Accessing slide decks

On Twitter I followed a thread regarding if professors make their slide decks available for students.

I like higher ed Twitter because I get to see what others in my profession are thinking and doing.

This semester I'm teaching 3 classes:  my SPAN 2312 is online with 2 sections, my SPAN 1412 has an online section and a face to face section and my SPAN 1411 has 2 face to face sections.  It's a lot of prep.

I've taught the 2312 online previously.  It's asynchronous but we have Zoom study sessions students can choose to participate in.  I have lecture videos that they can watch.  I'm at peace with that.

My 1412 is redesigned.  Last semester I completed redid it using OER materials.  The online section is complete but I'm working class by class to build the slide decks for the face to face classes.

I like the challenge of it, but it's an awkward process.  Pacing is tricky because I don't know how long each activity will take.  

My face to face sections are in the "flipped class" model.  I lecture as little as possible, giving them time to ask questions about the concepts and practice using them in class.

After the class, I am posting a pdf of the slides we're using in my 1412 class.  I'm doing this because well, I don't want to shortchange them as I'm figuring out how much time to spend on each activity.

However, in my 1411 sections I've used these slides for a few semesters.  I'm confident with which activities we need to do.  I don't feel the need to post the slide decks because the material is all within their Canvas class already--I just put it on slides.

I have a 15-yr-old son.  We talked through if I should make slides available to students.  He was adamant that I should.  I tried to explain that it's not a great fit because

1-in the flipped class model they already have all the material we'll cover in class.  (We do practice it together but that's the point of attending a face to face class).

2-I record each class session on Zoom and they can watch after class.  If they want to see the slides they are accessible there.

3-I prefer students don't use their computers in class.  I want them engaged with each other and with what we're doing. 

Maybe one day I'll change my mind about this, but I feel like we're in a culture that thinks more "stuff" is better.  More slides means more opportunity to learn.  I don't agree.

I prefer students use the materials I've provided to prepare for class and then hand write in class.  I may be old fashioned but that's my preference.

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