OMG! It's the first week!

This is a funny picture of a "guy in the headlights" from afraidtotrade.com . There is no digital copyright on the picture. Anyway, it really captures how I feel about designing course activities for the first week of class.

Like, what's the problem dude? I've already done it and things were fine--at least in a hybrid course. I mean, sure there was some confusion but all in all nothing too bad. But now that I'm becoming educated on the expectations and pitfalls--I'm frozen, totally drawing a blank.

Plus, two weeks ago I got my first experience of my online course site not working. It was the day after my cavalier remark "well, if somebody thinks I'm misappropriating their copyright they can ask me to take it down!" Then it dawned on me, nobody asks, they just pull the plug on you. It's like coming to class to find the door locked and only a sticky note "sorry for the inconvenience."

The first week of class is where the chaos creeps in. No matter how perfectly a person has it planned, some unforeseen detail throws a monkey wrench into your solar plexus. Especially if it's something totally obvious, a complete no-brainer. There's always a handful of students drawn to those invisible pitfalls like bees to honey.

What else is there to do? Pretend you planned it that way! "Oh! I was wondering how long it would take you to find that. Ten bonus points for being the first student to get there!" And get ready for some sleepless nights...

Anyway, here's some short & interesting podcasts from Earth Watch radio, suitable for a geography class. Enjoy! And good luck on your 1st week of activities!

1. Dust storms in Africa might shape the weather over the Atlantic Ocean. By Adam Hinterthuer ; Earthwatch Radio.

2. Weather systems in Alaska can break up icebergs in Antarctica. By Adam Hinterthuer ; Earthwatch Radio.

3. The western prairies of Canada might be in for a very long dry spell. By Bradford Lystra ; Earthwatch Radio.