Technology

All blackboards are gone. They were replaced during the break. (So, no chance to use this MathOverflow question on the near future.) Makes me think of T.H. Huxley’s On a Piece of Chalk (see here) and wonder what the equivalent will be in a few decades.

On the plus side, we now have computers and projection equipment on each classroom. I am using this quite a bit in my abstract algebra class. Except that, during the first few weeks, it was more often than not that the keyboard would be locked away.

Annoyed, I called OIT and asked that they please make sure it was unlocked before my class. It worked for a few days. But then, again, I found it locked.

I called again (I was charming, I am sure). So, somebody came to the classroom, looked at me, smiled. And pressed a button, to open the drawer.

Sigh.

(In my defense, the class is at 8:30 in the morning, and I’m supposed to drink less coffee these days. But still.)

(“Thanks. I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.” “Oh, no, no. It is new.” “It is a button.”)

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2 Responses to Technology

  1. This is quite hilarious (I sympathize).

    Have you had a chance to use a tablet+projection to replace the whiteboard? Infinite paper with infinite zoom to add additional comments in the right place is a great tool I use for taking notes, but never had a chance to use in class.

  2. I haven’t, but I probably should. I’ve heard Hugh Woodin uses this quite effectively teaching precalculus, of all things.

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