hi folks, I saw some people signed up for the listserv - that's super! thank you for sending that note around, Karen! anyone who belongs to the list can send to the list - although you have to send from the email account that you used when you joined the list. if you have problems with that, just let me know!

THURSDAYS, 3:30-5:00, 220 ELLISON

for those of you who do have time on Thursdays to get together, Karen has reserved the nice little conference room for us in 220 Ellison Hall. it has a projector and internet connection if anyone wants to bring their laptop and show stuff - although I'd guess that it is actually more efficient to share online resources via email here, so that people can explore at their leisure, and then we can just brainstorm and discuss in person! but that room gives the ability to go either way: it is comfy for just talking, and also has the tech stuff.

JANUARY 22 TOPIC: FIRST-WEEK ACTIVITIES FOR ONLINE COURSES...?

it seems like a good idea to have a focus topic or two each week, along with totally free discussion too of course! since memories of last week are still fresh, I would suggest we brainstorm about Orientation activities during the first week. Karen has created the College Orientation mini-course for us in Blackboard, and perhaps some of you also have Orientation activities specifically for your class? are there some things we do in the classroom during first week that we can creatively adapt to the online environment? are there things we can do online in the first week that the classroom doesn't allow? are there some problems that regularly occur during the first week that could be forestalled by some kind of planned orientation activity?

I added several new orientation activities to my course this semester, and I am really happy with how they have worked. if you are curious, here's my Orientation week tasklist: http://www.mythfolklore.net/3043mythfolklore/orientation. 

if anybody else on the list has Orientation tasks they want to share via the listserv before the meeting, that would be great - 

thanks everybody, and I will see some of you on Thursday I hope!
smiles,
Laura