Hello Class-
First off I hope this message finds you well, and you aren’t too stressed by all of the craziness right now.
Now, as you are probably already aware, per Governor Cuomo’s comments earlier today, CUNY is implementing a transition to distance education for the remainder of the semester, following a five-day instructional recess for pedagogical retooling that will begin tomorrow, March 12.
Here is what this means for our class.
- We are ALL on instructional recess, so now classes will be held online or in person beginning a week from today: Thursday the 19th.
- This course will be moving into a fully online model. We have this week to figure out how best to do that. Our class is in good shape for this, as we are already on Openlab. I am currently working out how to move the in person instruction to the Openlab so that you can still get the most out of this course. For your part, please modify your mindset to consider how you can best learn in an online environment. Your activity on this site, both with me and with each other is going to need to step up. if we do this well, it should still feel like we are all in this together.
- As students, you should make sure during this week that you have access to everything you require to complete your coursework. Make sure you have access to software, computers, scanners and tablets etc. so that you can continue to meet course expectations. If you need to borrow a tablet from the COMD CLTS you still can as campus is still open.
- Your MIDTERM PROJECT is now DUE next week, not today. I will explain changes to the Midterm in a separate thread. Please do spend this week working on it.
- The Quiz on the reading will be posted during this week. I will not require it to be completed until the 19th.
- Lastly, please be open with your questions. There are NO stupid questions except the ones you fail to ask. Please post any questions in this thread so that we can ALL participate in the same conversation.
I know its it’s hard for all of us to stay positive and focused right now. I get it. We will get through this by staying calm and working together. For my own part, I am aleiviating my tension with animal videos. Feel free to share your favorites. 🙂
Please COMMENT or post a “therapy link” below so that I know you all got the message.
-Professor Woolley
Thanks Professor for the update. As I come down from my “weird-feeling” high, questions will come to me.
And if no one has every played Mirror’s Edge, NOWS YOUR CHANCE!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y05wiQQbFLU&t=450s
We should just all Skype together and just have a live drawing class or something
Class I am OPEN to suggestions on how YOU want this course to run so that we can keep our NETWORK going! Nicole… lets think about that further.
I’m okay with using Skype or Slack as a form of communication. Also video chat, when it’s necessary. For instance, if anyone is struggling, then we can hold a video chat where anyone can join from the class and be able to share where they need help with.
I haven’t had experience with Slack But I know the INK CLUB has used it extensively. I’ve had another suggestion of using ZOOM. I do like the idea of being aable to interact with each other and our guest speakers in real time.
We did used Slack previously, but moved to Discord as everyone found that easier to communicate with (plus we all already had it). Seconded for using ZOOM as a way to check in and video chat.
So to be clear my more tech savvy students (hey i know what i do well and what you guys are the experts in) are suggestion DISCHORD / and ZOOM as good possibilities?
I never tried ZOOM before, I mean I feel like most people have discord and it does sound a lot easier to use. Someone could make a server for the group and it could be easier too.
ZOOM is pretty easy to use and can be used cross platform. IF everyone is onboard for using Discord, I can go ahead and made a server. But let’s just see what everyone else thinks first.
Discord has video chat also but unsure about how much the quality will be affected with our class size. I like this idea
Zoom is basically made for meetings and has features to let us chime in and such, so I believe its the better option for virtual meet ups.
I’ve never heard of ZOOM before, but I’m willing to give it a shot :0
I also have discord, but I’ve ghosted it for 2 years because of notification issues
I’m going to go ahead and check ZOOM out as a good option.
Aslo Rachel I really liked your suggestion on sending a FOR REAL mailer out . Even better if we can make it low cost enough to send mail to each other? Maybe not for THIS project as I am concerned that I might over burden you all financially. But I am thinking it would be fun and let isolating.
Yeah? Maybe getting the snail mail would be cute and exciting to get :00
Maybe we do something like a randomizer on who gets someone’s promotion and send out maybe 3?? So we have more room for critique and growth?
I haven’t sent snail mail in years. Being that we’re all within the same city, it wouldn’t take long to deliver would it? And we shouldn’t completely discard doing possible meet ups as a class too. Of course, after all the crazy dies down.
I PERSONALLY LOVE SNAIL MAIL. And it really wouldn’t be that crazy to make it happen.
Also yes Julie, – once the craziness dies down that sounds like a great idea.
Rachel- That randomizer sounds like a fantastic idea. Maybe we can each get 3 names to MAIL our project too? PLUS ONE FOR THE PROF? I’ll mail you guys something back too. 🙂
ALSO… Can I just say how inspiring and wonderful it is to be teaching a group of students so adaptable and willing to work together in a crisis, to not only make it manageable but actually in a way to produce an even more engaging course?
You guys are amazing.
Damn professor, you trying to make your students blush out here in this crisis? I just wanted to say it worked LOL. but I mean us as students feel like we should be able to adapt to situations that comes our way.
You make it so much easier by listening and meeting us half way!
SAME SAME you guys!
I already miss this class so much, all the funs, laughs. I enjoy having this class talking as “background music” while I am working on my project. so sad we couldn’t meet anymore 🙁
Yeah. Me too. It was fun to have these class meetings.
Guys I feel the same way.
We are going to figure out a way together to get as close as we can to the feeling of this course but we will just do it online. Boom. Really … I’m already getting the feeling of being in the room with yall NOW LOL!
Thank you for the update.
I never tried Zoom but I do have discord.
Also, i will register for ZOOM if we are committing it.
never heard of zoom but im here to try it lol
I accept and will try everything that is work for us!
I would also register for ZOOM.
Good Evening guys, I read all the comments today, I definitely wanna thank you guys for all of what you do. I will download Xoom or Discord so I can continue with all the work on this project. Keep me updated w/ what you guys are doing, be safe everyone.
OK… I’ve been checking out ZOOM. Looks Like it can work really well.
We are going to use it as one of the class tools. Go ahead and register for it and we can all get ourselves familiar with it, before next Thursday.
I was thinking we can keep chats going for “LAB TIME” So we aren’t all working alone?
Also we can screen share our work for crits in smaller working groups on ZOOM.
Rachel suggested a randomizer… is there one you want to suggest? It would be a good tool for quickly creating smaller discussions or project groups.
https://www.randomlists.com/team-generator
i download zoom as well.
I’m not too comfortable with the change, but I’m looking forward to making things work out. I’m ok with using Zoom and I also have discord as well.
To cope with the situation I’ve been watching Monk (tv series), playing games, and drawing of course.
MONK huh? thats great brain candy!