urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:kai_333 kai_333 kai_333 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:kai_333:1011 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z Ahh... nothing like piefacing your way through a bunch of undergrads to make you feel like an old, old man... Funny what being out of academia for 4 years does to ya. ;-)<br /><br />Example the first: and the lord sayeth 'thou shalt coat thine book in gold and charge far, far out the ass for it."<br />Why back in my day, our 'standard sized' text book that we had for most of our science classes were at MOST $100 new. 'Standard sized' in my definition is a hardback text book around 700 pages... give or take. Long story short, it was $150 $#(*ing dollars. Granted, that does not dethrone my most expensive book of all time of $180 for my organic chemistry book (ahh, the testicle buster... i hated lugging that fucking thing around...), but at least that damned book lasted two (#*$ing semesters. <br /><br />Example the second: "Soo.... why does the book need a remote??"<br />SOOO, i'll admit that I didn't exactly buy the book when I stepped in the class. And I certainly didn't know what the prof was refering to when she kept refering to a 'clicker.' So, in typical 'me' form, i nod along and try to piece things together as i went along, COMPLETELY mystified as to what the fuck she's talking about. Apparently, this 'clicker' is a small IR remote control that you have with a unique serial code THAT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER ON THE BOOK PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE. From THAT, the professor sets up an array of remote sensors all around the class. When she asks a question in class that she wants you to answer, you point your remote control dealy and answer the question. This logs in your answer on teh internets and she can grade you from this, apparently. NOW, I'm by no means a luddite, buuuuuuuuuut... wow. I was a little surprised. I'm surprised our heads weren't barcoded...<br /><br />Example the third: "...soo, WHY do I have to come to class again?"<br />Now THIS kind of blew my mind... she has outlines of ALL her notes on our UNC blackboard. OKOK, back up a bit--blackboard is a system where you can log into each individual class you have and catch up on what assignments are required, when labs meet, or just any other misc thing that the prof might need to tell ya. Well, when *I* was in school, i had one class that implemented the thing, and poorly, might I add. NOW, you're basically expected to log on, print out your syllabus and read up on crap before the first day of class! :-P Besides all the admin bullshit, she puts up every notes for each class she has! Like COMPLETE notes. Back in my day, in order to get THAT kind of service, you had to buy a service through one of the local places on campus that will take your notes for you, practically. Nope.. she has ALL her notes online. FAIRLY comprehensive too, might I add. That begs the question--why do I have to come to class? <br /><br />OH, right... the remote clicker thingy.... DAMMIT...<br /><br />BUT, in any case, the microbiology class LOOKS pretty cool! I think that it will be a pretty interesting--nothing like learning about all the many many things that can and will kill us, and possibly destroy shivan's car if given the proper motivation. The prof is a pretty enthusiastic woman... I think it'll be fun!