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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Technology plus Anxiety == Amusement for the Professor

My big lecture class is on WebCt, one of several packages that universities install to facilitate the webbing of classes--to store notes, facilitate discussions, to post announcements and syllabi, etc.  I use my webct stuff to post the slides from classes, the system automatically posts recordings of my lectures in the big class (lots of debate among professors about whether this is a good idea or not), and provide a forum for students to engage in discussion.

Tomorrow is the final exam, so  tonight they are posting all kinds of speculation about the final exam question.  It has been entertaining to follow the discussion.  Now I have more ideas for next time, although I will not be accused of lacking imagination after this one.  Insert maniacal laughter here.

8 comments:

  1. Now I understand the 'don't panic.'
    Which makes me panic more unfortunately.

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  2. State Behaviour Exam
    Question:
    Tomorrow's newspaper headline reads: 'A series of Al-qaeda attacks on Canada's arctic north has begun, endorsed by Iran, which simultaneaously announced it has secretly developed nuclear weapons. As a milk shortage becomes serious among Canadian farmers, America officially abandons support for its long-term ally, as the normal trade relationship can no longer be maintained' Discuss the international reaction to tomorrow's news.

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  3. Alright, I'll take a crack at it

    Q: What would you do if you were the leader of Iran?

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  4. So, Zombies, huh...

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  5. Better than the Arctic!

    Although it's possible somebody send the Zombies to the Arctic, you know, separation and all that...

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  6. If they went to the Artic, the problem would be mostly solved as they freeze. Makes fighting them a seasonal thing (see World War Z, a great book).

    I hope the question was clear enough that you guys could display what you know.

    Enjoy the break.

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  7. haha you are one crazy professor! do you have any courses next semester?

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  8. I personally was convinced the question would be "What is the most likely thing to kill us all in 2012? (terrorism, the environment, ethnic conflict, etc.)"

    Almost guessed it!

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