One Down......

 First day of classes done.

Students in class and others online. In someways it went better than I expected, and other it was harder than expected.

With only a few students spread out across the classroom, disruption and distraction was at a minimum. However getting feedback by looking at their mask covered faces is difficult if not impossible. Getting feedback from the virtual learners is not to bad, as you can see their faces..unless they have a low speed connection. 

It felt, at times, like I was talking to myself.

Chemistry had their first lab on the first day. Simple thing of finding the density of water using various volumes. Really it was introducing them to electronic balances, and seeing how well they can measure and do some simple math things. They will need reminders on how to label numbers and how to use data tables, but that is fine, they have not been in lab for at least six months. 

They were somewhat surprised we would have a lab, not sure why, but we did. Had it set up so that the students in class were paired with a virtual student, so they could work together. We did this using breakout rooms in Google Classroom. I found an app to do this with, called,  of all things, Google Meet Breakout Rooms. We need to work out the sound issues we were having in the classroom. I need to mute my stuff while the kids are working. I will see how it works tomorrow in physics lab. 

As always after the first day, I am tired and ready for a nap. So, that is all.