I typed 'short fiction' into the university library search tool. I had selected 'key words', and was hoping to be directed to anthologies (guess I shoulda typed THAT) or single author collections. Instead, I was presented with one item - a biography - titled The Story of a Midget. Even if I was kidding, it wouldn't be funny.
When I attended the Teaching Practices Colloquium last week, I knew what I was looking for - collegiality, inspiration, criticism, and direction. The keynote speaker, Dr. Frank Robinson (University of Alberta), provided enough inspiration to light a fire under the most dampened spirits among us. You can find out more about his inspiring approach to teaching here: Heifer In Your Tank - Origins and watch a cool video of a student project here: GnRH Says Go Gonad: The Musical . He was worth the price of the ticket.
I had no trouble finding collegiality either. From beginning to end, the atmosphere was polite, supportive, and encouraging. Criticism though, and direction were in short supply. Maybe the medium I chose to present my work was a problem. The conference posters, numbering less than 10, were relegated to a shabby classroom next to the shabby classroom/lunchroom. During the hour that I was asked to be 'with' my poster, 3 or 4 individuals stopped to look at my work, and to 'read' the poster (this is a curious process - they stand there, eating a sandwich, reading. I stand there, trying not to look uncomfortable or to interrupt them). I wondered if I had too much text on my poster, but looking around my work seemed both approachable and appropriate. However, few questions came my way, and the generous dish of free pencils next to the questions and comments book, placed invitingly on the table, remained full - the pages of the booklet empty (well not entirely, an obliging art historian, also a poster-monger, wrote a kind message, as did a psychologist, who must have come by while I was getting a sandwich of my own). Maybe I don't really understand the way an academic poster presentation is supposed to work. Or maybe, as someone close to me is fond of saying, my expectations were too high. In any case, next time I will talk instead. People were more interested in the fact that I had a blog (How did you set it up? Can you show me?) than in the topic of my research. Still, everyone liked the cartoon. ( Dan Piraro - with permission. ) Leave your questions and comments here - sorry, no free pencils.
