Fare thee well
Filed Under YuperStars
As many of my colleagues and friends know, I have accepted a new position as Language Coordinator in the Hispanic Studies department at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. I will be doing many of the same things I’ve done been doing here at Lab (managing a lab space, training faculty, helping students, etc.), but I’ll also be teaching Spanish classes, working with student tutors, and supporting adjunct instructors. It’ll be great!
My time at Lab has been extremely fulfilling and I am grateful to all of the faculty in the World Language Department as well as the staff in Information Systems who have supported me professionally and personally. You’ve been so good to me.
As a final note, I’d like to say how grateful I am for this blog, for this means of communication. By committing to write every school day, this blog has helped me to stay on track. “What will I tell my blog readers? What success is happening or can I make happen that will be blog-worthy? What new technology should I share on the blog?” It’s a simple thing, but this blog really has been a motivating factor for me. I think blogs can be that for anybody in their life. It has been a wonderful medium for Mme Schneider during her year off. In my own personal life, I write songs in Garage Band *just so* I can post them on the blog. It makes me feel good, however feeble my efforts, to have created something original, even if it’s unpolished, unfinished, imperfect.
So, as my parting advice to students, teachers, and people everywhere: Just make something. Make something yours. Make something original. Daily if you can. Make it yourself, even if it’s small. And do it regularly, at least once a week. I believe a lot of good results from honoring our creative powers in small ways, whenever we can. Suspend judgment and get into the zone. You’ll feel better about life if you do.
Teachers, whenever possible, allow students to tap into their own creative powers as they learn new materials. It will make for deeper and more meaningful learning experiences.
Look for new blog entries by a new Technology Integration Specialist in coming months. I’m confident that whoever replaces me will have many success stories to share as well.
Thanks again to all and have a great summer!
-Allison
