Does that seem too weird? I hope it doesn't seem too weird!
Here's what happened: over the summer, I started a new folktale project that is basically like the kinds of projects students do for this class. I had so much fun working on it during the summer, and I was worried that I would not have time to keep working on it during the school year... but hey: I can be a student in the class, and use the class to help me find time for storytelling every week, right? So, that's the plan, and I'll be using this blog to do work for the class. Unofficially, ha ha.
And now... the introduction:
As a (kind of) student in the class, I'm writing an Introduction post too! :-)
My name is Laura (and really, please call me Laura; that's how I'll be signing all my emails to you), and I've been teaching online courses at OU since 2002. Yes, that is a LONG time. My goal is to finally have been teaching long enough that students will show up for a class and I will be able to say that I have been teaching online for as long as you have been alive, ha ha. I've got just a few years to go to make my goal!
I also have to say that I really LOVE my job. Teaching these classes has been a way for me to keep on learning so much every semester thanks to all the ideas and questions that each new roster of students brings to the class.
The traveling instructor
In the post title, I called myself a traveling online instructor. Here's what I mean: when my husband retired from OU (he was in the Meteorology School), we came to North Carolina to take care of his elderly father. So I now live in North Carolina.
But my father is also quite elderly, and very ill, and he lives in Texas; he's actually on hospice care now. So, I go back-and-forth between Texas and North Carolina a lot, trying to spend at least one week there in Texas every month.
I feel very lucky that I've been able to keep my OU job and carry on teaching even while I have faced these difficult family situations. I'm guessing there might be some of you who are enrolled in this online class because you are also trying to manage some really big demands on your personal time while still pursuing your education. I am glad whenever online classes can make a positive difference that way!
Colorado!
In addition to all the back-and-forth-and-back-and-forth to Texas, I also went to Colorado this summer... for InstructureCon. That is the conference where Canvas users from all over the world get together to share ideas about Canvas. I will confess to being a very enthusiastic supporter of Canvas (I have a blog at the Canvas Community if you are curious), and it was an incredible opportunity to meet my online collaborators in person at this event in Keystone, Colorado. Here's me: I won a T-shirt; Matthew did the T-shirt art (photo at Matthew's Twitter):
#InstCon just literally shot a guy out of a cannon! 100% commitment to the carnival theme. pic.twitter.com/p7guspdvy6— Michelle Lebsock (@Michelle_Renai) July 27, 2018
Plus there were circus performers. I took this photo of the performers; they were amazing:
As you'll see in this course, I actually don't use Canvas in the usual way (you use the Gradebook on your own but I don't record anything there; the content is in everybody's blogs instead of the Canvas pages; we will have discussions in the blogs instead of the Discussion Board, etc.) — and that's one of the things I like about Canvas: you can use it in really different ways. Plus, it has pandas. :-)
So, that's a quick introduction to me at the end of this summer, excited to see what this Fall semester will be like. I hope you will enjoy the class!
P.S. I just made a Tech Tip for learning how to use Padlet, with a Padlet where we can all post pictures of our pets. So here are the pictures I posted:
Sounds like a very cool trip to Colorado. I have my own reasons for doing online courses only at OU. The main reason being I live in the Tulsa area but really wanted a degree from OU and I work full-time (at least I did, now I'm job hunting again!).
ReplyDeleteHmmm, not sure if that comment went through (Blogger had a hiccup)... but just to say: GOOD THOUGHTS on the job hunt. And Tulsa is wonderful: you'll see I share stuff from the Gilcrease Museum in the class announcements. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like I ran into your introduction post Professor Gibbs! It’s nice to get to know you more from seeing your posts when we’re also posting. I’m very sorry to hear about all of the troubles you’ve had to go through with your family. This year has been very difficult for me when it comes to family crisis so my heart does go out to your struggles. You seem to be managing it well and are very open and pleasant with us which I appreciate greatly! I can’t wait to see more from you and learn from your methods as we continue this semester c:
ReplyDeleteHi Laura!
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda funny, but I spent all of last semester in Indian Epics with the picture in my head of what you looked like without ever seeing you. You look exactly as cheerful as I imagined :)
Colorado looks amazing! I've never been there, but it's on the shortlist for upcoming vacation options. The mountains are beautiful! And you got to see a man shooting out of a cannon too. Wow.
Your enrollment in this class is actually not weird at all; piggybacking a folktale project on an online mythology course is a great combo, and I'm eager to read the stories you'll be creating.
Looking forward to a fantastic semester!
