Its rare when you have an opportunity to make so many people unhappy at one time. In a small way it was almost worth it just to see the hand wringing.
We are all such creatures of habit. One small change, to one day of the semester, breaking up groups they are comfortably in for like 111 other days and everyone is diving for the e-stop. Many with some very unfortunate tone, and several obviously without for one second considering the reasons given before deciding that it must be the end of the world.
And that doesn't even allow for some of the reasons that weren't given. Some that have absolutely everything to do with their experience and yet simultaneously absolutely nothing to do with them at all.
I hope the wave washes over and then everyone unclenches some. We're just going to try something once afterall. If it sucks, we won't do it again. And we were only ever talking about the fall. For a myriad of good reasons the spring really has to remain as is. So they are guaranteed of at least one totally status quo semester.
Perhaps that will be some consolation.
I'm glad people did not react to the Crazy Scheme the same way they have to AlphaCrits. Good to know we are not totally bound in our ways. Afterall, with the complete curricular review coming to fruition there are many changes coming up people haven't necessarily heard anything about: a totally new course sequence, new curricular requirements, new unit guidelines, new discipline guidelines, totally new production philosophy, new crew requirements, new season selection procedure...
(or maybe he's just kidding - stay tuned)
If we have to go through this angst every time we try to implement a new initiative its going to be a very stressful next couple of semesters. Really, and I thought I was stubborn.
Everybody fasten your seatbelts, its gonna be a bumpy ride!
Monday, September 12, 2005
Today I Piss of Everybody
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3 comments:
Here it is, the third week of class and we're already talking about the end of the semester.
Semester Reviews are 93 days, 23 hours, 29 minutes and 33 seconds away. But who's counting?
The schedule for the fall reviews is a little different this year. You can see what I mean if you look here:
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/db4r/public/crazy%20crits.pdf
The Spring session will remain the same, but we're trying something new with the fall. Instead of by class, the groups were determined by an incredibly tedious and frankly opaque and unchangeable process. Here's what we're trying to achieve:
1. Evenly populated sessions so that none of the sessions are particularly longer or shorter than others. This should mean that no group will have to hold their presentations to 3.5 minutes.
2. Varied populations of presenters so that as a group students will be able to better place their work in the arc of the experience of being at the School of Drama. Better see where they came from and where they are going.
3. Varied populations of students so that instructors are not in the hot seat for entire sessions, commenting on work on the same projects over and over. Variety being the spice of life and all that.
4. Smaller sessions to allow more space in the room for people to observe.
We are expecting all students to remain through the end of the sessions (12/20) and that we will see many of you come to support your classmates in other sessions or come by at the top or bottom of sessions to see the work that is posted.
Housekeeping:
If you MUST reschedule, send me an email and explain why. I can tell you now we are disinclined to reschedule anyone.
If you're name does not appear in the schedule, send me an email and we will find you a slot.
If you see a name in the schedule that doesn't belong there (their abroad, taking time off, a director, they don't go here...) please send me a ridiculing email exhorting how I don't even know who our students are and pointing out the error.
that is all
I like the AlphaCrits idea. I can see some initial hesitation, but I think it'll end up better. Are crits still in Wells? You're going to have a lot more people in there, with 3-4 classes together. Might not be a bad thing.
i think this is a wonderful idea
-deano
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