Here's a link to OSU's IT Service Desk. This site, among other things, can help you forward your Buckeye Mail to other email accounts.
See you tomorrow!
Andrew (WPA)
How Much Money Is Considered Wealthy?
2 weeks ago
Meet the Director
PQW FAQ's
Now that we're only a few weeks away from the start of the school year and only 4.5 days away from the start of Pre-Quarter workshop I'm running into new GTA's everywhere, all with questions about PQW.
FAQ's (with a few slacker questions that people actually asked)
1) Will there be food?
FREE breakfast and coffee. Everyday. Last year it was from Brenen's (the coffee shop across from campus on High St. and 15th)
2) Do I have to get up in the morning?
Yes, but you don't have to be there until 9:30am. It's usually over by 2:30pm and there is a lunch break. Work days don't get much shorter than that.
3) Do I have to do the reading?
Will there be a quiz? No. Will you have a hard time planning your curriculum around readings you haven't done? Yes. Do them.
4) Will we do a lot of ice breakers, hand-holding, and crying?
No. This training takes a more academic approach than some group training experiences. Your days will be filled with a mix of presentations, panels, and group discussions. We'll even throw in a few short practice teaching sessions. All of the group activities we do will either be discussion-based or we'll review assignments and give GTA's a chance to preview and participate in the cirriculum.
5) Will we have homework? Will I have free time?
PQW is a much lighter version of the semester schedule, but it is a place to start balancing your workload. If you remember Scott's e-mail, there was a warning that PQW can be intense. The intensity comes from the amount of new information we're presenting and you're digesting.
My recommendation is to try as hard as you can to wrap up loose ends before PQW. If you have lingering summer work or are unpacking try to finish that in early September.
There will be 'assignments' related to course planning and design early in the workshop, and you'll want to spend most of your last two weeks pulling together your syllabus and lesson plans for the fall. We'll also base some sessions around readings that you'll be asked to do at night.
You won't have to kill yourself, but the more you get done during PQW the less you'll have to struggle to balance classes and teaching in fall.
6) Logistics (more than you need to know)
PQW begins at 9:30am at Denney Hall, Rm. 311.
You'll have chairs and folding tables that seat about 5 or 6 and you can usually leave your stuff in the room.
Breakfast will probably be bagels, yogurt, fruit, and coffee. I remember a rush on bananas last year, only the early-birds got them.
You'll get your own binders and university pens.
Bring a laptop if you want to, but there's no need to break your back carrying them if you don't want to. There are computer labs on the third floor you can use if you just need to check your e-mail during breaks.
You're welcome to stay in 311 if you brown bag it. I remember being incredibly broke this time last year. If you aren't, there are plenty of places within walking distance to explore.
The tempature in Denney is like the weather in Ohio, always changing. The air conditioning has been on lately, so I'd recommend a sweater, cardigan, light jacket, etc.
Hope this helps those of you obsessive planners out there. Tomorrow is a post from Scott DeWitt, so I'll see you again Friday.
FAQ's (with a few slacker questions that people actually asked)
1) Will there be food?
FREE breakfast and coffee. Everyday. Last year it was from Brenen's (the coffee shop across from campus on High St. and 15th)
2) Do I have to get up in the morning?
Yes, but you don't have to be there until 9:30am. It's usually over by 2:30pm and there is a lunch break. Work days don't get much shorter than that.
3) Do I have to do the reading?
Will there be a quiz? No. Will you have a hard time planning your curriculum around readings you haven't done? Yes. Do them.
4) Will we do a lot of ice breakers, hand-holding, and crying?
No. This training takes a more academic approach than some group training experiences. Your days will be filled with a mix of presentations, panels, and group discussions. We'll even throw in a few short practice teaching sessions. All of the group activities we do will either be discussion-based or we'll review assignments and give GTA's a chance to preview and participate in the cirriculum.
5) Will we have homework? Will I have free time?
PQW is a much lighter version of the semester schedule, but it is a place to start balancing your workload. If you remember Scott's e-mail, there was a warning that PQW can be intense. The intensity comes from the amount of new information we're presenting and you're digesting.
My recommendation is to try as hard as you can to wrap up loose ends before PQW. If you have lingering summer work or are unpacking try to finish that in early September.
There will be 'assignments' related to course planning and design early in the workshop, and you'll want to spend most of your last two weeks pulling together your syllabus and lesson plans for the fall. We'll also base some sessions around readings that you'll be asked to do at night.
You won't have to kill yourself, but the more you get done during PQW the less you'll have to struggle to balance classes and teaching in fall.
