(no subject)
I realized that I haven't posted since I got to Pittsburgh. This is week 7 of the 12 week summer session, so I'm past the half-way mark.
When I arrived in Pittsburgh there were 4 classes I needed to complete in order to graduate. Public Speaking, Implications of Computer Technology, Indo-European Folktales, and Classical Mythology. Except for the computer science class, I didn't need to do these exact classes. If scheduling limitations required, I could have taken alternative courses that met certain general education requirements. I'm sticking with the classes listed because I've taken each of them at least once before.
I took the folktale class in 2005 as a self-paced external studies class. I finished all of the work in that year and emailed the professor to remind him to give me a grade. I didn't hear back from him then, and eventually I lost access to check my records. So, I had that course on my schedule at the beginning of the summer just in case. I did finally track him down and he submitted the paperwork needed to give me a grade. I'm fortunate that the grade was based solely on 3 exams and those exams were proctored on a computer in the testing office. Despite having an odd filing system, they still had copies of the test. The guy working there claims to remember my face, but not my name. I got a B+. The class wasn't scheduled to start until this week, so I had plenty of time to drop the class without penalty. Someday they will issue a refund check. Since I'm paying out of state tuition, it's a significant amount.
I first started taking Public Speaking in the Spring of 2003. I didn't pass it the first time because I didn't finish all of the assignments on time. I enrolled again as a self-paced course and had an incomplete for years. I even tried to fly back to Pittsburgh after I moved in 2006 to attend the infrequently held classes, but it never worked out. This class was held the first 6 weeks of the summer. Even if my work sucked, I still turned in everything and attended all of the classes. I'm waiting for my grade to show up officially, but it looks like I'm getting an A- in the class.
The schedule for the Public Speaking and Classical Mythology meshed together perfectly. They're the same time and days, just one was the first 6 weeks and the other was the second 6. My history with Classical Mythology dates back to the Summer of 2004. This was another self-paced class. I was making steady progress and I think I only had one more thing to do when I left for California. Since that wasn't the only thing I needed to do in order to graduate, it didn't get much attention. Similar to the folktale class, I enrolled in the course this summer to hold a seat. Given how long it was, and I knew she was having health problems back then, I didn't think I would be able to do something similar to the folktales class. It turns out she passed away over a year ago. Class started last Monday. The new professor sent out a reading list a week before the first class. He also doesn't seem very focused when he teaches. He also doesn't seem to understand that taking a 5 minute break means he should stop teaching.
Finally, we come to Social Implications of Computing Technology or as it's called within the department, 'the writing class'. I think the only reason this course exists and people take it is because of a university requirement that every student take a writing intensive course within their major. There are currently two, but the added a writing component to an existing course the term after I took it, so that one isn't an option for me. This class is my arch-rival second only to the Sun. I've enrolled in the class 5 times, including this time. Usually I withdraw midsemster when I realize that I'm so far behind that I can't catch up in finite time. This class is the full 12 weeks, so it isn't as rushed as one of the 6-week courses. I have two difficulties with the class. First, most of the papers require us to argue a position. For example, "Argue that "computer" or "on-line" ethics will indeed become one with "off-line" ethics or argue that they are and will remain two distinct entities." I'm not a strongly opinionated person. The other problem I have is getting into a writing mood. This is partly a corollary to the first point. How do I stretch out 'I don't care.' to be 2 pages? When I do write, I think I'm a fairly dense writer, and like Carlin (RIP), I don't do transitional material. There are 5 more weeks of that class and somehow I will get a non-failing grade.
When I arrived in Pittsburgh there were 4 classes I needed to complete in order to graduate. Public Speaking, Implications of Computer Technology, Indo-European Folktales, and Classical Mythology. Except for the computer science class, I didn't need to do these exact classes. If scheduling limitations required, I could have taken alternative courses that met certain general education requirements. I'm sticking with the classes listed because I've taken each of them at least once before.
I took the folktale class in 2005 as a self-paced external studies class. I finished all of the work in that year and emailed the professor to remind him to give me a grade. I didn't hear back from him then, and eventually I lost access to check my records. So, I had that course on my schedule at the beginning of the summer just in case. I did finally track him down and he submitted the paperwork needed to give me a grade. I'm fortunate that the grade was based solely on 3 exams and those exams were proctored on a computer in the testing office. Despite having an odd filing system, they still had copies of the test. The guy working there claims to remember my face, but not my name. I got a B+. The class wasn't scheduled to start until this week, so I had plenty of time to drop the class without penalty. Someday they will issue a refund check. Since I'm paying out of state tuition, it's a significant amount.
I first started taking Public Speaking in the Spring of 2003. I didn't pass it the first time because I didn't finish all of the assignments on time. I enrolled again as a self-paced course and had an incomplete for years. I even tried to fly back to Pittsburgh after I moved in 2006 to attend the infrequently held classes, but it never worked out. This class was held the first 6 weeks of the summer. Even if my work sucked, I still turned in everything and attended all of the classes. I'm waiting for my grade to show up officially, but it looks like I'm getting an A- in the class.
The schedule for the Public Speaking and Classical Mythology meshed together perfectly. They're the same time and days, just one was the first 6 weeks and the other was the second 6. My history with Classical Mythology dates back to the Summer of 2004. This was another self-paced class. I was making steady progress and I think I only had one more thing to do when I left for California. Since that wasn't the only thing I needed to do in order to graduate, it didn't get much attention. Similar to the folktale class, I enrolled in the course this summer to hold a seat. Given how long it was, and I knew she was having health problems back then, I didn't think I would be able to do something similar to the folktales class. It turns out she passed away over a year ago. Class started last Monday. The new professor sent out a reading list a week before the first class. He also doesn't seem very focused when he teaches. He also doesn't seem to understand that taking a 5 minute break means he should stop teaching.
Finally, we come to Social Implications of Computing Technology or as it's called within the department, 'the writing class'. I think the only reason this course exists and people take it is because of a university requirement that every student take a writing intensive course within their major. There are currently two, but the added a writing component to an existing course the term after I took it, so that one isn't an option for me. This class is my arch-rival second only to the Sun. I've enrolled in the class 5 times, including this time. Usually I withdraw midsemster when I realize that I'm so far behind that I can't catch up in finite time. This class is the full 12 weeks, so it isn't as rushed as one of the 6-week courses. I have two difficulties with the class. First, most of the papers require us to argue a position. For example, "Argue that "computer" or "on-line" ethics will indeed become one with "off-line" ethics or argue that they are and will remain two distinct entities." I'm not a strongly opinionated person. The other problem I have is getting into a writing mood. This is partly a corollary to the first point. How do I stretch out 'I don't care.' to be 2 pages? When I do write, I think I'm a fairly dense writer, and like Carlin (RIP), I don't do transitional material. There are 5 more weeks of that class and somehow I will get a non-failing grade.