Life is good!

Two words sum up how my Globaloria classes are going this year, as opposed to last year:
Absolutely and fabulous.

What a difference a year has made in my understanding and comfort level leading this class. Perhaps I have been a teacher too long, and have forgotten the feeling of mastering a new subject. Perhaps 18 years ago, when I was a new teacher and came back for my second year, I felt this good, but I really can't recall being elated about a new year like I am about this year.

We are so far ahead of last year. Every student has a computer and every computer has CS4 installed and ready to go. Both my classes are organized, files uploaded and avatars all updated. Blogging schedules and learning log update schedules have already been loaded into iCal for the entire year. We are now embarking on getting blog rolls set up, profiles on the wiki and blogs established and then it is on to working with wiki code so the students can update their learning logs on a daily basis.

To all of my fellow Globaloria teachers who are embarking on this platform for your first year, I can only offer encouragement. Hang in there. I know well that feeling of being overwhelmed. But trust me, there is life on the the other side of year one, and so far it is all milk and honey.

In my last blog, mentioned that I was heading to the Mohican Bluegrass Festival with our student bluegrass band to perform. What a great job they did, and what an exceptionally nice group of students. it was an absolute pleasure to spend the weekend with the students.

I need one of those "life is good" T-shirts!

Welcome to the World of Flash Game Design

As the calendar year slides into the ebb tide of fall, bringing winter looming just over the horizon, unseen yet hovering— a new year has begun—new classes, new students, new hopes and new goals.

Hope springs eternal from the hearts of educators at this time of year, hope that even as the physical year ends and a new academic year begins—full of life, of promise and opportunities—that the year will prove fruitful and abundant for our students. I fervently hope that those entrusted to me will learn the subject at hand, but more importantly, will learn the lessons of life that flit about us all as we travail the pathways of our daily existence.

In a real sense, the Globaloria platform is alive and well at this scholarly home we call Wheeling Park. Due to increased enrollment, a second class has been offered, and from last year's 20 students, we are starting this year with 34. Word of mouth about the program seems to have lead to this increased enrollment. Enrollment is up across all my classes and at the school as well, this is the largest incoming freshman class we have had in several years, topping out at well over 525 students. It has lead to welcome problems, two of my graphics classes have 25 students each, leaving me with a shortage of computers to accommodate the higher enrollment. Hopefully that will soon be rectified. New computers are on order and are eagerly being awaited.

The year is off to a fast start, we are already 12.5 % through the class with interim reports coming up this week; quarterly reports due to Globaloria on the 15th. The week finishes with a road trip for the school's bluegrass program, of which I am a faculty sponsor. We head out on Thursday after school, and stay until Sunday camping and performing  at the Mohican Bluegrass Festival, Loudenville, OH.

A busy, busy, week, awaits, one that I had best wrestle into shape, and quickly! So, my new gaming students, "welcome" to Globaloria.

You are about to embark on an enjoyable and enlightening year, exploring the Globaloria platform of game design.