Simon's Fulbright USA 2016

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

This week is the first one for us at IU. I am taking two papers and attending another. One is on Education Psychology. The format is discussion based on readings. So the onus is on you to be prepared. The other paper is on motivation, engagement and thinking skills through IT in the classroom. Its on Saturday between 8am and 1pm. Another class, I am attending is one run by my IU Inquiry Project Supervisor. He is training young Science teachers for placement. The students today had to do a mock 5 minute teaching slot to their peers. I will also contribute in the lessons.

Still mastering the systems. Swam in the IU pool yesterday and vast Rec complex with huge gyms and great facilities. Still most of it was packed with young students. We have animals all around us on campus: birds, rabbits, bats, insects (a ripper of a preying mantis 10cm long), deer, squirrels, skunk, gopher, raccoon. All seemingly mingling into the outer areas of campus which is leafy and green with pasture and small forested areas. Here is a little rabbit that was 2 metres from our bus stop on a busy street - completely unperturbed by walkers and passing cars.

We catch the busses everywhere and then walk. The bus system is free to all students with the ID card. Sylvie pays a flat rate of a dollar. The Bloomington Worldwide Friends Organisation are a group of people who take in students like us Fulbrighters for some outings and dinners. Our hosts are Frank and Martha - who invited us to their house last Sunday night. We had a lovely dinner and found out a few more things we didn't know about our area. What a wonderful idea and we are very grateful for their interest and commitment to us.

Another part of our integration into IU are the staff at CIEDR. They have been just superb in orienting us to the University, helping us settle in to our apartments, shop (!) etc. and going through all the documentation that has to be completed. We have had total support and are very lucky to have such a committed and helpful department focussing us and our exchange. CIEDR promotes the international scholarship of engagement through cross-cultural educational research and development to improve education and the social condition in the U.S. and abroad. Here is the link: http://education.indiana.edu/ciedr/

Take a bow CIEDR team! Oarsome with a capital O (spell checker said Awesome - what!?)

Tornado Warning Today

We experienced our first tornado warning today. You receive text and email alerts telling you to head for a shelter. So, off we went with about 85 others to the basement of a building. IU staff were excellent in running the evacuation. We are in the yellow hashed zone. And here we are in the basement.