Online classes.

[camwyn]

I'm currently taking several MIS classes at the local university. One of them is meeting in an online chatroom this week. It's surreal. The prof asks questions and we have to ask permission to answer. No lecture stuff, just q/a and the occasional few lines of talk from the prof. I slept until 9 AM and got online at 9:05 for the class, even though it started at 9:30. It was just too weird not to have been up since 8, circling the parking lot looking for a space. (Even on Saturdays it's a real pisser trying to find parking, at least within reasonable distance of the building my class is in.)

I'm not sure I like this. I prefer having a record of my class stuff. I prefer having clear boundaries between work and home, and that includes between the class and home. I realize the appeal of all this is that it's convenient and that people can relax and not worry about getting showered, getting to school on time, etc. Myself, I like having to get ready and walk into the classroom, then walk out. It means that I've actually gotten out, seen people, done something, etc. It means the teacher has no claim on my personal space beyond that imposed by homework and study. And it gives me less reason to be lazy- you can't really bring a comic book to class and read it, but it's a powerful urge here when people other than me are being called on to answer questions.

Bah. At least this is happening after I got my cable internet access. I'd hate trying to do this via 56k dialup.

Comments

[cadhla.livejournal.com]

You have just discovered the vague discomfort so well known to all those that have ever been authorized by their workplaces to telecommute. Personally, I revel in the chance to work all day in my leopardy nightshirt and fuzzy socks, but that's largely because I loathe and despise my office. When we were still in San Francisco, I was in nowhere near as much of a hurry not to go in.

The cats also like telecommute days. But then, they're selfish little bastards.