New Semester
Here we are in September, the start of the second semester here in Japan. Time to take stock.
What I did over summer
I had a writing-full break. At the start of it I finished up the revisions to one book chapter and two articles, and I submitted a proceedings paper submission or a Hong Kong conference just on time. I finally submitted the article that we've had hanging around for four years about reflection activities. We got feedback on that proceedings paper and I just finalized the revisions there, too.
I was also working on this blog. A friend of mine called it a Slog Blog, and boy I wish I'd thought of that title. I said it was about all the slog I'm slogging through, and yeah. That guy can coin terms real good.
It wasn't all slog, though. We got in some pool, some sightseeing, some beach, some temples. Kamakura is really not that far and feels like a lighter, less-crowded Kyoto. The kid speaks in really fun sentences and is easier to take around. The temperatures weren't sizzling but rain also kept us in more than usual. I even prepped my fall classes a little.
What I'll have to do this semester
For the reading/writing class, I'm revamping our AI module. Right now it just teaches our students what AI is, and why it's bad. I want to use it to prove how much better writing by themselves feels and works for learning.
I'm pairing that with my own mini poetry genre module. I had good success in other years with acrostics and cinquains. I'll also give them a Where I'm From format. I want to start the semester on a personal expression note.
(I looked for my own old university poetry but my google drive doesn't go back that far, I guess. It's all physical in a box in Spain somewhere.)
For writing, I'll have to push one of the journals to give us the copy edits they want us to do, and then I can work on the follow up articles to the podcast paper and the AI art paper. The analysis is mostly all done for those.
I'll also have to start analysis of the extensive (fluency) writing project. Coding has to be finished by the end of October if we want to trial our next writing tool before the semester's out.
Before mid-October, though, I have to submit my course proposals for the podcast media bias course and the self-portrait course I want to create and teach. They are both really exciting course proposals. I proposed three courses last year and got the one I was least excited about. This time I'll focus on these two only and hope for the best.
I have two recorded interviews to make into podcast episodes, which means recording the frames for them with my co-host who is somehow busier than me. There are a few other recordings we could put into episodes, too, though they are lower priority.
I have some social media marketing I want to do for the podcast. I have ideas!
All of the above are things that I have to do, because of obligations and connections to other people.
What I should be doing, if I can find time
Analyzing the incredible amounts of data I have for at least three of my projects that have finished. There's a "teaching media bias" project I've got stuff for, and a media journal survey to go through, and my second AI art project for which I have recorded conversations, reflections, and even art that could be analyzed. I'd really like to get some other participants to do the project, though, some who identify more as artists. But that's difficult.
I should also probably start writing a book on podcast education. That was the dream of one of my co-hosts, and if they don't do it, I will.
When I find the time.
Oh and I want to go to Hokkaido for a conference. Not sure what to present, though.
I'm sure I'll think of more things later, but for the post to be relevant, gotta post it now! Tomorrow is when classes start up again. Maybe I'll write some poetry along with my students and post it later here, too.