Bingo!

Congratulations to Meyyappan, who figured out that the lab’s welcome sign (which is duplicated on the electrical panel inside the lab) has finally been updated to reflect the current class lists.

Something’s different

Something in Lab 218 is different as of today, but the period C class couldn't it out.

Can you?

Dubstep

Thanks to Shrumit’s initiative, we had an interesting Studio 218 this week. While not to everyone’s taste, I enjoyed the electronic dance music. It was heavy on the drums and bass, with a real emphasis on rhythm.

Normally Studio 218 contributions are playlists, not audio streams, but I’m glad we made an exception for Digitally Imported’s Dubstep. It made for an energetic studio session—and may have inspired some of the lazier members of my classes to produce their own playlists for next week, if only to avoid another Dubstep session!

Thanks, Shrumit, for helping us meet one of the Studio 218 goals: exposure to new and different music! 

Spring has sprung!

Not outside, perhaps, but Spring has sprung in my classes. There’s a new energy and drive in my students’ approach to their work—and I’m enjoying the change in the “weather!”

The lab has been buzzing, of late, with students helping one another, significant personal gains, and good—good!—questions asked by students who are taking more and more responsibility for their learning. How great is that!?!

Spring has sprung in Lab 218, and I couldn’t be prouder of my students’ accomplishments!

The Day After the Night Before

It’s the day after the night before, and Canada’s a different country. I’m confident that Mr. Layton will make a positive contribution on the national stage—and if not, that Ms. May will give him and Mr. Harper the hook and help us start again.

We’ve interesting times ahead, and my students and I are looking forward to the show!

First Friendster, then Studio 218?

With news of the imminent death of Friendster, I’m left wondering whether Studio 218 might soon face its demise.

Despite the enthusiasm students express for our weekly musical exploration, there’s been a dearth of student playlists all semester. Maybe I should convert Studio 218 into a gaming site!

The votes are tallied!

The votes are in, and next year’s Student Leadership Council has been elected!

Congratulations go to all of the candidates who presented themselves in this election—it’s no shabby accomplishment to have stood for election and campaigned for the support of one’s peers. It takes strength of character and discipline to run in an election, and all of the candidates can justly feel pride in their efforts.

A special shout-out goes to my many past and present students (and Lab Management Team Supervisors!) who ran for an SLC position this year. I’m very proud of them!

Canada votes—but first, Vic Park votes!

Today, my homeform students had the chance to vote for next year’s Student Leadership Council and to participate in Student Vote. At a time of sometimes violent rebellion in parts of the world where citizens don’t have the franchise, it was gratifying to see how eager to exercise their right—and responsibility—were my students. As always, they did me proud!

Code Green

The grass isn’t the only thing turning green this spring: my students are tackling problems of increasing complexity and writing code with increasing sophistication.

I really appreciate their hard word and focus—it’s gratifying to see how they’ve progressed from Code Red to Code Green in just a few short months!

Holiday returns

Passover and Easter constitute an interesting time of year: the intersection of Jewish and Christian calendars and the genesis of the bifurcation of Judaism. For adherents it’s a happy time of year, celebrating liberation and resurrection respectively. For students (and teachers!) of all persuasions, the intersection results in an enjoyable long weekend.

Everyone appeared to have returned to school in good spirits today, and I was delighted to see my students again after what seemed a long separation. It’s good to get back to doing what we enjoy so much: learning together in Lab 218!

Today Mr. Jack Gao, VPCI class of 2010, current co-op double-major CS Waterloo / Business Wilfred Laurier, kindly took questions in my senior classes about his experience of the IB program, university-level computer science, his upcoming software-development co-op placement in California, the university application process, and university life.

Students and teacher alike appreciated both his experience and candour, and his generosity in sharing his time with us. Perhaps next year he’ll visit again and share some of his Silicon Valley advertures!

Exodus

Passover is the epic story of a people’s liberation from bondage and their acceptance of the laws defining ethical behaviour.

Liberation is a personal matter, but one which speaks to the relationship between an individual and others. Education, too, is a personal matter, but one which is fostered in a community of learners.

