So, we won Trivial Pursuit. It was a freaking juggernaut; down 3-1 one minute, victorious 7-3 a half hour later. But first:
I went to that optional library research thing. It was alright. The speaker was that Kelly again, and she's really good. To be honest, I didn't learn anything I didn't already know, but it didn't hurt to have a refresher, I suppose. I think that Kellogg takes people from fairly diverse backgrounds, which is cool. There are people here that have never really done serious library research, and I'm sure the presentation was invaluable to them.
I went and had a slice of pizza at the Centralized Dining Food Emporium before the Mexifest, which was good thinking on my part because they put meat in everything. The meat dish had meat in it, of course, but the vegetables had pork in them, the biscuits had sausage with them, the salsa had bacon, the rice had chicken, and the potatoes had bacon and chicken and beef with them. What's up with that? Does freaking everything need a slab of flesh tossed on it? Regardless, I had a salad, which was quite good - red peppers with lettuce and radishes and other stuff.
Trivial Pursuit was great. We held our own - I did well at first, but I messed up a question midway through. What fighting machine was originally called a reservoir or cistern? I guessed submarine because it's freaking logical and makes perfect sense. Jan said "tank" because reservoir is synonymous with tank. I said, both a reservoir and cistern are filled with water, as is a submarine, and I guess I was convincing because we went with it, but the answer was tank. All modesty aside, I'm usually right. Not this time. It was tank.
Anyway, toward the end, Frank caught fire. He was answering all these weird questions. One of them had to do with some bizarre Swedish pornographic filmed called "I Am Curious (Yellow)." I had never heard of it, but I googled it, and it's a real thing. Everyone of a certain age in the room knew of it, and everyone under a certain age did not. I think it's a watermark.
I'm tired, and my back hurts. My rubber mattress is killing me. Tomorrow looks good:
9 - 11:30 / Assessment and placement continued
1 - 4 / Accuplacer and Compass
It is true. Tomorrow, I take the Accuplacer and the Compass. At our Institution, I'd bet that I place in college level in both enc and rea, and mat9024 in math. We'll see. I looked at a 9013 final once, and I thought it was easy, but not so easy that I think I'd sail through 9024.
I ended tonight on the phone with Amanda - the same way I begin every day and end every night. Before that, I hung out with Michael and Joe and talked about the Border Trilogy and films adapted from Cormac Mccarthy novels. I'm still interested in the gray area placement testing; I think it's a good idea.
On XM: Sour Times by Portishead. Awesome.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
It could have been a brilliant career
This morning's session was good - getting more towards the answers (though I believe tomorrow will be the reveal). Breakfast: potatoes, biscuit, banana, and coffee. Lunch: fake Moe's, day three. Went with the roasted habanero salsa this time: good, but it was cold. They must have taken it out of the fridge recently or something, and it kinda wrecked the temperature aesthetic. Toppings should be ambient, at least thermodynamically.
I asked Ed about the right to fail as it pertains to EAP situations, and his answer was "it depends." He said sometimes, it's a no-brainer, but others get more complex. The 1.5s, the people who grew up speaking English but with a Spanish syntax, older students, etc. He said that everyone should get the accuplacer regardless, though - then maybe the LOEP if needed. He didn't understand the concept of EAP without the same types of exit processes found in college prep. I guess if an EAP student tested in 9020 or 9003, then maybe it becomes their choice, but if they test into 10 or 01/02 it isn't? Beats me.
But here's what doesn't: the idea of gray areas on a placement test. Ed suggested something like this, and I'll use arbitrary #s just to make it easier.
0-5 / Lowest level
6-10 / Gray area
11-15 / Middle level
16-20 / Gray area
21 - 25 / Highest level
26-30 / Gray area
31 - / College level
Now, and this is kinda getting back to what Marianne said a few comments back, what if there were opportunities to look at placement a bit more holistically? Even though we might now say that someone testing anywhere between 11 and 20 should go to, let's just say, 9013, what if we said 11-15 goes into 9013, period, but if you scored 16-20, you should come on in - we have something to talk about.
