TOC Conference

Chris Stein and I presented a "Lightning Demo" of some materials we have been preparing to use for our students at the O'Reilly Media Conference Tools of Change. I have become obsessed with comics as a possible means of explaining technical information, and now you can embed video and interactive content such as flash applications into media that would otherwise be used mostly for print (sorry for yammering on- an unfortunate result of becoming a teacher). The conference was in Times Square- San Jose in June was much warmer, but this was fun too.

Calvin has pictures on flickr.

Chris checks his blackberry.

Our friend and former teacher Tom Igoe's new book at the O'Reilly Booth.

A panel from one of the comics explaining "The Digital Media Lifecycle."

School's (Almost) Out for Summer

Today was my last day of classes. I still need to give my exam and grade a ton, but the end is sight. Everyone--teachers and students alike--were in a good mood today.

Here are some of my favorite--and most motivated--students, planning a study session over the weekend.




The History Club showed Bobby. Students liked it, although I realized by some of their questions the movie assumed a basic knowledge about American culture in the 1960s that a lot of students didn't really possess.




There was a dance party and barbeque going on in front of the student center to celebrate the end of classes.

Global Warming Awareness at BCC

Today, I took one of my classes to a "Teach In" about Global Warming Awareness and Action at BCC. I learned about two interesting groups. One is Greenworker, which is "dedicated to creating worker owned and environmentally friends businesses in the South Bronx." The organization's first business is a basically Home Depot for used supplies--from tubs and sinks to hard wood floors. A woman for the New York City Apollo Alliance also spoke. The Alliance's motto is "Good Jobs and Energy Independence." It is great that these groups are trying to improve the environment and the economy of New York--too often labor issues are pitted against environmental ones. It is also important to inject the issue of class into the discussion of environmentalism, as the less money you have the more likely you are to live in a toxic environment and the fewer resources you will have to change it. As the man from Greenworker said, "The message from an Inconvenient Truth is that we are all screwed. What it didn't say is that some of us are screwed more than others."

Excused

One of my student's was arrested at this protest. I gave her an excused absence.

Gainful Employment

Most people already know this, but I started a new job last week. I am an Assistant Professor of History at Bronx Community College. The first week went well. It is neat to get to know a new borough, as well.

The BCC campus is pretty cool. It was originally NYU's uptown campus and has several Stamford White buildings. The New York Times had an article on the campus recently which will give you a sense of what it is like there.

Well, I'm off to plan a lecture on the Age of Revolution.