hate my current hair style and need to revisit my stylist.  I also saw every single year of my life in my face which is fine when my face is animated but not so good when it's at rest -- I look a bit scary then.  But as I recall, one of the first things I was told by a peer team member in 1989 was that I didn't smile enough and appeared too fierce when I was thinking.  So I guess that my intimidating gaze is not an aspect of age but of the instrument itself.

Which same instrument will be spending LOTS of time turned toward the screen this week.  Students need to introduce themselves by 5 pm Wednesday so that I can figure out who to let in from each of the 18 person wait lists.  I don't plan to let in more than two extra in each section.

On Thursday there will be wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth.

Love Students, Hate Textbooks

I love teaching speech communication!

That's what I think at the beginning of every quarter. I'm also nervous at the beginning of every quarter. Is it ironic that a speech teacher has communication apprehension? Not so much if you think about the old adage that "we teach what we need to learn." I'm also a bit anxious about teaching a class I haven't taught for over two years -- small group communication. I love the class but the material is not quite as clear cut as public speaking. And unfortunately, in the two years I've been teaching public speaking the cost of the small groups textbook I love shot skyward.

$105 for a text used for just one quarter? What's with that? Crazy! The book is very well written, well researched, filled with humor. It's an excellent text. But it doesn't need all the color pictures! It doesn't need all the ancillaries! I am really irritated. I emailed the writer last week and may post some of our email conversation later.

Anyway, back to what I love. My students! It's always fun to start with new people. I look at them and wonder, who's going to get this material? Who's going to drop? Who's life is going to be changed?

On Monday they were friendly and thoughtful as they worked on their first assignment. I have people do some instant teamwork with questions about me. This helps them get to know me and also helps them start thinking about what makes for effective team communication. This time I put in a new observation step. I divided the class in two and had some observe as others discussed. It made some folks uncomfortable (fishbowl experience) but I think it also jump started a self-awareness they will require as they learn to pay attention to their own behaviors.

Another reason I love my students is that they sometimes bring their own wonderful skills into my classes so that I can benefit. I'm thinking now about the beanie made by Scottie Hoffman, a student from last quarter. Don't worry, it wasn't a gift! I purchased it based on his persuasive speech. For two straight weeks in December after the giant snowfall I wore it every day! It's warm, it covers my ears, and the colors are lovely. Well, I bought the yarn, so thank you to Huck! for the color. And thank you to Scottie for the winter warmth. He told me he was off to the Tahoe area over the holidays to sell his beanies. I hope he had good business.