Tonight was my “TUI TIC EXPO”.  Every sunday for hmm.. 7 weeks now I guess, I’ve been taking classes given by TUi on how to become a teacher.   The program was a LOT of fun, but also a LOT of work.

We learned how to use some teacher tools, covered griefers, how to write effective classes, how to handle some various situations.  Lots of homework, but very fun.

The real EXPO is Sunday, but I’ll be out of town so they let me do mine tonight

I taught “Waffle Case for Tinies” and “Daisy Raft for Tinies” and had 5 students each class (that was the limit for tonight!).  I’ll teach them again soon, and have room for a few more students each time!

There’s photos up on Flickr, but I’ll cross-post them here too.  Incoming photo spam!

Thank you to Lishi Nishi and Derrek Paine for all the hard work they did on the classes.  I’m officially a Student Teacher at TUi now yay!

I’m so wired from all the anxiety this past week over teaching finally, that I am unable to think clearly.. I’ll blog more later!

I’m starting to twitch a little.

Soon I’ll teach my very first classes.  They’re mocks tonight though (a mock is to test the class).  I’ll teach them for real soon.  I mean this *is* for real, but not… for real.  Two tonight, then a third after vacation.   Then I’ll be able to teach them again and they won’t be mocks, yay!

I was pretty okay most of the day, now I’m starting to get really nervous.  I’ve read over the notes, practiced setting my class up so many times now, made sure everything is just right.  I’m going to fix myself some tea for during the classes, and hopefully I don’t throw up mid way.

I am TERRIFIED to be honest.

*paces back and forth*

I think I’ll go finish my RL laundry, it’ll keep me busy another 15m at least!

but…. I’m working on a Waffle themed class to give eventually…  shhhh

No set time frame, but maybe within a month (not *THE* month, but a month.. like.. 30ish days)

*fends off Zayn with bribe Waffles*  WAFFLES!!!!!!

(hoooooooooo!)
Btw Zayn, I just totally picture you sitting there shaking and twitching because I wrote in my blog the most important word of the day…….

WAFFLES!!!

P.S.  Dear Raglan Shire, have you hugged your waffles today?

Hee… Waffles have their own category now.  Cause I do loves the waffles <3

URL:  Official Second Life Status Page (Check for downtime!)

URL:  Museum of Robots (competition!)

Three completely unrelated topics, but I don’t feel like making 3 blog entries.

First up, have you checked the Status Page?  It’s 9am SL time, and do you know how your SL is?  It’s down!  *twitch*  Ah well, I’m getting stuff done around the house that I had planned for this afternoon.  Next up is to get my workout in so I don’t have to do it later!

Next up, robots!  I saw a banner over at SLExchange last night for a contest at Museum of Robots.  Unfortunately I don’t have a LM I can post since I can’t get in grid to grab it.  But if you scroll to the bottom of that MoR page, there’s a LM to click for later!

I think I will try to build a robot!  100 prim limit, there’s info on how to submit and what categories there are.  Then the robots go on display for a while too!  I have some ideas forming up, just need to get in world to start building to see if what’s in my head looks good in prim form.

Now on to stuff.  I think my 10 minute class is as ready as it can be.  I don’t know if I’m ready, but I think the notes and stuff are set now.  I feel queasy when I think about it.  It’s one thing to help friends with building tips, it’s totally different to intentionally stand in front of a crowd with the plan to teach something.  I stand in front of a crowd for speed/blitz builds and show and tells all the time but for some reason that’s less scary.  Show and Tells do make me queasy though.

The VAA Haiku Blitz makes me less queasy of all the contests I enter.  I don’t know why, maybe because I can’t actually see the bleachers.  I always get the feeling that there’s only a couple watchers and mostly it’s just builders.

I think NCI should try the no-texture rule for the blitz.  That was a lot of fun at TUi’s speed build this past week.  It’d be neat to see how people build just using blank (no plywood!) and colors, shine and so on.  Then no one would have to load a zillion textures :)  Nice side bonus, especially for Bevvy who always seems to have the worst time rezzing our builds eek.

Well I guess I’ll go do some laundry and clean the bathroom now.  SL is still down.

Wait, no.. first up.. food.

(Edit hah, as I finish writing I see SL is just slowly coming back up about 9:15am SL)

No no no, I’m not teaching it yet!  I’m in the TUi teachers in creation program.  Sunday will be class #4.  The time is going by a lot faster than I thought it would.  It’s kind of scary!