And maybe there we say - look, you were close; how do you feel about math? When was the last time you took a math class? What's your attendance likely to be affected by? Are you willing to commit to lab hours? Tutoring? Maybe if someone in that gray area looks like a safe bet, we bump them up.
Not sure what to have for dinner. They're making something in the kitchen - the woman who organized it is a tesol person, and she recited the menu in Spanish. After a few people asked for clarification, she recited it more slowly in Spanish. Super nice person, and really smart, but c'mon - throw me a hueso. I heard carne, though, and I don't need to be an experto to figure that one out. I chipped in a buck, just to be social, but I'm thinking I might grab a slice before heading down.
Trivial Pursuit at 7:30. Tonight, we take back the crown.
I asked Ed about the right to fail as it pertains to EAP situations, and his answer was "it depends." He said sometimes, it's a no-brainer, but others get more complex. The 1.5s, the people who grew up speaking English but with a Spanish syntax, older students, etc. He said that everyone should get the accuplacer regardless, though - then maybe the LOEP if needed. He didn't understand the concept of EAP without the same types of exit processes found in college prep. I guess if an EAP student tested in 9020 or 9003, then maybe it becomes their choice, but if they test into 10 or 01/02 it isn't? Beats me.
But here's what doesn't: the idea of gray areas on a placement test. Ed suggested something like this, and I'll use arbitrary #s just to make it easier.
0-5 / Lowest level
6-10 / Gray area
11-15 / Middle level
16-20 / Gray area
21 - 25 / Highest level
26-30 / Gray area
31 - / College level
Now, and this is kinda getting back to what Marianne said a few comments back, what if there were opportunities to look at placement a bit more holistically? Even though we might now say that someone testing anywhere between 11 and 20 should go to, let's just say, 9013, what if we said 11-15 goes into 9013, period, but if you scored 16-20, you should come on in - we have something to talk about.
And maybe there we say - look, you were close; how do you feel about math? When was the last time you took a math class? What's your attendance likely to be affected by? Are you willing to commit to lab hours? Tutoring? Maybe if someone in that gray area looks like a safe bet, we bump them up.
Not sure what to have for dinner. They're making something in the kitchen - the woman who organized it is a tesol person, and she recited the menu in Spanish. After a few people asked for clarification, she recited it more slowly in Spanish. Super nice person, and really smart, but c'mon - throw me a hueso. I heard carne, though, and I don't need to be an experto to figure that one out. I chipped in a buck, just to be social, but I'm thinking I might grab a slice before heading down.
Trivial Pursuit at 7:30. Tonight, we take back the crown.
Wrapped up in books
I finished The Passage by Justin Cronin last night. It was good - sort of like Stephen King's The Stand, though I think King's was better. The first two or three hundred pages were really, really good, and the last two thirds of the book was just pretty good. It got a bunch of advance praise, probably because Cronin is somewhat a serious writier.
Today is a half day, sort of. Assessment and placement from 9 - 11:30, break, and then the not-really-optional research session in the library. I'm thinking it's probably just basic research stuff, but it's only an hour long and probably couldn't hurt.
Today is a half day, sort of. Assessment and placement from 9 - 11:30, break, and then the not-really-optional research session in the library. I'm thinking it's probably just basic research stuff, but it's only an hour long and probably couldn't hurt.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The stars of track and field
I wound up going to that library thing. I was putting it off, and then Amanda called, and she was all like "you really should go to make a good impression," so I caved and went. My phone said it was 6:49 when I left, and I arrived at the library at 6:54, slightly out of breath. The campus is so beautiful, and well laid out. Going down hills, through tunnels, over creek beds - it's like a lesson in prepositions every time I go somewhere.
The ASU library is impressive. It was built in 2005, and it employs 41 librarians. I didn't ask how many were full time, but I suppose I should have. It's a five story structure (basement and four floors proper), and the fourth floor has a stunning view of the entire campus. Weird fact: they encourage food and drink in the library. You can actually order a pizza and have it delivered to the library, and they're cool with that. Our guide, Librarian Kelly, said there's never been a problem, though they were quite worried initially. Kelly was really cool, gave a great tour, was the kind of person you'd love to have working for your organization - energetic, smart, funny, etc.