Hi again Laura, I don't think its weird you are participating in the class - I think its great! It reminds me of how PE teachers or coaches never participated in the activities they made us do in middle school, and I was always so annoyed because it seemed they forgot how hard the work is sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYou are close to your goal! There is a girl in my physics class who was born in the year 2000! I was kind of shocked by it, being born in 1994 its so crazy to me to see people born then sitting next to me in college (but 24 isn't that old, I know).
I had no idea you weren't actually in Oklahoma till I read this post. I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you are facing and I understand them. As far as taking this class goes I am taking it because I need 15 hours for a scholarship but taking those last 3 hours in class seems like too much to bare (for now/for me).
I never used D2L, but I hear canvas is much better than the old platform. So far I don't have any complaints about it. I really hope to visit Colorado myself one day.
I love your obvious passion for this class and I agree that it is really cool that you have so much lee-way in terms of where you are and where you go while teaching for the University of Oklahoma. Colorado is such a beautiful place. I've been once, when my mom and step-dad took my sister and I up there on a trip and they ended up eloping there! Anyway, I like the format of this class a lot. While I have had some trouble blogging and writing stories because those are things I don't normally do, I can already feel myself improving. Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteFrom reading this and all of the other e-mails you've sent out, both personal and class-wide, it is easy to tell that you're passionate about this course and the material and that makes it so much easier to set aside time for a class as a student. Being able to feed off the energy of the instructor for a particular class often helps me perform better and makes everything more enjoyable, so thank you!
ReplyDeleteThose views at your conference look incredible! I'd be interested to know the locations of a couple of those scenic shots. Who knows, maybe I could swing by there on my way to visiting the family I have in Colorado!
Hi Laura! It sounds like your trip to Colorado was a blast! I really enjoy the way you utilize canvas and other sources for everyone to blog and receive grades. Going back and forth from North Carolina to Texas must be hard, but I am really glad you get to visit your dad and father-in-law so frequently! I have really enjoyed blogging so far and that is something I never thought I would get into, so thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteHi, Laura! I enjoyed reading your introduction and learning more about you! It is so hard to get to know people from online classes, so I feel like reading other people's introduction posts is a great way to get closer with your classmates. I have also been to Colorado twice and I absolutely love it! My favorite place there is Breckenridge, and I hope to go back soon! I adore cold weather, so Colorado is a great place for me. I am very happy for you that you are able to visit your dad so often, and I hope you are still able to visit him a lot in the future. Have a great semester, and good luck in your classes!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura!
ReplyDeleteI love that not only are you teaching this course but you are also participating in it with us! I've spent a decent amount of time in school (couldn't figure out a major for almost four years!) and I think the class becomes much more fun when you can tell that the instructor loves what they are doing. I think that is what makes this class so great! I hope you have a great semester and that all of your classes go well!
Hi Laura! I think it's so cool that you went to Colorado for the summer. I've always wanted to go but I have never traveled West of Oklahoma before. It's pretty amazing that you have been teaching this online class for 18 years now because that takes a lot of commitment. I'm also happy that you supported Canvas because I really like using it!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI first wanted to say that I think it's really cool that you've decided to participate in your own course as a student. I'm honestly not sure how you have enough time to be both a student and an instructor! I thought it was really interesting to read about InstructureCon. A conference about an online educational platform is one of the last places I would have expected someone to be launched out of a cannon.
Hi, Laura! I really enjoyed getting to read your introduction post and learn more about you! Most professors don't tend to tell their students much about their personal lives, so they are never really able to develop a person to person bond instead of just a teacher to student bond. I also think it is amazing that you are participating in your own class just as if you were a student! I have never heard of a professor doing that, but I can definitely see the benefit! I was also surprised to learn that you have been teaching this class for 18 years, seeing as how 18 years ago I was only three years old. I really admire you as a professor and I look forward to continuing this class for the semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Laura! It is very motivating to think that if you can do everything that it requires to be an instructor for this course, while also doing the assignments with us at the same time, I shouldn't be overwhelmed by the amount of work that we do for this class! I will say that as a senior, I am really buckling down on stuff that pertains specifically to my career following graduation, and I put all of my other classes before indian epics and myth and folklore, but that is not to say that these two classes aren't helping me in my career just as much. I found that after starting your courses, I have become much more growth-oriented. While I used to immediately feel a little down on myself or offended when I received constructive feedback, I now welcome it with an open mind and I have also learned how to give it to others much more productively. You have also inspired me to find a story in anything I do. It wasn't until your course that I realized that my future career as a lawyer truly depends on my ability to best tell a story to those who are listening to my case. I have already seen an improvement in my writing skills and my ability to convey my ideas and I can't wait to see how your courses help me evolve over the entire semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Laura! It’s so awesome that you have such a passion for your job! I think that’s what many of us aspire to have, and you’ve obviously hit the jackpot. That area of Colorado looks absolutely gorgeous! My family used to visit Colorado every year and I love the mountains. I’m seriously considering living there after college because it’s so beautiful. I also had no idea that there was a conference for Canvas, but I love it! The panda motif is adorable! Good luck with your folklore project!
