I never thought I would be doing this...
First I was a researcher.
Then I became a professor (still doing research) which required me to become something of an entertainer (an extremely unnatural state for me. I am not an actor by anyone's definition.)
Now I am becoming a movie writer/director/editor/producer. (A slightly less unnatural state?)
I am still learning how to make videos and the process is slow and painful, but with moments of humor. Today, I started laughing so loud that my colleague in the office next door came over to see what was up. I had three electronic devices running simultaneously with so many windows open on my main computer that I lost count and couldn't find what I wanted, which started me laughing when I realized I was looking at the wrong machine.
However, my students are really watching my crude, incredibly boring first attempts at videos, and they say that really find them helpful. So I'm making some effort to make them less a droning lecture and more a conversation. When I record the voice track, I always think of Bob Ross, the painter who had a show on PBS during my choldhood. I was glued to the TV when he was on. Something about the way he talked as he worked was almost hypnotic. I can still remember some of what I saw/heard despite no special effects, music or changes in sound volume. It was just Bob, a canvas, some brushes and a palette of paint. So I try to channel him as I speak, hoping to equally engage my students. I'm not really sure how it comes across, but one student did tell be it seemed like I was just talking to her as I did in my office, so maybe it's working.
Thanks, Bob. Who knew you were going to impact my life this way so many years later.
Then I became a professor (still doing research) which required me to become something of an entertainer (an extremely unnatural state for me. I am not an actor by anyone's definition.)
Now I am becoming a movie writer/director/editor/producer. (A slightly less unnatural state?)
I am still learning how to make videos and the process is slow and painful, but with moments of humor. Today, I started laughing so loud that my colleague in the office next door came over to see what was up. I had three electronic devices running simultaneously with so many windows open on my main computer that I lost count and couldn't find what I wanted, which started me laughing when I realized I was looking at the wrong machine.
However, my students are really watching my crude, incredibly boring first attempts at videos, and they say that really find them helpful. So I'm making some effort to make them less a droning lecture and more a conversation. When I record the voice track, I always think of Bob Ross, the painter who had a show on PBS during my choldhood. I was glued to the TV when he was on. Something about the way he talked as he worked was almost hypnotic. I can still remember some of what I saw/heard despite no special effects, music or changes in sound volume. It was just Bob, a canvas, some brushes and a palette of paint. So I try to channel him as I speak, hoping to equally engage my students. I'm not really sure how it comes across, but one student did tell be it seemed like I was just talking to her as I did in my office, so maybe it's working.
Thanks, Bob. Who knew you were going to impact my life this way so many years later.