I didn't really learn much in the library, but I'm glad I went. Afterwards, I went back to the dorm and beered up for Trivial Pursuit.
We lost.
Look - the way this guy plays Trivial Pursuit is weird. Day one, you divide into two teams - count off - one two - teams divided - game played. It's a team game - each team consults, talks, makes their choice as a team, and goes from there. The twist is this: the winning team stays the same, but the losing team gets everyone new who joins. Last night, it was nine on nine. Tonight is was seventeen against seven. We were like Butch and Sundance, guns blazing (Australia! Mary Queen of Scots! Eli Whitney!), drenched in sepia - you knew we were never gonna make it, but we fought tough 'til the end. The other team acted like they had won the World Cup or something. Great game, fun time - but I wonder: what will tomorrow night bring? Will it be 17 on 7 again? We need to recruit, yet there are so few free agents.
I plan on arriving to class early tomorrow to ask Ed his opinion of Ann's Level 4 EAP student question. I think that's the trick - begin at the beginning.
I was talking to Amanda tonight, and she asked if the Kellogg thing has been good, and it really has. I really miss being home; I feel like time's passing me by, and I miss my family, but this is good up here.
And now The Album Leaf's "there is a wind" has come on the XM I'm streaming through the laptop - time for bed.
The ASU library is impressive. It was built in 2005, and it employs 41 librarians. I didn't ask how many were full time, but I suppose I should have. It's a five story structure (basement and four floors proper), and the fourth floor has a stunning view of the entire campus. Weird fact: they encourage food and drink in the library. You can actually order a pizza and have it delivered to the library, and they're cool with that. Our guide, Librarian Kelly, said there's never been a problem, though they were quite worried initially. Kelly was really cool, gave a great tour, was the kind of person you'd love to have working for your organization - energetic, smart, funny, etc.
I didn't really learn much in the library, but I'm glad I went. Afterwards, I went back to the dorm and beered up for Trivial Pursuit.
We lost.
Look - the way this guy plays Trivial Pursuit is weird. Day one, you divide into two teams - count off - one two - teams divided - game played. It's a team game - each team consults, talks, makes their choice as a team, and goes from there. The twist is this: the winning team stays the same, but the losing team gets everyone new who joins. Last night, it was nine on nine. Tonight is was seventeen against seven. We were like Butch and Sundance, guns blazing (Australia! Mary Queen of Scots! Eli Whitney!), drenched in sepia - you knew we were never gonna make it, but we fought tough 'til the end. The other team acted like they had won the World Cup or something. Great game, fun time - but I wonder: what will tomorrow night bring? Will it be 17 on 7 again? We need to recruit, yet there are so few free agents.
I plan on arriving to class early tomorrow to ask Ed his opinion of Ann's Level 4 EAP student question. I think that's the trick - begin at the beginning.
I was talking to Amanda tonight, and she asked if the Kellogg thing has been good, and it really has. I really miss being home; I feel like time's passing me by, and I miss my family, but this is good up here.
And now The Album Leaf's "there is a wind" has come on the XM I'm streaming through the laptop - time for bed.
The magnificent seventies
Long day; back in the dorm. I did wind up having a latte this morning. I got it with an extra shot, and it was better than yesterday's. Still not great. Today was two sessions, both led by Ed Morante. The day's topic was assessment.
The whole day was about placement assessments. People talked about they way they did things at their colleges, and some of them are pretty messed up. One college had optional placement testing, another had some weird test that was essentially an eighth grade test. The tesol people started in, and some of them argued for EAP type classes while others argued for all EAP students to go into developmental, and the whole thing kinda gave me a headache.
I had fake Moe's again for lunch, and it was again really good. Even the tortilla chips were good. The guy put a toothpick in my burrito after he was done making it, and he said "this is to let the cashier know that it's vegetarian. It's cheaper that way." And I remember having a toothpick in my burrito yesterday, too, so I guess they don't charge you the same price for a steak enchilada or whatever. My mistake.
