School Days

I have spent the last two days back in school and it has made it all much more real. The sensations of being on a campus – denuded as it is during the summer term, the buzz of activity, class discussions, and even the hassles of getting my student ID all contributed to the feeling of happiness that pervaded my being. Perhaps I should have pursued a career in teaching college – not because I enjoy teaching but just because I do love school.

Boy has school changed though! I was amazed to find I did not need my laptop at all: every desk (in both the classroom and the library) comes complete with a workstation. I found that I could access everything I have at home including my notes on OneNote.  (If only I had known before lugging the 200lb laptop – I swear the thing was adding pounds by the second – around with me on the aforesaid student ID quest!) Online access made it easy to work along with the professor when she explained how to research certain concepts. I am finding it hard to imagine how they taught the class prior to the advent of ubiquitous computing. It is so much easier to learn when you can do it for yourself.

It was nice though to be able to get the in-class experiences of class discussion, making new friends and interacting with the professor. I was a little concerned that the past few years experience would have made me shy to speak up in class but I am, apparently, still as opinionated and vocal as ever.