Inspired by my blog buddy Amy Csizmar Dalal, let me share five good things in my life right now.
5 Good Things
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Author Archives: Janet Davis
What I was like as a student
Me ca. 1997, wearing the HMC “Claremont Smog Scale” t-shirt – in grey, of course. Note the loose hair and awkwardly amused expression. Photo courtesy Bob Keller (may he rest in peace).
At a recent (virtual) gathering of friends and colleagues, Sharon Alker asked, “What were you like as a student?” This blog post is an extended response to her question—partly for Sharon and my other faculty friends, partly for my students (particularly one graduating student who I think might gain some insight into our relationship over the last few years), and partly, as always, for myself.*
2020 in review
At Whitman, like at many other institutions of higher education, faculty submit an annual activity report. Why? As with annual reviews in any profession, it’s a prod to reflection and self-evaluation. We don’t work closely with our nominal boss, the Dean of the College, so it serves to inform her of our workload and accomplishments. She uses this information to determine raises for the following academic year. (Not that I expect there will be raises this year—except, I hope, promotion raises for those who are so entitled.)
I’ve never been moved to blog about my annual activity report before. It’s a routine chore. But this activity report, post-sabbatical and mid-pandemic, left me thinking, “Wow, I got a lot done last year!” That’s despite spending 2 1/2 months at home with my toddler, and despite spending much of the fall semester feeling completely feckless. I think my 2020 activity report tells a story about the nature of faculty work and the mood of 2020. Continue reading
We are hiring!
Whitman is hiring a one-year visitor in computer science:
The Computer Science Department at Whitman College is seeking candidates for a one-year position in Computer Science, at the rank of visiting instructor or visiting assistant professor, beginning August 2021. M.S. or higher education teaching experience in Computer Science or a related discipline is required.
The successful candidate will offer multiple sections of either Introductory Computer Science in Python or Data Structures in C++ or Java, plus at least one further Computer Science course at an intermediate or advanced level. The teaching load is five course sections per year; our largest sections include about 30 students.
To learn more and apply, see https://whitman.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/47
Please share with anyone who might be interested. I am happy to answer any questions.
Five years of research in 33 minutes
At Whitman, faculty are required to give a public talk after each sabbatical. Most faculty fulfill this obligation through a talk in the Faculty Forum series – as did I, this past Wednesday.
This talk summarizes five years of research on four projects:
0. Survey of technology to influence language use
1. Media analysis of Just Not Sorry
2. Value sensitive design of Degender the Web
3. Development of Reading for Gender Bias
It was surprisingly fun. Please watch below:
Habits for Spring 2021
I’ve realized part of what made the fall semester so difficult is that I was so overwhelmed, I lost track of many of the routines that sustain me. It’s not like this hasn’t happened before, but I can’t remember it ever happening so badly for so long.
So as part of my preparations for the spring 2021 semester, I thought about habits I want to continue from the winter break, resume from earlier in my professional life, or begin anew. Continue reading
Lessons learned from my first semester of Grading for Equity
This fall, I made my first experiments with Grading for Equity, an approach intended to address inequities in traditional points-based grading schemes. Alongside, I adopted the supporting practice of specifications grading. Soon it became clear I was not one instructor acting alone, but part of a movement among CS educators responding to the uncertain conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’ve been asked to blog on my lessons learned, so I will. But first, to warm up, I’ll tell the story of how I got started.
Reflections on Fall 2020
Fall 2020 was my most difficult semester of teaching ever: more difficult than my first terms teaching at UW, Grinnell, or Whitman; more difficult than the fall I was pregnant; and more difficult than my return to teaching after maternity leave.
Why so difficult? Given the state of the world, surely that must be a rhetorical question – but there are reasons. Continue reading
Pre-registration for Spring 2021
I didn’t know what to expect from pre-registration for spring 2021. The College is making plans to be in residence this spring while local COVID-19 cases are rising. But once again, our classes have mostly filled; our numbers look remarkably similar to those for last spring. Continue reading
Please welcome our visitor, Cary Gray
As previously announced, we are thrilled that Cary Gray will be joining CS at Whitman as a visitor for the 2020-21 academic year. Continue reading
Counting From Zero 