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EDWARD JACOBS

Category: Living

  • Friday, July 24, 2020

    Busy, filled days this past week, and more ahead.

    Torrential rains last night brought some welcome relief to a few weeks of very dry days; browning yards seeing changes in color this morning. Nice to see some green return to Greenville, for sure.

    My need to get in about 8 more hours in the yard cleaning out a long-neglected area may have to wait until next week, though, as I’m very much feeling time pressing in as the start of classes is only a few weeks away.

    Thankfully, it seems that the poison ivy reaction i got in cleaning the yard last weekend may be subsiding (thank you prednisone). As we’re looking forward to a dive this Sunday, and I really don’t want to spend a hot day in a wetsuit with p.i. beneath, I hope this trend continues. We’re excited to get out on a boat and dive with a new group, as it’s been since Kau’i (March) that we’ve done so. We did get in a few trips to the quarry a few weeks ago, just Pattie and I, but this will be the sort of trip we really like. It’s on a small boat–a 6-pack, as they say–on what they call an ‘inshore’ dive which, i believe, means about an hour from shore. The offshore dives go out considerably further; am sure we’ll do those in due time, but want to start with half-day, rather than full-day, to get to know these folks. W’ve a really good feeling about them so far–the folks who run these charters–and look forward to meeting their ‘regulars’ this weekend.

    As Jackson approaches the big 1st Birthday milestone next week, we sent along a stepstool-table/desk, and just got these pictures of him posed appropriately… Wish we could get them down here for good!

    Ready for some serious work
    Let’s get cookin’!

    Yesterday felt like getting over a serious hump in the design of one of my classes. Have now recorded a little video-presentation using powerpoint and posting on the LMS, have created a quiz, a few discussions, and learned to used the grading system. Progress in getting comfortable with the system’s capabilities, and increasingly focusing on the organization of, and presentation of materials. If all goes well, by the end of today I’ll have the first 3-4 ‘classes’ complete. So much of the class is ‘flipped,’ i.e., the teaching materials are online, ready for students to engage at their own pace, that this is really an interesting change in approach. If the plan holds (ha!) our synchronous meeting times will be spent working on assignments together, answering questions, etc. The best laid plans…

  • Thursday, July 23, 2020

    Coming to our senses? No, not really.

    https://www.chronicle.com/article/colleges-hoped-for-an-in-person-fall-now-the-dream-is-crumbling

    But after nearly 40 years of teaching, I am finding this process of converting /adjusting/reconsidering how to teach in this remote format all very interesting and, in its way, reinvigorating.

    This process is enormously time-intensive; working on learning the software, using familiar programs in new and different ways and, of course, re-designing how materials are delivered, how students can access materials and lessons at any time–not at a set meeting time. Every “class” takes days to organize at this point, but I’m sure I’ll get more efficient at this process.

    These days are all about designing these classes now, as things begin August 10 and that’s looming large. Writing has been back-burnered at this moment, which is frustrating. I’ve three projects I’m chomping to get into, but when August 10 arrives, I’ve got to have things together for these students, and I want that to be a strong experience for them.

    Off to it.

  • Tuesday, July 21, 2020

    Echoes from history, ringing loud and clear. None of them good.

    Trump’s Occupation of American Cities Has Begun (Michelle Goldberg, NYTimes)

    The politicization of everything is his only approach to anything, and he’s proven so clearly that his toolbox is only adept at making any situation worse than it was when he got involved.

    Last few days have been filled with ups and downs; lots of yard work that has led to good-looking areas of the yard, and healthy-looking poison ivy on my arms. Nothing serious, but have to clear it up before diving this weekend. Really don’t want to experience p.i. under a wetsuit in this very hot weather. (Yesterday reached 103 here; certainly better on the water, though.)

    Starting to walk more confidently now. Just love this.

    Sunday night brought a bizarre incident of vandalism, as best we/police can tell targeted for someone else…awaking at 1am to a ‘boom’ and the sound of the water hose turning on. Someone smashed two windows on Pattie’s car (in our carport), put the garden hose in it and turned on the water.

    I got there within about 2 minutes, turned off the water, but lots of damage, of course. Yesterday was lots of cleanup, dealing with insurance, getting rental car, dropping car off for repair, etc. Just a useless, costly hassle.

    But on Sunday also received rough cut recording of Six Humors, another of ACA‘s Shelter Recordings Project. This recording comes a month of e-conversations and a zoom-rehearsal with violinist Anton Miller. He’s fabulous, and really poured all of his technique, creativity, and interpretive aplomb into this hard piece, and I’m again thrilled with the results coming from this project. I expect it’ll become available within a month, and Anton mentions creating a video, as well, so I’m curious to see what he’s come up with!

    And given that the start of school is just a few weeks away (August 10 is first class), and that I’m teaching everything online/remotely, the past days have also been filled with creating content and learning alot about our delivery system–Canvas. This system is certainly a huge improvement over our previous system, offering so many more possibilities and flexibility. But, of course, that all means a bit more learning to be done. Trying not to overdo things–the job is to get the course together, not to master every one of the system’s capabilities–but it still all takes time. Very glad to know (from personal experience) that Canvas’s 24-7 support is really 24-7, and is very helpful.

    Lots to do, and today will be a better one that yesterday. Hoping it is for you, too.

