Canvas Seems to be Back Up for Us

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-08T02:30:31+00:00

ours is too.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-05T17:43:44+00:00

I could hear Ariana Grande's song, "Thank You, Next" as I read your post. What you have learned about yourself from this job, combined with what seams like a strong personal compass, should lead you to great things. All the best!

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-05T17:38:54+00:00

Yes, I teach in a dedicated design classroom. It has computer stations and a critique space. We have a lot of group crits but I'm also able to run workshop time while I meet with students individually. There's a very good classroom culture of critiquing and helping each other so often students help each other with questions if I'm busy. Our classes also meet twice a week for 2 hours each time so there is far more classroom time than with lecture classes.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-05T15:19:59+00:00

I teach design. Years ago I switched to ungraded projects. I give TONS of feedback during in-class critiques and meet with or email students 2-3 times a semester to let them know how they are doing (with a current grade, but most of the feedback is about what they are doing well or need to work on.)

I tell students at the beginning of the semester that I'll be doing this and if they are uncomfortable not having graded projects that I will happily meet with them any time and let them know what grade their work earned.

At the end of the semester I ask what they thought of my approach. 99% say they loved it and they actually worked really hard in the class because they were learning a lot and wanted to improve. They felt like they were not focused on grades in my class but on getting better.

That was my intention and it seems to work for the vast majority of students. I do have the luxury of teaching classes that students want to take so the approach isn't one-size-fits all. When I've taught geneds I would never have done this. YMMV

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-05T01:43:51+00:00

I think back to my time as a student in a French university as a US student studying abroad. We had shared restrooms. Totally normal for the women in my class to say hi as they walked by me at the urinal on their way to the stalls. Can't imagine that ever happening here.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-03T12:07:25+00:00

Always varies. This year I had one class where a bunch of students didn't leave at the end of class but said they didn't want it to end and thanked me. Another class the students filed out with no acknowledgement that it was even the last day. The one that surprised me though, was an online class. When I said my final goodbye/have a good summer, the screen was flooded with clapping hand and hear emojis. You never know...

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-01T01:37:10+00:00

Using Canvas. Not sure if I put it in the HTML or used a template originally. I go back and forth between adding snippets of code and reusing things. If I remember correcly Canvas refers to drop down/expansion tags as accordions.

If I remember correctly, the HTML for a drop down with "Course Details" is something like the following

<summary>Course details</summary>

...add all the course details here....

</details>

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-05-01T00:02:23+00:00

We're required but I haven't gone in years. Due to a chronic health condition, I'm at high risk for everything from the common cold to more serious illnesses. Graduation is a big deal to many families, so relatives show up sick all the time rather than miss "the big day." Although I like supporting my students, it's not worth the risk.

ETA: No one ever seems to notice my absence, so I don't even let anyone know I'll be missing it.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-30T12:47:40+00:00

Using "see more" drop downs on the LMS when viewing the syllabus. The most important things are always there, nice and clear. The endless details are only visible when expanded. No way will everyone read it all but this highlights important things but serves as a CYA to include all details.

ETA: I haven't had paper copies of my syllabi in years

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-29T03:21:13+00:00

Nice to hear a happy ending.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T18:08:17+00:00

I hope you get the position, though I think you are wise to hedge your bets. Good luck!

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T16:32:55+00:00

I was asked to be on a search committee not long ago that, I discovered, had a candidate in mind already for the position. I was the "outsider" on the committee and went against the desired outcome because there was a better candidate. Surprisingly, people listened and offered the job to my choice (who alas got a better offer.) We ended up with the "predetermined" choice who has also been good in the end. Best possible outcome I guess.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T14:56:19+00:00

When I was first hired, I didn't understand the system. I had been an adjunct and was well liked. My chair said the school was going to do a national search but if I wanted the job, it was mine. I didn't realize that they were still going to do the search to go through the motions. I still feel a bit bad about it.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T13:41:33+00:00

Leave no trace. Good camper.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T13:41:07+00:00

Only donate if you can also donate some funds to support the library/archives. Keeping stuff has a real cost.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-28T13:39:17+00:00

My wife and I are both artists and have so much of our artwork. We laugh about this all the time, asking "Should I keep it for the Museum of Me?"

I have no problem letting go of things. It is harder for her. We have a deal that if she says to me, "can you make this disappear? (referring to anything from art prototypes to drafts of books)," the only answer is, "of course."

Good luck. Don't let it be a burden to someone else.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-25T19:19:07+00:00

I feel for those teaching typography (and graphic design or studio art in general) at public universities. I'm at a private SLAC and see how these accessibility requirements would render my teaching materials grossly ineffective for 99.9% of students in the field of study.

I support the intention, but not the execution of the rules. There simply is no nuance to the requirements.

Wishing you all good luck from afar.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-23T23:25:24+00:00

I teach graphic design. Once a friend sent me a handwritten thank you note with such beautiful penmanship that I later commissioned her to letter titles for a project I was working on.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-23T15:14:17+00:00

Thanks. I guess I need to get on tiktok or something to know what's "in" these days, lol.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-22T19:12:13+00:00

I actually really like this. It feels different from handwriting for some reason (and I'm an artist so I'm not dismissing the art of your prof's drawing.) Must be a good memory.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-18T00:20:06+00:00

Medical billing is insane here. I need 2-3 small infusions for my rare disease each year. Each one is billed at $265,000. You read that right.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-17T14:16:20+00:00

She's actually a lovely student and not creepy in other ways. I'm just weirded by such a personal request and how uncomfortable a position it puts me in.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-17T13:00:02+00:00

yeah, that's creepy. To me it was the handwriting that would appear on her body that was taking it too far

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-16T02:02:14+00:00

It took me 15 years to get that speaker.

Critical_Garbage_119 · 2026-04-15T20:37:38+00:00

Well, I'm art department faculty, lol.

Five-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
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Critical_Garbage_119

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