I had lunch with the facilitator, Ed, and a guy who lives in WV, but teaches in MD. Light talk, but Ed said he had been working with Brazosport College, which was one of the colleges I looked at in my dissertation, and we talked about their baccalaureate program. FWIW, Brazosport, is a complementary institution, according to my typology, and Edison in a competing one.
In the afternoon, we talked a lot of numbers: standard deviation, SEM, etc. I kept thinking about the stuff we had talked about in the morning and yesterday afternoon. That we should get to our students before they take the placement exam to impress upon them the importance of the exam and that we should look at other things when making placement decisions. The way Ed was talking, he was even saying things like we should ask how many hours per week they work, how they get to school, when did they last attend a class, etc. It seems pretty invasive, but it could also really work. Maybe you do all of that and tell them "you placed here, but based on what I'm seeing, I'd say you're better off there instead." I don't think that would work with our levels - certainly not in a downward fashion, but maybe in an upward one? Like if someone tests into 9013, but has all these variables going for them, maybe they take 24 with additional supports? Maybe they have that option?
After class, Hunter and Barbara gave a brief, optional presentation on ASU. I stuck around, as did five others. I figured it couldn't hurt to be noticed, and it turned out to be an interesting conversation. I went over to the Plant, had some dinner (slice of pizza, salad, and diet coke), and here I am. There's an optional tour of the library at 7, but I'm undecided as to whether or not I'll go. The way Kellogg is set up there are mandatory things, optional things, and optional (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) things, which doesn't sound too optional to me. The library tour is a purely optional one, so I think I'm good either way.
Class photo was today. They took three shots. We'll see.
Trivial Pursuit is at 8. I'll either nap or tour the library - maybe read. Up for tomorrow:
9 - 11:30 / Assessment and placement, con't
1 / Research workshop (Optional but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
The whole day was about placement assessments. People talked about they way they did things at their colleges, and some of them are pretty messed up. One college had optional placement testing, another had some weird test that was essentially an eighth grade test. The tesol people started in, and some of them argued for EAP type classes while others argued for all EAP students to go into developmental, and the whole thing kinda gave me a headache.
I had fake Moe's again for lunch, and it was again really good. Even the tortilla chips were good. The guy put a toothpick in my burrito after he was done making it, and he said "this is to let the cashier know that it's vegetarian. It's cheaper that way." And I remember having a toothpick in my burrito yesterday, too, so I guess they don't charge you the same price for a steak enchilada or whatever. My mistake.
I had lunch with the facilitator, Ed, and a guy who lives in WV, but teaches in MD. Light talk, but Ed said he had been working with Brazosport College, which was one of the colleges I looked at in my dissertation, and we talked about their baccalaureate program. FWIW, Brazosport, is a complementary institution, according to my typology, and Edison in a competing one.
In the afternoon, we talked a lot of numbers: standard deviation, SEM, etc. I kept thinking about the stuff we had talked about in the morning and yesterday afternoon. That we should get to our students before they take the placement exam to impress upon them the importance of the exam and that we should look at other things when making placement decisions. The way Ed was talking, he was even saying things like we should ask how many hours per week they work, how they get to school, when did they last attend a class, etc. It seems pretty invasive, but it could also really work. Maybe you do all of that and tell them "you placed here, but based on what I'm seeing, I'd say you're better off there instead." I don't think that would work with our levels - certainly not in a downward fashion, but maybe in an upward one? Like if someone tests into 9013, but has all these variables going for them, maybe they take 24 with additional supports? Maybe they have that option?
After class, Hunter and Barbara gave a brief, optional presentation on ASU. I stuck around, as did five others. I figured it couldn't hurt to be noticed, and it turned out to be an interesting conversation. I went over to the Plant, had some dinner (slice of pizza, salad, and diet coke), and here I am. There's an optional tour of the library at 7, but I'm undecided as to whether or not I'll go. The way Kellogg is set up there are mandatory things, optional things, and optional (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) things, which doesn't sound too optional to me. The library tour is a purely optional one, so I think I'm good either way.
