I hope that you’re well and had a good break, it’s nice to be with you again. I find myself in San Francisco at the MLA Modern Languages Association conference for the next three days. I’m staying downtown and thankfully free from the flooding that has affected much of the area as a second bomb cyclone hits the west coast of the US, bringing with it wind and rain. It’s a big storm and means no California sunshine this week, probably no real loss as I’ll be inside most of the time in sessions at the conference center just a few blocks from where I’m staying.
It feels strange to be back so quickly into work mode, although we had a good break, the chance for everyone to recharge their batteries and forget about school and work for a few days. School holidays are shorter for the boys during the year, except for the three months of the summer, and they’re still getting used to the change. Normally they would have at least two weeks off in December and wouldn’t go back until the second week of January, but here they were back on the 2nd, which seemed a bit rough and frankly unnecessary.
However, we were able to fit in a couple of nights in an AirBnB in Cleveland which is only a few hours up the road. We stayed in the cool, probably gentrified neighborhood of Tremont, a mix of old houses and square modernist boxes with rooftop gardens. There were cafés and a great bookshop, we had food in a bar and played skittles, and pumped our quarters into the arcade machines.
It’s been a good ten days. We watched movies, ate food and opened our presents, a few books, t-shirts and socks. It was also a chance to send a few email and do some drawing and printmaking.
Stephan
Teaching & Learning
There’s only a few weeks before the start of teaching this semester, I had a high load in the fall, so now I have a seven-week mini to deliver which is great, but still needs attention, and preparation. I’m teaching Everyday Learning: Designing Learning Experiences in Times of Unrest and Uncertainty which is a great title, suggested by a brilliant colleague, so good in fact that I feel under pressure to make sure the course lives up to it. The context, as last time, is informal learning that has been developed by individuals and community groups to meet the needs of people outside of more formal, institutional settings.
Last time we focussed on small learning packages, the sorts that could be picked up from libraries and public spaces, and in part, inspired by a the Workshop PGH in Garfield that had taped zip-locked bags to its window during the pandemic, each containing little craft and art activities, from creating your own mask, to making felt animals or spotting birds or animals in your neighborhood.
Back in Spring 2020 (I had to look up the timeline), there was this sudden release of educational, arts and cultural material, including resources for teachers and families; for everyone stuck at home during lockdown, the chance to learn a language, practice dance steps, or paint a portrait. These resources started to change too after the killing of George Floyd, to include anti-racist and decolonized materials, lists of books and websites shared in public google docs, or talks, instagram live events, new podcasts and YouTube videos. During this time theaters put on remote shows, musicians played over zoom, and comedians posted clips of their standup routines.
I think it kept us going, helped us cope somehow, and reawakened something, perhaps a strange sense of community and belonging. It’s probably why governments and businesses wanted us all back to work so quickly, it might have been less about the economy, but more because of the potential freeing of anti-capitalist, communitarian spirit. Quick! Get them back to the office before they figure out they don’t actually need to work in one, or keep regular hours, or understand how much happier you are when you prioritize home and family over corporate drudgery.
In this iteration of the course we’re going to go back to some of those videos and live events, see if we can record some how-to’s, tutorials, whether presented, demonstrated, or through animation or walk-through. I got some feedback that students were keen to explore this in more detail, and it will mark a change from what we did last time, while still being able to explore the motivations for this type of informal learning.
Life Lessons
I sent a few emails over the break, to old friends back home and elsewhere. It’s nice to keep in touch, we’re all getting a bit older and possibly a bit more reflective, it’s also nice to know that we’re trying to figure out the same sorts of things, kids, work, home, the usual.
Looking back on the year, and I’m pleased now that I have a collection of photos and this newsletter to help me remember, I can see that I’ve travelled quite a bit, I worked and taught, spent time with family, took some time for myself either cycling, or drawing and painting. It has been good and useful to write about it each week, as a process.
My most read issues were the summer ones, following our trip to the UK, and those at the beginning of the year following some of the learning that I did in .js and generative art, although I have to admit that some of this fell by the wayside.
I’m wondering what this year holds, I don’t do resolutions, but I do hope to return to full fitness, all that cycling I did in 2021 was really good for me, I stopped snoring, my clothes fitted and I didn’t get out of breath walking up Pittsburgh hills. I enjoyed the traveling last year, but wish that I’d been able to share some of that with family, so we’ll make a big effort to go on a road trip, we’re talking about Memphis, which is a couple of days drive. I’m also going to try and use the Headspace app that my uni so generously subscribes to, which has daily meditation and relaxation videos.
So that’s a few things probably, otherwise, we’ll just see where it all takes us.
more…
I’ve only been here a few hours, but I’ve been shocked by the numbers of homeless people, especially getting a cab through the Tenderloin and Mission Districts. It is dramatic, rows of tents and shopping trolleys, people lined up on street corners. Can’t help but think what a scandal it is, and very sad to see in one of the richest places on the earth. It is fixable.
Lost and Found
Here are a few things that I spotted during the break.
The French Film Festival, is launching with its new films in time for the start of the semester, it looks like there are some excellent movies that you probably can’t see on regular streaming sites.
I enjoyed this article on Chat GPT, maybe it is fluent bs and this second one about the bias that exists in Ai. In fact, it is claimed that Ai generated content is to the internet what plastic is to the ocean.
Cory Doctorow nails it as usual, we should all leave twitter now…
The Story Center has launched its courses for 2023
Having said all that above, this is the Ai that you’ve been looking for, one that creates powerpoint slide decks.
This is something that has helped me loads, especially as there was a loud argument in the hotel room next door to me last night, did you know that your iPhone already has a built-in white noise maker?
Thank you
What to say about all the shenanigans on Capital Hill, as I write now we’re up to the 9th vote for House Speaker, which is bonkers, what a waste of time. I’m wondering what sort of future this sets us up for, how are they ever going to agree on budgets, military aid etc? What a shower…
This is where I’d like to be, sipping a coffee, reading a book, maybe playing a game or just resting my eyes…
It’s good to back with you, we’re hitting the ground running. I hope that you still have a few days for yourselves before restarting, remember how much you needed a break, don’t be too keen to get back into it.
Take care, thank you for a year of lovely emails and recommendations, let’s keep the conversation going.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year from us three!