Partner Interview

I was interviewed by Victoria. She asked some interesting questions, and I posted my answers to her questions here.

1. What brought you to the Assessment class this summer? What do you hope to take away from it?

I am taking the class in preparation for license renewal. I think assessment is challenging in face-to-face classes and perhaps even more so in online classes. I hope to learn ways to reduce the amount of time I spend grading papers while increasing my confidence that I have accurately assessed the learning my students have accomplished.

2. How do you currently spend your professional and personal time?

I currently teach business electives as a part-time instructor for an online high school in Wisconsin. I also own and operate a small business. I would love to increase the amount of personal time I can devote to such things as reading, travel, and wildlife appreciation. Those are the things i try to do when I have a little personal time in the summer.

3. What is your favorite way to spend a lazy summer afternoon?

A perfect, lazy summer afternoon would certainly involve some time taking pictures of wildlife and “training” the chipmunks. Every year we have many individuals who sit in our lap and take peanuts from our hand. At night, the flying squirrels come to see what is on the menu (black sunflower seeds are everyone’s favorite).

4. I see from your profile that you enjoy wildlife photography. What is your favorite picture and how did you get the shot?

My favorite picture is one of a bear who came to the yard several times a week last summer. She would eat all of the hazelnuts and grapes I had available. The picture shows her eating the grapes from a bench. She was sitting on one side of the bench, and I was sitting on the other side. The only part of me that is visible are my knees, but she is going after those grapes from only 6 inches away. The photographic composition is by no means a masterpiece, but it is special to me because it shows how people and wild animals can co-exist peacefully when there is mutual respect for each other.

5. What is your picture of the ideal future for you?

The ideal future for me would be to continue teaching part time in the online environment. I would get to enjoy the satisfaction that comes from seeing my students grow and learn. At the same time, I could spend time continuing to do the other things that provide personal satisfaction outside of work.

See below for a photo of flying squirrels and a link to a time lapse video of them in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cH56pU7Tos