Class 02: Planning Your Schedule

Held: Tuesday, 23 August 2005

Summary: Today we consider your schedules for your first semester at Grinnell. We also consider some additional issues that you should have thought about as you were developing that schedule.

Due

• Miscellaneous Assignment 1: Orientation (due last night).
• Miscellaneous Assignment 2: Course Planning.

Handouts:

• The SamR FAQ.
• Points from Getting the Most Out Of Your Academic Experience.
• Points from the free software lecture.

Notes:

• I don't have copies of Green and Rebelsky ready yet. I'll try to have them available for your at registration.
• I'm disappointed that four of you did not complete Miscellaneous Assignment 1 on time, but I understand that I may have been slightly unclear about the due date.
• Note that Miscellaneous assignment 3 is due Wednesday evening.
• Today's handouts will remain in electronic form until Thursday so that you have a chance to suggest changes (e.g., add your own points for the two pointed documents, ask questions for the FAQ).

Overview:

• Further topics from first meeting.
• Primary lessons from today's homework.
• Peer evaluation of schedules.
• Group followup.

Stuff I Forgot to Say Last Time

• Apologies for forgetting the signup (and this stuff).
• Short notes on depression and alcohol.
  • Get help early!
  • Please don't drink to excess.
• Questions on food:
  • Will you eat breakfast before coming here?
  • Do you want me to provide coffee/tea?
  • Do you want me to provide fruit/cereal?
• The class Web site
  • How to get there.
  • Daily outlines.
  • Warning! Likely to be partially inaccurate.
• More scheduling: Music and PE
  • Register at registration
  • 100-level for lessons, even if you think it should be higher
• Hmmm ... what else?

Global Lessons

• We'll go around the class, learning what classes returning students recommended and why.
• Additional questions:
  • What was the hardest part about making a four-year plan for a major?
  • What was the hardest part about figuring out prerequisites?
• We'll also look at a few plans in detail.

Peer Scheduling

• Get together in groups of three or four.
• Describe your schedule to each other.
  • List your three preferred courses.
  • Explain why you chose each course.
    • I like subject is not an acceptable explanation.
    • Sam said I have to take subject and the department placed me in this course is an acceptable explanation.
  • List your alternatives.
• Suggest improvements to your peers' schedules.
  • Consider the variety of courses they are taking.
  • Consider the times of day they are taking courses. Are they grouped together? Are they spread apart? Which is better.
• We'll get back together as a group to discuss these issues.
• And yes, we'll also talk a lot individually.