Apologies for the long silence (March, really?).
The semester and the academic year is over, so herewith is a reminder/self-reminder about this year, including what to repeat & what not to repeat, as I look forward.
1. I poured my heart into my teaching this year. I came up with new assignments and added new readings. I tried to reach out to every student every week and definitely did so in the online classes. I figured out how to temper my rage at AI, which does not seem to bother anyone else at Northern Clime, and came up with a solution (hint: better rubrics) that addresses the issue without sending me on a pointless quest to report it to admin.
I met with students. I was on campus and in my office all day multiple days each week. I went to student presentations and supported them. In other words, I showed up.
I loved it. I loved the reading and the teaching and the students. No regrets about that part.
Would I do it again? Not on your tintype.
Did my students appreciate it, and did I gain new majors for us? Absolutely yes. Did I give them the best experience that I could devise? Yes.
Did the administration value it? What do you think? As you may have heard about a billion times, teaching at an R1 is not highly valued unless I am "reflecting on my teaching" in a public performance countable for annual review metrics. I am not the boasting type, so what I heard back was "yeah, okay, teaching--well, moving on, what did you publish?"
Don't love something that doesn't love you back.
2. I didn't publish much because see #1 above. Will I change my priorities next year? You bet.
3. For the first time since I gave up administration, I had an extremely heavy service load this year, which counts for the width of a gnat's eyebrow in terms of value.
So now, having Learned My Lesson, I'm looking forward to the summer and the next year with energy and hope.
1. The big archival project I've been working on for years: moving forward more swiftly to completion.
2. The book project: I hope the same.
Here's wishing everyone a happy and productive summer!