In today’s daily logs, I asked the students of my senior classes to consider their responsibility for their own education and to devise a plan, to be effected by them in cooperation with their peers and teacher, for advancing that education to the level that best meets their needs and aspirations.

In some way, I’m asking for an exodus from the self-imposed restrictions of juvenile behaviour and the acceptance of the power and authority of adult behaviour. I’m asking students, as the Passover story has it, to consider an exodus not of others, but of them, themselves.

The anxious GPS

Tests are hard on both students and teachers. Students are anxious to present themselves in the best possible light, and often they are anxious about inadequacies they think should be kept hidden. Teachers are anxious to set tests which accurately evaluate students’ knowledge, understanding, and skill; and are anxious again about accurate and timely marking.

Despite the anxiety which they provoke, tests focus everyone’s mind on what’s happened and what should come next. Students are plainly shown where they’re strong and where they’re weak; teachers are shown which lessons went well and which failed to engender the necessary learning. Students learn which of their academic behaviours are successful and which need revision or replacement; teachers learn where remediation is required and which lessons should come next.

Since students and teachers are partners dedicated to student success, tests serve them both: it’s hard to progress on your journey when you don’t know where you are. Tests are hard on both students and teachers, but they’re a GPS without which both would be lost.

U of T opens house!

There’s much activity in Lab 218 these days: the grade-11 and grade-12 classes are preparing for tomorrow’s test, and the grade-10 class is making increasing progress against the Repetition assignments. I’m quite pleased with everyone’s progress and looking forward to tomorrow.

Nota bene: It’s short notice, but students are encouraged to attend the University of Toronto Department of Computer Science Open House this Saturday.

Day of Pink

As gratifying as it was to see so many students, teachers, and other staff members wearing pink today, I must confess to disappointment in my homeroom students. After daily reminders in the morning announcements, a poster campaign, a request that students mark the date in their agendas, the feature-of-the-week in the Daily Log, and yesterday’s blog posting, I had confidence in my students—and they let me down.

In the room just across the hall, every single student in Ms. T.’s class wore pink—as did Ms. T. herself. Now that’s spirit, camaraderie, and support!

Anticipating the Day of Pink

Day of Pink is the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, and Homophobia in schools and communities. Day of Pink organizers invite everyone to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, organizations, communities, and schools.


Have you ever seen a friend hurt because of discrimination? Have you been hurt yourself? Discrimination comes in many forms including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, agism, and anti-Semitism—just to name a few. These social diseases create barriers, bullying, harassment, hate, and violence. No one should have to experience the negativity created by discrimination. Day of Pink is more than just a symbol of a shared belief in celebrating diversity—it’s also a commitment to being open-minded, accepting differences, and learning to respect each other.

The Toronto District School Board supports anti-bullying through a Board-wide call to action, urging every school and every staff member and student to join the anti-bullying campaign by wearing pink on Wednesday, April 13, to show our support against bullying and for tolerance. (Image and abridged text from Day of Pink; additional abridged text from TDSB. All retrieved 2011-04-11.)

Taking a snapshot of progress

My Java-writing classes will sit tests towards the end of the week. These tests will allow me to take a snapshot of each student’s progress, now that we’re almost at the half-way mark of the semester.

I’m confident that those students who have been keeping up with their work will breeze through the test. Regardless of the results, I’m looking forward to seeing exactly where everyone one is this week.

Fits to a T!

Today saw enormous productivity in all of my classes: some students are bumping up against the limits of current course work and reaching beyond to learn even greater things, and some students are bumping up against the limits of their knowledge and stretching to catch up with their peers.

Everyone is engaged and determined to learn, a situation which fits me—and the classroom, thanks to some heavy lifting by the grade-12s—to a T!

Tired, but in good spirits!

I wasn’t feeling good, today, but the enthusiasm and energy of my students sustained me all throughout the day. Thanks to their hard work and good humour, I ended the day tired but in good spirits!

Go Panthers!

This morning we were treated to a rousing spectacle: our Student Leadership Council, Athletic Council, and theatrical players all strutted their stuff before an appreciate crowd in the main gymnasium.

It’s always a delight to see my students in their other school roles! Who knew that AB was a drummer, that LG was a tennis player, or that FR was a thespian?

Go Panthers!