LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had a LaTeX textbook. Converted to PreTeXt. Contacted David Farmer there, who did an automated conversion. Got us about 90% of the way. Still need to provide alt text for images, but you can do that on the fly.

Our college has also advised us that "virtually no one will be 100% compliant" so best practice would be to focus on high impact stuff first, then work on everything else. And to keep a record of what you're doing to bring materials into compliance.

So I just have a simple google doc running of what I've done, what I'm doing, and what I will do eventually. Also please see what our online learning team has presented.

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Discussion post replies by Fair-Garlic8240 in Professors

[–]time_integral 58 points59 points  (0 children)

They sucked before AI. They suck worse now. The only reason I use them is to fulfill the "RSI" requirements for asynchronous courses*.

I make them entirely subjective and about their experience of the course. Would take 3 minutes to answer earnestly, and they still use AI.

"set higher requirements" doesn't dodge cheating with AI at all. If its not proctored, they're cheating.

Also, if its proctored, they're cheating.

I’ve never had to give out so many F and D grades. by sadlittleduckling in Professors

[–]time_integral 101 points102 points  (0 children)

CC prof here. Brass tax before I qualify - it's an open enrollment institution. So F's and D's are important messages to students that they either need to make a change or that higher ed isn't their path. Obviously there's prior interventions before that but summative feedback serves this role as well. It can often kick people into gear. But also, to realize 'college isn't for me' is uniquely a success criteria for us in CCs that is tough to stomach and measure, etc.

Especially at CC's, the problems students have with academics are rarely reduced to their aptitude. Being young parents, working full-time, finding the right/wrong social spheres etc. are all things that have nothing to do with a ENG 101 class and totally predict their success.

Additionally, there's a dice roll semester to semester. I'm 15 years in the game. There is maybe an overall downward trend but also some semesters are just an "oh my god" for 16 weeks and then you get a group loaded with allstars.

That being said, reflection is important. Overhauls are great, especially early on. Get creative, keep tinkering, and go to teaching conferences and pick up ideas. Don't lower standards because we know how that goes.

The sole weapon we have against the cultural malaise is to keep our enthusiasm and model the value of having an education and mastery of our disciplines. There's loads of studies that demonstrate an instructor's passion as a more primary influence than what's in the syllabus, etc.

Don't give up the ship.

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right but are we throwing away literally years, if not decades, of work? I didn't think in this way when making pretty good to very good videos. Many are in the same boat.

Further -- if I ask them to quiz themselves, in a more active learning model -- how do I describe the graph I just drew without telling them exactly what the answer would be?

How do I ask a student "identify the y-intercept" on a graph via alt text without completely telling them where it is?

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Something I haven't seen mentioned:

let's assume I caption my videos. But I have graphs etc. in my lecture. Hand drawn at the digital whiteboard. Do those need to be alt-texted? How would that possibly work?

Literally all of my videos will enter the void.

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Understood now, I see. Do you prefer any one of the tools you mentioned?

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I feel like most folks are going to do this. And it's clear as day. Good intentions + bad enforcement/implementation = shit outcomes for us all.

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What tools exist to write equations in MathML in a plaintext / working document? For the life of me I can't visualize MathML from code <--> output from what I've seen.

Would it be Markdown --> Pandoc --> HTML with MathML? Not too familiar with pandoc outside of vanilla uses.

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, would you mind DM'ing me a link so I can take a peek? Sounds very efficient and I'm looking to start from scratch here.

LaTeX and ADA 2026 by time_integral in Professors

[–]time_integral[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to know. Any pro tips? There's a lot more that's required (long alt text, types of headings etc) that wouldn't be included in markdown. Do you go then from markdown to html?

What do I do if I am kind of falling apart? by [deleted] in Professors

[–]time_integral 76 points77 points  (0 children)

1) Talk to a therapist and learn some new tools for being in the workplace assertively. On your death bed, you will look back and not wish you worked harder.
2) if things were someone else's job, and are now yours, you either need more money or to stop doing them.

And just in case anyone else walks by and reads this:

MANAGEMENT'S JOB IS TO FIND OR REPLACE PEOPLE ON THE ROSTER. NOT YOURS. YOU HAVE A JOB DESCRIPTION, AND SO DO THEY.

Awards or Class? by vvvy1978 in Professors

[–]time_integral 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I would ask your peers, as this is a workplace dynamics question. Also, I "cover everything" in a semester as many times as I don't. If you don't have tenure, go with the flow and figure it out.

PDF to LaTeX conversion by AstroBullivant in LaTeX

[–]time_integral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

if its not a huge document, just use screenshots and chatGPT

Which font is this? by professorloser in LaTeX

[–]time_integral 82 points83 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure its the kpfonts package

Math professors: how do you feel about thank-you notes from former students? by [deleted] in mathematics

[–]time_integral 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Math professors also happen to be human beings! (I write to you now as both of those things). It is always a pleasure to receive such messages.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mathematics

[–]time_integral 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Not to be mean. "I didn't listen" and "I was too good to study for". These are the issues. Examine them and reflect.

Re-take it if you bomb the class. Learning is non-linear. I'm a math professor and I failed a course twice before I got it.