ReplyDeleteHey Laura! I love the concept of continuously learning new things. That's been a motivation and struggle of mine at school. I love the learning aspect, but not so much the grading aspect. However, I've really enjoyed how you structure your class and allow students to set their own plan and pace. I've also heard of many types of cons, but never one for instructors. Picturing everyone gathering to share ideas made me really happy this morning. I'll also need to check out Padlet and see what all has been posted. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura!
ReplyDeleteThe random generator finally brought me to your introduction. I figured it would eventually but it took me up till week 10 to get here! I, like so many of the other people here. am very impressed by the fact that you are doing the coursework for the class as well, I think it probably reminds you of how we as students need to juggle a lot of different things every week, and not a lot of professors seem to understand that. That Canvas convention sounds a lot more exciting and interesting than I could ever have imagined.
Have a great week,
Anna Margret
Hey Laura,
ReplyDeleteWhen your name popped up on the randomizer I suddenly remembered you mentioning somewhere that you were doing all the assignments along with us, and realized I hadn't seen anything about it since. I am glad that I have wondered here via randomizer because it is great to get to know you a little better after conversing with you via email. I think that your enthusiasm for teach and canvas (and the pandas!) is great! I find it amazing that you have been teaching online since 2002. I was born in '97 so you really are only a few years from teaching online as long as your students have been alive. How has that experience been? I know that the internet and computing in generally have changed a lot over time. I feel like you probably have a unique perspective of that as an educator. I would love to hear more about it! Great to meet you!
-Cat
Hello Laura!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy I finally landed on your page! I had no clue you were not living in Oklahoma. I think it is funny because I remember at one point I was going to try to visit office hours. Unless I had a plane ticket that would not have worked. Lol!
I am sorry to hear about your father. I hope things turn around for him. I think it is pretty cool that you are apart on the canvas team! This website has been a great outlet to students and teachers. Man, lets talk about dedication! The guy shooting out of the cannon?! I would never! I am impressed.
Hello there! It sounds like you had a pretty fun and interesting summer! I went to Colorado just last summer for my mom and stepdad's wedding, where I was actually the person who performed the ceremony! I got ordained a few years ago through Universal Life Church, so I was able to perform the ceremony for their big day! Aside from that, it's a very fun place to go!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura!
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing that your aren't actually here in Norman! I understand the traveling to take care of your loved ones and hope all is well. This is really neat to have you in the class as well and makes it more relatable that you are doing the work too. The Canvas conference seemed like it was fun and the venue looked absolutely beautiful!
Hi Laura!
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool how you are so invested in your teaching and your students. I love how you did your introduction with so many pictures! It is really great that you are still able to teach via online at OU even though you are in so many different places. It makes me wonder how you balance everything so well! Hope you love North Carolina! It is one of my favorite places.
Hi Laura! I thought I had commented before but apparently not... SO here I am! I am so sorry to hear about both your fathers - that is really terribly unfortunate. At least your job is so flexible you can spend a week a month with him!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is it to think about I was 4 years old when you started teaching here at OU? That means you definitely have the Pro status on teaching and Mythology! You have been doing this for a long time and I hope you don't stop! You are an awesome teacher, I wish I could take all my classes with you!
Hey Laura! It is funny how I am just now commenting on your personal blog as my last assignment!! As a religious studies major, I am so thankful for professors like you that teach in ways that open up the minds of students. So many students are seemingly stuck in a bubble of math, science, or whatever their degree is... but never get to really experience the world through reading and writing expressively. (Also, for the record, my sorority's mascot is also a panda so I am really feeling the love haha!!)
ReplyDeleteHey Laura! I just got to read another one of your stories, thanks to the randomizer, and it was great! It was the one about the Cat and her Husband-Mouse. Like I said over there, you have completely sold me on chain tales now. Which is impressive, considering I didn't care for them at the beginning of the semester. So go ahead and get me on the pre-order list for that chain tale book! Hopping over here to your introduction, the panda pictures were a joy as always and I feel like I didn't notice the circus performer picture previously, so I wondered if that was new. Thanks for encouraging/suggesting that I write a final story for my story book. I am really looking forward to wrapping up that project with a strong finish. Let's just hope that I have some time tomorrow to crank it out. Well, I hope that everything is going well over there in North Carolina! Happy Dead Week!
ReplyDelete