I think that may be dead-on.

I’m psyched to see whatever video Stephan and team come up with. I haven’t gotten to observe other teachers since I started teaching. The training that I value most is the extended observations my methods of teaching math course required. Seeing how two different teachers worked, not just in a snippet but over the course of the semester, was invaluable. I miss getting that sense of different ways to approach teaching. The sense of possibility those observations provided.

But what you have going here is slightly different. Better than the pedagogy discussions between pre-service teachers in my theory classes, it offers, “This is what works for me.” It reminds me that I need to be aware of EVERY little detail that goes into my classes. I read what works for other people and my imagination plays it out. There’s no way you, or anyone, could live up to the ideal teacher that I envision.

There’s something to be said for the idea, “You know what good teaching looks like; go and do likewise.” How you convey the idea of what good teaching looks like seems like half the issue. (Differentiate instruction for the audio/visual learners? I think I just talked myself in a circle to answer my own unstated question.)

To the girls, thanks for the well-wishes. I’m excited. It’s nothing melodramatic to say that my life is going to look vastly different in seven months than it does now.

(And don’t most people get engaged, then married, and then go to Hawaii? It was the best story I’d made up. Not that I entertain myself by making up stories about online personalities, say you or anyone who comments here…)

Offer’s off though.

I was an undergrad (21 years ago) when I got married. The week before, I locked my keys in my car while on campus. The traffic enforcement guy from campus security came over and slim-jimmed the door open.

Two day’s later, I did it again. I call security, and the same guy shows up. He pops the lock, and with his hand still on the door handle, turns to me and says, “You gettin’ married?” I kid you not. This was in Los Angeles, not Utah; kids my age just didn’t get married there.

So there is NO WAY I’m working with you until after the honeymoon.

[…]

Okay, nevermind. Offer’s back on. I want this too badly.

Hey, I don’t know about chops; I’m no professional. But I went to USC (great film school), worked at Sorenson (the video compression guys), and Apple (the … well, you know). I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way. Happy to use them any way you would like.

On a related note: USC’s “24/7 DIY Video Summit” is this weekend. See: http://www.video24-7.org/ . I’m waitlisting for the program, but I’m gonna at least hang out at the free screenings if I nothing else opens up. Anyone here email me if you’re going too. [my full name squished together @ gmail]

Which doesn’t automatically preclude Stephen’s idea.

Principally, I know (from going through the exact process Benjamin is cranking through right now) how much work the release forms require. It’d be possible to angle it just-so but even then, factoring in crappy audio and static video, what you imagine of my teaching is probably more valuable to you than how I actually teach.

If that all sounds like self-important garbage then, fine, let’s do it. Most likely, though, I’ll record some individual set-pieces, like, how I open class, how I get into a learning moment, how I get out of it, how I get the class working, how I cajole them, etc. Stuff like When I Talk You Listen.

And I’m gonna be downright mean in coaxing other bloggers to do the same. How sick would it be if I (or Stephen, who seems to have some chops) edited together fifteen top-notch blogger-teachers and how they open a lesson (any lesson). That’d interest me, anyway.

P.S. Mary, bragging rights seems strong enough though maybe I’ve tossed out a candy or some points before. Glad it worked out for you. Fun, easy, fast way to get some buy-in on a question.

Maybe it was the way I scaffolded the lesson (I don’t think so). Maybe it was the bet — the challenge (I think so, since after I announced the “bet” – they were engaged). Who’d have thought!