Today, I actually had notes on my computer, in a little PP presentation, to save some time while reviewing and to have fast access to some practice problems.

The LCD projector would not work. It searched, and searched, and searched for my computer. I tried to play with it after class, but no dice.  Why???

It was okay. Review can be okay.

Today I had planned to take my students to the computer lab, to do some computer simulations on Molecular Workbench.  I love molecular workbench. I think the models and simulations are very good. They also have ways for students to answer questions (which I have found to be high quality so far) and submit reports. It is free. Last week, I downloaded it onto one of the computers in the science computer lab, and played around. I planned to have my students download it and go for it.

A week later, when they all try it, it won’t open. It turns out that MW had upgraded their java the day before, and so it wasn’t compatible with the settings on our computers. A work order has been put in, and everything will be upgraded, and the application applied on all the computers and the central server. This is very good. It still put me in a tight spot on Wednesday.

Fortunately I had ideas for Thursday, that I was able to implement. We went into depth on the dissolution of ionic and polar compounds.

Lesson: always ask the technology people for advice on technology. Department heads probably have a pretty good idea of what is going on, but it is not their job to know all the details. Ask the expert.