 |
| AI-generated image by Copilot |
Teaching requires the use of a lot of technology. Not only am I comfortable with that, I like harnessing information technology in the service of teaching. Some aspects of it, though, are bothersome. Having tech crap out is the worst. It wastes time, is frustrating, and gets in the way of teaching and learning. I could write several blog posts on that. The other difficult aspect of technology is change. I’ve come to know the software that I use inside and out. That makes change hard.
Some software is constantly changing, which is bad enough. (Does even a week go by without yet another update to Google Chrome?) Sometimes I find myself in the ridiculous situation of using a browser to search for problems I’m having with that browser. Fortunately, major changes don’t occur frequently. Even better, I generally can choose what I want to use. Goodbye Google Chrome, hello Vivaldi!
But then there are the things that I have no control over. If the university decides to switch over to different cloud software, I have no choice but to figure out how to use it. But at least they’re not going to change everything, everywhere, all at once, right? Right?
I’m dreading the upcoming academic year. Five of the applications I use the most are being replaced or hugely updated.
First, there’s the new LMS, Canvas, which is replacing trusty old (and outdated) eClass. Ah, ole buddy, you crashed on me at the worst possible times. You were cranky, slow, and hard to figure out. I’m going to miss you as much as you’re going to miss me. I’m not crying, you’re crying!
I’ve already attended uncountable seminars/webinars/tutorials about Canvas. I’m doing an online course about Canvas that’s running on Canvas. I bought two books on using Canvas. Canvas, Canvas, CANVAS! Thoughts and prayers, people. I’m going to need all the help I can get. Apologies in advance for all of the screw-ups that are inevitably going to happen. Not if, but when. I'll have more to say about Canvas in the coming months, I'm sure.
Next, classroom computers have been running Microsoft Office 2016 since, um, 2016? Ten years is a long time for desktop software, although Microsoft has been releasing new features over the years. Now, all classrooms will have “Microsoft 365”. (That’s what happens when you let marketing run amok. What if I want to take a day off, Microsoft? Do I have to work 365 days a year?) When classroom computers were upgraded to Office 2003, it broke almost all of my PowerPoints. So I’m going to be updating all of my computers to this new version and doing a lot of testing over the summer.
Since 1997, I’ve been creating my course documents (syllabi, assignment documents) using Microsoft Word. I know it inside and out, front and back, top to bottom. I could probably use Word with my eyes closed. My documents are highly structured and organized, I’ve finessed the fonts, and I apply best practices of information design throughout. And (I believe) my documents look pretty good--at least in comparison to some syllabi I’ve seen, which are butt-ugly. (Seriously, you can change the default font! It’s not hard!) So imagine my dismay to hear that we’re being strong-armed into using some garbage called “SimpleSyllabus” to create syllabi now. (I get a twitch in my left eye whenever anything is called “simple” or “simplicity”. You know if they have to call anything “simple” that it's going to be anything but.) It’s cloud-based (argh) and has built-in boilerplate text (all the fine print stuff). I hate it already. It’s probably going to ugly as sin. Can they fire me for not using this?
ePoll is the in-house polling software that you’re probably already familiar with here at the UofA. Remember? In your first-year classes? It, too, is also starting to show its age. (Hey, whoa! What’s wrong with showing one’s age? I’m not tryna be ageist here. I’m aging myself.) I have to do a two-screen dance when using ePoll with my phone and PowerPoints, mostly to show images, which ePoll can’t do. ePoll hasn’t been updated in a long time, it has awful usability, but I know how to use it. Again, with my eyes closed! So of course they’re going to replace it now. With a cloud-based (grr!) app called “WooClap” (ugh). I kid you not, that is actually what the crazy Belgians who created it have named it. (Maybe it means something different in Belgian?) I’ve been testing it this Spring term. I’m going to have to change everything about in-class polling now because of course. Not looking forward to that.
Lastly, the software platform used by the accommodation/proctoring office is being replaced. I’ve given them loads of usability feedback on the current platform, ClockWork, which was all promptly disregarded. Even though They. Asked. For It. If you ever see me walking around on campus with a grumpy face, now you know why. Over the past few months they have asked me (grr!) and other front-line teaching staff to step through a redesign process. What would a perfect system be able to do? What would it look like? I’ve gone to some seminars and meetings, putting in quite a few hours on this. I can’t wait to see what the replacement, Simplicity Accommodate, is like. (Oh look! It's got the word simplicity in the name!) I’ve volunteered to help them test this, but I’m still waiting for them to set that up. So far, nothing. Which is not a good sign.
If you see your instructors walking around with grumpy faces or twitchy eyes, one of the above changes--or maybe all of them all together--is probably what’s causing it. We’re all doing our best to learn and try these new systems (I’m going to be spending all summer, including my vacation time, doing my best to figure and test all of this new technology.) But there are going to be problems. For that, I’m apologizing in advance. Sorry!
At least a couple of things are not changing. Good ole GMail isn't being redesigned soon. And although the software I use to create multiple-choice exams (ExamView) has been replaced with a cloud-based (yes: awful) update, I am not going to use it, partly because it requires a subscription. I'm old-school enough that I feel paying to use software every year is a travesty. I've bought it once, I'm not going to keep buying it.
I'm willing to accept some change; it's inevitable. But it should be up to me to decide. If that means using a software tool last updated in 2017, so be it.
Why aren't you studying?