Class photo was today. They took three shots. We'll see.
Trivial Pursuit is at 8. I'll either nap or tour the library - maybe read. Up for tomorrow:
9 - 11:30 / Assessment and placement, con't
1 / Research workshop (Optional but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
On my way
It rained terribly for about ten minutes last night, and this morning looks overcast. It's "group picture" day here at Kellogg, which solves my daily "what should I wear" dilemma. Today: it's jeans and the Kellogg t-shirt.
The Kellogg t-shirt is one of the more tastefully designed free garments I've been given by an institution. It's a cardinal red with the Kellogg logo (that flame thing) and the words Kellogg Institute 2010 centered in the upper part of the front. nothing on back.
I brought a small umbrella, so I'm good for the walk down toward the Central Dining Eatery District. I know I said I was going with straight coffee from here on out, but I might order a latte or a breve or something. I'd hate to see my first coffee inadvertently turn into such a high stakes assessment tool.
And speaking of, that's what's on tap for all of today: assessment. Good speaker, good topic, should be a good day, yeah?
The Kellogg t-shirt is one of the more tastefully designed free garments I've been given by an institution. It's a cardinal red with the Kellogg logo (that flame thing) and the words Kellogg Institute 2010 centered in the upper part of the front. nothing on back.
I brought a small umbrella, so I'm good for the walk down toward the Central Dining Eatery District. I know I said I was going with straight coffee from here on out, but I might order a latte or a breve or something. I'd hate to see my first coffee inadvertently turn into such a high stakes assessment tool.
And speaking of, that's what's on tap for all of today: assessment. Good speaker, good topic, should be a good day, yeah?
Monday, June 28, 2010
A schoolboy's charm
We won the Trivial Pursuit contest. I have to give it up to Pat from KY; he scored a solid 1/3 of the pie piece answers (dead man's hand and Mongolia). I did well, all modesty aside, but if I had to crown a MVP, I'd be lying if I didn't say it was Pat. I think I was responsible for 1/3 of the pie, too, but the ones I contributed to were pretty easy.
Not many people showed up; I'd say about 14 did. I'm guessing Ed will make a big deal of it tomorrow and more people will be prompted to come along.
Afterwards, we retired to Michael's room, with myself, Joe (WV), Jason (TX), Pat (KY), and (briefly) Frank (?). Frank looks just like JK Simmons. He's really cool. When he first met me, he said: "someone has been telling lies about you" and I was like "ah - the trial."
We talked about: rafting, hiking, video games, open v. closed worlds, Noam Chomsky, grammar, and parenting.
Tomorrow:
9 - 11:30 / Assessment and placement con't (Morante, the defeated Trivial Pursuit champion)
11:45 / Class photo (I have to wear my Kellogg t-shirt, provided)
1 - 4 / Assessment and placement, con't
4:15 - 5 / Info session, graduate studies at ASU; Boylan (optional)
7 - 7:30 / Library tour (optional)
7:30 / Trivial Pursuit
Further.
Not many people showed up; I'd say about 14 did. I'm guessing Ed will make a big deal of it tomorrow and more people will be prompted to come along.
Afterwards, we retired to Michael's room, with myself, Joe (WV), Jason (TX), Pat (KY), and (briefly) Frank (?). Frank looks just like JK Simmons. He's really cool. When he first met me, he said: "someone has been telling lies about you" and I was like "ah - the trial."
We talked about: rafting, hiking, video games, open v. closed worlds, Noam Chomsky, grammar, and parenting.
Tomorrow:
9 - 11:30 / Assessment and placement con't (Morante, the defeated Trivial Pursuit champion)
11:45 / Class photo (I have to wear my Kellogg t-shirt, provided)
1 - 4 / Assessment and placement, con't
4:15 - 5 / Info session, graduate studies at ASU; Boylan (optional)
7 - 7:30 / Library tour (optional)
7:30 / Trivial Pursuit
Further.
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