Every student that was previously instructed in-person by my company has been on Zoom for over a year. While we’re making plans to transition our learning centers back to in-person come this Fall, we have also spun off a permanently-virtual version of these courses. Instead of letting this year be a fluke when considering curriculum and instruction, there has been significant time devoted to improving the experience of student learning in this online face-to-face environment. Here are some reflections on what I’ve learned over that time, both in teaching last year and helping adapt our curriculum.
Continue reading “Virtual Classrooms”Evidence-Based Education Part 1
We have had several sets of federal education standards, the most recent being Common Core, but the focus has been on what, not how. These standards outline a broad set of topics and skills students should accumulate, but very little guidance on how to go about it.
Continue reading “Evidence-Based Education Part 1”The Smell of Home
After a couple weeks in Minnesota, I’m back in my San Francisco apartment.
A key indicator of your living situation is taking a big whiff of the air the moment you walk in the door, because that’s what other people smell when they arrive.
I’m happy to report the smell was pleasant and flowery, as well as comfortable and familiar. Erin and I have discussed what we refer to as “home” these days, and this apartment certainly has a lot going for it.
Starting on Disc Golf
I’ve wanted to try disc golf for a couple of years. I discovered it through the fantastic YouTube channel JomezPro, and have been into the sport since. However, I never took the time to buy and mess around with discs, or check with my friends for people to play with.
While in Washington, I discovered that a few friends of mine have started playing. That was enough to encourage me to give it a go while back in Minnesota. It’s already been a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to working on it even more once I’m back in California.
Some Family Time
Now that my fiancée and I are both vaccinated, we were able to fly back to Minnesota for two weeks. I don’t anticipate having a lot of time to write blog posts, since the little bit of free time I have outside friends and family will likely be spent editing Comical Start. So I’ll leave this short post as a reflection of my excitement and luck that I get to be back home for a little while. I hope others get the same opportunity soon.
A Week of Washington
This past week I was lucky to head out to Washington state with some friends. We had all gotten vaccinated (and had mainly been working from home), so it was a nice opportunity to just spend time together and go exploring.
We went to various beaches, went on a whale-watching excursion, checked out the Hoh Rain Forest, and got up early to see a meteor shower (my first ever).
Most importantly, I discovered my phone could take a timelapse. So, I made this nifty video.
First Game of 2021
With a vaccine in my veins and a cautious reopening of Oracle Park in San Francisco, I was able to attend my first baseball game of 2021, and my first MLB game in nearly 2 years. It was an absolute privilege and joy to do something that has always meant so much to me over the years. I’m incredibly lucky to live just a short walk from this absolutely fantastic stadium.
The setup at Oracle is actually quite nice. They’re open for 22% capacity, but so far they’ve only achieved about 10% capacity after opening day. I’d say there were no more than 3 people within 10-15 feet of me throughout the game, with everyone else more than 20 feet away. Masks were required unless actively eating, and luckily everyone around me followed those rules. You’re required to have a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination prior to entering a game, so I felt very safe throughout.
It gave me the ability to appreciate seeing the stadium for the first time. I love when the concourse doesn’t allow a full view of the field, so as you walk through the breezeway, the shade recedes and the incomparable atmosphere of a baseball game hits full force. I’m looking forward to spending any spare evening (and the occasional afternoon) at games this year.
Evidence-Based Education Part 0
As part of a new role at work, I’ve been researching aspects of funding for education in the United States. A recurring phrase is evidence-based interactions. I’m going to explore some of the facets of this idea, from its definitions and origins, to potential ramifications of its increasing usage in education.
This post is a placeholder for those future investigations. The educational landscape is of interest to many people, and learning about some of the guiding tenets can help explain a lot of the situations states are finding themselves in. I’m excited to be diving in.