Almost, almost at the end of the semester, and now there's no more work to set, it's all about supporting outcomes, getting our students across safely to the end of their studies, and celebrating their achievements. I'm interested in novel ways to do this, please let us know if you have any fun ideas.
In our course, we'll be running an online digital festival (which I'll link to next week) of student work from the course. We'll spend our final session looking through the work and hopefully raising a cup of coffee (it's a morning session) to mark the occasion.
Last week we launched a new scheme (see the box below) inviting artists to work with us on an upcoming project in the Global Languages & Cultures Room. There's another week to apply, so please share with students and colleagues (just CMU and Pittsburgh I'm afraid).
Thank you for the kind messages of support we received last week, and for pointing us towards a few more items for the newsletter, it really means a great deal. I will attempt to publish each Friday morning, so please get your emails to me by Thursday afternoon. Please take care of yourselves, look after each other and stay safe.
One week to go...
We're very pleased to launch a new scheme which we hope will provide some support to artists who may be struggling at this time. We are looking to commission 10 x short digital pieces that we can use in an upcoming project and will be displayed in the Global Languages & Cultures Room. Click the image above for more info.
People, Places, and Things
Have thoroughly enjoyed these Dead Poets readings that I spotted via the ACTFL newsletter, Each day a new person reading a poem or poems is posted to the Dead Poets Reading Series YouTube channel.
Tomorrow Saturday, April 25th is Indie Bookstore Day, which many are celebrating virtually, with readings, offers, and recommendations. Our local www.cityofasylumbooks.org is offering free shipping on all orders. Plus, the first 10 orders of $40 or more will receive a limited edition Indie Bookstore Day tote bag!
Another local mention - Film Pittsburgh will be sharing one Jewish-themed short film each day of what would have been the JFilm Festival, Films will be posted on JFilm and Film Pittsburgh Facebook pages, along with other news, updates, and festival content.
This week we celebrate World Earth Day marked with online events, talks, and films. This year more than ever we recognize the balance between nature and humanity, The Atlantic provided a glimpse into this fragile relationship with a startling photo-essay.
Imaginary Insect, Tulip, Spider, and Common Pear in Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta, 1561–1562; illumination added about 1591–1596, Joris Hoefnagel, illuminator, and Georg Bocskay, scribe. The J. Paul Getty Museum. Re-creation on Twitter by the Martinez family with lasagna, matches, produce, and paper bag.
On remote learning and working.
How to use your phone as a second camera or visualizer for zoom.
Now that you're working from home, are you using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)? It is really important to secure your data, I'm sure like me you have correspondence with students, advisors, and colleagues, you'll also be accessing grading and exam software, using the VLE (Canvas for us). Here's a link to the advice for CMU staff (login required).
If you're finding zoom-land exhausting these two articles might explain why first from the BBC and the second from The Convivial Society. Personally, it's all about thinking time, I finish zoom sessions drained. Lately, I've made sure I'm using the one-third/two-thirds rule where the teacher speaks should be no more than 30 minutes in total across an hour and a half session. It does help.
I've mentioned Otter before in this newsletter, a live transcription service, now working with Zoom! - During the COVID-19 outbreak, Otter.ai is offering two months of free service of Otter with the code OTTER_RELIEF.
On Screen
What social distancing looks like across the world.
This week I'm linking to Save Small Business - you'll notice that this is something that I try and promote as much as possible throughout the newsletter, it's a terrible time for staff in often family-owned or self-started companies and they need us to help, buy gift cards and use their online services.