6) Logistics (more than you need to know)
PQW begins at 9:30am at Denney Hall, Rm. 311.
You'll have chairs and folding tables that seat about 5 or 6 and you can usually leave your stuff in the room.
Breakfast will probably be bagels, yogurt, fruit, and coffee. I remember a rush on bananas last year, only the early-birds got them.
You'll get your own binders and university pens.
Bring a laptop if you want to, but there's no need to break your back carrying them if you don't want to. There are computer labs on the third floor you can use if you just need to check your e-mail during breaks.
You're welcome to stay in 311 if you brown bag it. I remember being incredibly broke this time last year. If you aren't, there are plenty of places within walking distance to explore.
The tempature in Denney is like the weather in Ohio, always changing. The air conditioning has been on lately, so I'd recommend a sweater, cardigan, light jacket, etc.
Hope this helps those of you obsessive planners out there. Tomorrow is a post from Scott DeWitt, so I'll see you again Friday.
Meet Another WPA
Hey All,
I'm Andrew Kopec, a WPA for the upcoming school year. I'm from southwest of Dayton, Ohio (Miamisburg, OH) but have called Columbus home for the last three years. In 2008, I finished my MA in American Literature to 1900 at Ohio State and am beginning the second year of my PhD studies. In addition to being a WPA, I'm in the "planning stages" (scare quotes are indeed required here) of a dissertation that focuses on nineteenth-century American literature and am studying for my Candidacy Exams. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone soon and getting to know you over the course of the academic year!
This year you'll be able to find me in the DMP, the newly renovated Thompson Library, or Cam's Cafe at the Wexner Center.
Meet A WPA
Hi, everyone. My name is Ali Salerno, and I'm one of the student Writing Program Administrators that will be helping you out during Pre-Quarter Workshop. I'm originally from Eastchester, NY, and I'm a first-year graduate student in the MFA program in fiction here at OSU. I have enjoyed teaching this past year and I hope to get to know all of you through this process and ensure that you have a great transition into teaching English 110. You can usually find me in 419 Denney Hall, the DMP, or the Clintonville Cup O Joe (seriously, it's the best Cup O Joe, and I don't even live in Clintonville). See you all in a week!
Weekend
Most of the First Year Writing folks are taking a long weekend and enjoying their few last days of summer. Scott went to see the big tennis tourney in Cincy, Ali has family in town, Eddie is 'on the road', but I'm not sure where to, and Andrew is working out of DC this week. I spent a day on campus, running errands and wrapping work on my summer classes.
Campus is starting to fill up; the oval is full of sun bathing ladies and preachers (plus lots of backpack carrying students), the new Thompson Library has more studiers than tour takers, and the RPAC no longer houses camp kids, but actually students and athletes. I also had the privilege of waiting in line for about an hour at Financial Aid. They are definitely gearing up for Fall Quarter (and all the admin issues that come with such a big university). I finally realized why they never answer the phone-- there's a line of about about 20 people and 2 receptionists. My number was 55.
Finally, back to home base, Denney Hall and the home away from home for the WPAs, the Digital Media Project (DMP). The air conditioning is working full force, most of the offices are cleaned and painted, and all the pieces of furniture living in the hallway this summer found permanent homes.
There's a point to this rambly Friday afternoon post: we're getting ready for you. The University, the Department, and the First Year Writing Program.
I'm gonna join the rest of the staff and take the weekend off blogging before our last big prep week before you get here. Hope you all get a chance to take a few days for yourself too.
See you Monday.
Campus is starting to fill up; the oval is full of sun bathing ladies and preachers (plus lots of backpack carrying students), the new Thompson Library has more studiers than tour takers, and the RPAC no longer houses camp kids, but actually students and athletes. I also had the privilege of waiting in line for about an hour at Financial Aid. They are definitely gearing up for Fall Quarter (and all the admin issues that come with such a big university). I finally realized why they never answer the phone-- there's a line of about about 20 people and 2 receptionists. My number was 55.
Finally, back to home base, Denney Hall and the home away from home for the WPAs, the Digital Media Project (DMP). The air conditioning is working full force, most of the offices are cleaned and painted, and all the pieces of furniture living in the hallway this summer found permanent homes.
There's a point to this rambly Friday afternoon post: we're getting ready for you. The University, the Department, and the First Year Writing Program.
I'm gonna join the rest of the staff and take the weekend off blogging before our last big prep week before you get here. Hope you all get a chance to take a few days for yourself too.
See you Monday.
