The Life of a Wannabe Academic

Detail of the life a new academic. The progress from graduate training to professor. Includes reflections on the job hunting process, research in technology and education, and what it is like to be a new college professor.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Year One Done

Well, it is now official. I have successfully completed my first year at a real college job! Final grades were posted on Tuesday, I have finished writing my self-evaluation and creating my goals for the next year. This means that I am done with all that was expected of me for this year. Oh, yes I have a few things I will still need to add to my evaluation, but it's basically finished. I also have a few events to go to including the senior celebration dinner tonight and commencement activities tomorrow.

It has been a great year overall. I have found this school to be nearly exactly what I wanted when I first discovered that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I look forward to next year. I will have many more responsibilities, but I believe this first year has allowed me to dip my toes into many of the activities that I will be engaging in next year (advising, teaching, committee work, etc). It will be a busy year, but I look forward to the challenge. I have 2 research projects planned, a committee assignment that might land me in the chair position, involvement in investigating Moodle as an alternative to Blackboard, a new load of advisees, and two new classes to teach. It will be a busy one, but I also think it will be fun and rewarding.