  • Sunday, July 19, 2020

    https://www.ncvoter.org/absentee-ballots/
    Take action

  • Friday, July 17, 2020

    and more good news:

    http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2020/07/17/pw-exclusive-unc-system-exploring-worst-case-scenario-budget-cuts-of-up-to-50/

  • Thursday, July 16, 2020

    A man on the move

    We’re up in VA, helping Christine and Stephen with their move from an apt in the Neon District of Norfolk, to a lovely, big house in Suffolk. It’s about 20-25′ drive, and really feels like a trip to the ‘burbs. All has gone very smoothly, and certainly we hope they’ll enjoy this quieter and more roomy locale.

    Delighted to get a video call this morning from Joe and Jackson–always such a fabulous way to start the day! During the call he was displaying lots of his mobility, crawling all over, then to the walker and taking in much of the house. Though the clip above wasn’t from this morning, it’s a good indication of how he’s spending lots of his days of late. Could just eat this little guy up!

  • Tuesday, July 14, 2020

    The past few days very interesting.

    Having taken steps to have all my teaching moved online, we got fast ‘net for Surf City, to allow for online teaching from here. Was pretty easy, though pretty expensive.

    As I read the news these days, I’m reminded of a graphic I posted some time ago, of the 1918 flu pandemic’s progress. The “we are here” was a comparison to the coronavirus state-of-things in mid-March. I guess we’d now be comparing to about October on this graphic–well into the “second wave.” Though i’m not convinced we ever got past the first wave.

    The daily news about the coronavirus, with intense surges, outbreaks, hospital and equipment strains, feels and sounds very much like the news from mid-March. Nothing’s getting better. And this administration is just so completely inept, so completely unwilling to look facts in the eye, that it seems to me the only way through this will be for everyone to get sick. And sick again, and again, until a vaccine is developed.

    And now there’s an insistence that schools return to ‘normal’ in the fall. “It’s just not a big deal for kids, and they’re not big transmitters of this virus.” May be so, but kids aren’t the only ones in schools, now, are they?

    So I’ve taken the administrative steps to move everything online. I’ve no doubt that everyone will be teaching fully online before the term’s two weeks old, but this way i’ll not put myself, Pattie, her mom, etc., in peril; and i’ll know from day 1 that i won’t have to make a ‘pivot’ in teaching approach.

    I’ve begun the process of developing one of my courses into an online format. It’s a class i’ve taught since 1994. And i’m learning alot, re-examining lots of things, and hopefully honing the messages…

  • Saturday, July 11, 2020

    A fascinating exchange via open letters: the first in Harper’s

    “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate“

    and a response, “A More Specific Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in The Objective.

    As far as I can tell, TheObjective is quite new, perhaps just beginning in early June. Some very interesting writing in there, and i’ll keep them on my newsfeed, for sure.

  • Friday, July 10, 2020

    Jackson keeping Ellie comfortable as tropical storm Fay approaches

    I’ve spent too much time over these past weeks/months reading about the state of coronavirus/Covid-19’s spread in the U.S. Some areas/states/commumities have handled this wisely, though at tremendous economic cost, and seem to have brought themselves to some level of control over this pandemic’s spread. Other areas were too impatient–too overwhelmed by economic pressures and protests by people who simply will not think of the public health–and are now experiencing massive outbreaks. The daily numbers are beyond frightening. North Carolina is, like other states, experiencing a surge in case numbers.

    We are, as a global community, absolutely in uncharted territory, even with history’s lessons from past pandemics. Countries who seemed to have brought things under control are now locking down again, as new outbreaks emerge. So many of the current surges are, it seems, emerging from the actions of younger folks, driven by their instincts to socialize and live a life of the risk-driven teenager’s perspective. I was no different at that age–likely much worse, in truth.

    Like other businesses, universities across the country are handling the ‘return to classes’ with the same inconsistency as our country’s politicians. Public health issues are clear and undeniable. The cost of not bringing in student room & board fees, the potential cost of reducing tuition costs b/c everything’s taught online; these costs are just too much for institutions to bear, it seems.

    Nonetheless, the California State University system made the decision, some time ago now, to shift completely online for the coming semester. For students and faculty, this means a lengthy period of adjusting to this reality, a lengthy period to properly prepare for this paradigm. They have no question about how they’ll teach an learn, and they can get to work creating the best situation possible.

    Now, other schools are doing the same; Harvard, MIT, are the big names making this commitment, but there are many smaller institutions doing the same. With every day that passes without that shift being made, students and faculty are forced to plan for two scenarios–in person, remote–and the likelihood that a shift from one scene to another will happen mid-term.

    At ECU, the Board of Trustees just shifted their regular meeting to a ‘virtual’ one, citing the state of the pandemic’s spread in the state, etc., as a concern that would keep them from coming together in person. This relatively small group finds it too risky to come together, yet they continue to insist that 30,000 students, 2,000 faculty, and thousands more staff should convene on campus on August 7. Who can see any sense in this? Surely it’s just a matter of days for the powers-that-be to taken sensible action.

    I took the step today to request that my in-person courses be taught fully online. I dreaded the phone call, afraid of the resistance from my Director, the process of dealing with HR, the paperwork, documentation, etc. There are some horror stories out there (Chronicle of Higher Education) of faculty being denied such permission, even noting high-risk categories, child- and elder-care situations, etc., and ECU isn’t known for its ease in dealing with problems.

    One phone call to the School of Music’s Director, a very easy, friendly exchange about our mutual concerns for the state of things…and it’s done. And i’m feeling some relief at the clarity of knowing all will be delivered online, and that my job will be to continue that preparatory focus. I’m certainly much more comfortable teaching in person, and would prefer to do so under normal conditions, but i’ll learn a lot through this process, and am looking forward to what’s ahead. One of the first steps will be to write a note to my students, and i’ll get to that this weekend.

  • Wednesday, July 8, 2020

    First words?