I keep waiting to be told we get to decorate our plushy!  TUi teachers give out a plushy, I want to decorate one.  Come onnnnn!  *hops around on all four paws*  Plushy decoration time!  Is it time yet?  Huh? Now?  How about now?  Are we there yet Papa Smurf?  Not far now!!

But, I am very excited.. it’s going along well and I got the review (or.. whatever it’s called hehe) back on it.  I was stressed to the point of being queasy waiting to hear back about it.  It’s okay though!  Yay!

I have a few things to add to the notes to make it just right.  My anxiety fires up when I think about my 10 minute practice class coming up this weekend.  It doesn’;t help that I have serious anxiety problems prepping for a RL art class too this weekend!

The 10 minute class is not a real class as far as inviting people to hear it.  Er.. that doesn’t make sense does it?  It’s not a publicly open class, it’s just going to be given to the other teachers in training.  But, if you really want me to show you how to use the Copy Selection tool.. I will.   It’s a fine tool to use!  Yarrrr.  :)  That’s what my topic is for this weekend.  It’s making me have cold sweats just blogging about giving my presentation, how sad is that!?

I’m stressed about it.  I’ve practiced the 10 minute class quite a few times, adding notes here and there and revising the wording now and then.  I think it’s good now though.  I can give it in under 10 minutes, actually it’s about 5 minutes of just text reading speed but I am allowing a little extra time for questions and the fact there will be more than just me working out the tasks at hand.

In addition to this 10 minute class, I’m also working on a one hour class.

So once I finish up my upcoming 1 hour class notes, I think I’m set for the official day!  I’m not quite sure what day that’ll be, but hopefully in about 3 or 4 weeks.   Once I get this main class sorted out just perfect,  I’ll start working on a second.  I need to focus myself down to one idea though.  I have quite a list going, some new sketches drawn up today too.

It’s just a huge relief to get a good review of my class and not be told “This is poo, do it again!” hehe

It’s hard work, these classes.  Totally worth it though.  I’m glad and thankful to those who nudged me to sign up.  It’s kind of a big thing for me to do with the way my anxiety is, very proud of myself so far!

I just hope I don’t throw up while teaching my first real class.  What a thing.. to have to go AFK to barf and leave the class sitting there throwing spitwads at me. eeeehehe… mmmm spitwads..

nomnomnom  (nom.)

I’ve been working on my homework!  I joined the TUi Teachers in Creation program.  The third class was yesterday.  I knew it’d be hard.  It’s a lot of fun, but it is confusing at times so far.  The homework is massive too since I have no experience in creating classes.

My current project is to finalize a 10 minute class.  I’ve chosen to teach the Copy Select tool.  I think I have it ready to go, but later this week I’m going to test it out with Brandie.  I don’t really know yet what I’m supposed to do as far as getting the info from my  notes and into the class.  This class is short, so I’ll copy/paste I think.

I’m also working on my first official class too, it’ll be an hour long build.  Well it’s supposed to be an hour.  I’m not sure if mine really fills the time fully.  Going to do a test run of this one too.  I’m waiting to hear back for approval on it though, I think Derrek and Lishi are going to read the notes everyone handed in first.

So with that I have to create a class layout.  It’s not like NCI where there’s the same seating for every event, there are no seats provided.  It’s up to us as teachers to create seating, platforms to build on, or whatever else our class needs for the topic at hand.  Some teachers use the same class layout for every class, but just the same.. they had to build it.

I love building my class layout :)   My f irst class is only going to teach 5 people.

The expo is on the 6th of July, but I won’t be here for it *sniff*  It’s to let all the brand new teachers who have completed the course a chance to show off their newly built classes.  So I don’t get to show off my class on the same night as the rest of the other teachers in the class.  I’ll have to show it a few days later.  I’m a little disappointed in that.   Maybe if I get it ready, I could show it early?  Hopefully I don’t miss any graduation parties too! OHMYGOSH I’m gonna cry if I do! hehe

Time to get back at re-reading my notes, it’d be a huge relief if I can get this done early in the week.  I won’t have Saturday or early Sunday to work on it ack!

*sniff*  They gave us tons of homework to do this week!

Lishi, Derrek… homework is for nomming, not actually doing!

