Zoom Pod, Phone Both
Same diff.

(Found in Suzzallo Library)

Day 2 of Campus
The secret to using light rail at the UW is always to start at the U Distract station but then leave by the University station — that way you always walk downhill. My classrooms are almost equidistant from each station so it’s all about maintaining altitude to minimize effort.

Day 2 of On-Campus
My TA didn’t have a full lesson plan since it’s just the start of class and cut the session short. It was 20 min long instead of 50. I would consider about 3 mins to have been of value.

I spent 1 mile walking, $7 on light rail fares, and 90 min of transit time for those 3 mins.

Annoyance:
The U District light rail station is down 114 stairs from the street. They ONLY put train pass scanners at street level. They are small and unclearly marked.

So when you are on autopilot, and forget, you have to go back up 114 stairs and miss your train.

Impression of the Day #1
One of my professors graduated in 2024, the other is a Masters candidate. Was this ever normal? I’m a bit shocked that classes aren’t taught by PhDs. Half my TAs are undergraduates. That feels odd.

Impression of the Day #2
Technology setup is pointlessly complicated.
I have logged in to at least 7 third party sites and the syllabus isn’t so much a single document as a web of documents, modules, publications and segments spread over all those sites.
Ridiculous net flotsam from professors.

In Suzzalo library, desks are essentially converted to on-demand classroom space.
There are signs in the library allowing a low noise level while attending an online class by Zoom. Since I’m commuting, I have to find these spots since I don’t have a classroom.

My next class is ESRM 210 - Introductory Soils. That’s Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management (because Geology is so passé)

It’s 100% online — synchronous and asynchronous. Some of the lectures can be watched as you like. The Suzzalo Library is an effective Zoom classroom.

I survived my first class: CSE 160 Data Programming. It was odd to be shown a PowerPoint presentation that wasn’t provided in a photocopied book from the Ave.

I successfully took notes on my computer (not paper) and will figure out where the PowerPoint slides live in the maze of class resources.

As promised by the magic sign, the door locks automatically flipped at 9:10am.
I am perplexed. Do I take notes on paper or machine? As the class filled in, it appears the standard is machine. I don’t think my memory works if I don’t take notes in cursive. Wasn’t that hardwired?!?

A lot of anxiety about returning to college centers around how much technology has changed the experience. To that end, a few photos.

I made it, over an hour early. UW is at the top of a hill so it was a leisurely stroll upward but it didn’t count as a climb. I arrived neither winded nor sweaty. It’s 52° and overcast (not Juneuary but not summer either) and of course they are sprinkling the cherry trees and lawn. Go Seattle.

I have successfully ignored the University of Washington stop (which only serves the stadium) and exited at the U District stop which is a 15 min walk to class.

I accidentally rode two extra stops on the way (and turned around) because light rail is surprisingly fast, smooth, and quiet.

The UW “has an app for that” called Canvas. It integrates everything: syllabus, assignments, grading, calendar, notifications, messaging.

So, of course, the CS department is ignoring it entirely and has been messaging me all morning through two separate systems: EdStem and Gradescope.

Brilliant.

7:41am
Text: “Tap worked.”

7:44am
Seat acquired at Beacon Hill. I didn’t think about the additional challenge of riding standing up the whole way.

Also: I have a new appreciation for train drivers who may miss the ideal station stopping point. Thanks TrainSim3000!

I’m going to live tweet my first day of college. I mean, sure it’s really my umpteenth day of college, but the first one in 23 years and it feels big.

So far:
7:40am My new student ID doesn’t look like it will be usable as an Orca card. It’s too thin.

“Mom” (aka Mark): Do you have a backup?