I have to work on my write up for the class.  Plus work on a 10 minute class.  There’s more to the homework but I’ve gotta read it over again.  I’m serious, this is hard to wrap my brain around.  I build lots, I’ve shown a few people how to build things even.  But to actually write it up as a presentation, whew.  I hope it’s actually going to be easier than I’m expecting.

There’s a lot to consider.  The skill of the students for one, that’s the big factor there.  The class level.   I’ll have to write my class up and have my husband try to build it.   See how he does.

So, I asked him and well he doesn’t play much.. but I’ll ask you guys.  If you were going to take a class, what would you like to build?  I can’t teach script writing, but I could include scripts in the class.. basic free ones given the author will give permission for use.  So really, what would you like to see classes on?

I have some ideas, but it’s hard to know if it’s just me that thinks it’s great or if people really would liek those as classes.

I mean really, I can’t tell what the normal student likes to learn/build haha.. I live in a bear’s head and my shop/gallery is in giant cat heads.  So I sort of am here *waves a paw a lil’ in one spot* and most people are kind of over here *waves  a paw over there a lil* as far as building ideas go I think.

Well for now, it’s RL lunch time then RL yard work.  I must ponder these things while I mow the lawn.

Tonight after NCI’s Show and Tell, Neural Blankes did an impromtu educational chat about real life opals.  She showed a lovely SL based opal ring during the S&T.  It was lovely!

Then afterwards she showed us all kinds of lovely photos, offered up lots of great info.

I do not think I’ve ever thought about an opal before tonight hehe

URL:  7seas Fishing Site

I <3 7seas.

I like NeoRealms too, I just wish casting was easier.  But I love 7seas.  I like traveling the world with Mr. Nomnoms swimming around me.

I’m still working on my Oceonography Database, I even hooked up a 7seas barrel up in my skybox so I can build and fish at the same time.  That… sounds kind of pathetic.

You’re all welcome to fish at my land, there’s fishing areas along the whole strip of my plot.  There’s the lake at the one end, with the 7seas vendor and contest board.  Sometimes I randomly start contests, you’ll just win a trophy but hey.. IT IS A TROPHY!  *nodnodnod*.  Then my land is narrow, the two blue bear head buildings are mine as well.  You can fish all through there.  If you can’t, please let me know!  I’ll move the fishing node a bit to cover better.

Yay for bear head buildings!

Today I took a fun class at College of Second Knowledge on making a bookcase with a menu that gives out notecards, or it could do items too.  That was fun.  I have lots of ideas, maybe for a freebie giving bookshelf.  Hmm… Dunno.

Then later there’s a couple more classes I’m thinking about.  There’s one on scripting this evening but I don’t know if I’ll go.  I could have sworn the last time I saw a class taught by that teacher the cost was quite high for the class.  Must be someone else though, it’s hard to keep the classes straight anymore.  I might go, it’s a 2h class.  Debating if I have enough attention span today to handle it.  Don’t laugh!  I’m serious.

I’m working on setting up HippoVend, I finally bought it.  They do holographic display now, and that’s really what I want.  Plus having it easier to manage my vending units will be nice.  I use Onrez but having holo will make it easier for me to sell tiny homes, vehicles, and outfits I think.  I prefer to SEE what I am looking at to consider buying, rather than going off someone’s crappy picture.

Not that you, dear reader, take crappy photos for your vendors.  I’d never say that <3 hehe

Oh so then later there’s a class at TUI that I ALWAYS miss.  Crap and a half man, I am serious.. every time the class runs.. I totally forget to go.  Tonight, I am going to go.  Which is why I think I’ll skip the scripting class because they run back to back in time frame and I gotta be sure I make this TUi GIMP class.

In my shop (check my profile for LM in world) you can see one of my vehicles.  It’s not for sale yet, I’m still debating if I want to put it up.  I don’t know..  I still don’t feel like my builds are good enough to sell, even though I have some up.  That sounds silly I guess.

Let me know what you think, okay?   I don’t think Teddy will let you have a hug though hehe… I can’t remember if that one is set to let others ride or not.  I don’t think he is.  I have to work on that, unless the standard is only the owner?

I have no idea, I make my own vehicles hehe.

hoo!

I fished up the blueprints for the innertube a couple days ago, today I fished up the pump I think I need for it!

Then I just fished up the Oceanography Database blueprint!  I have no clue what that is, but hoo!!

Went out to join one fishing contest but it wasn’t running, so now I’m fishing out at the Fishing Hole to seeif the contest at noon begins but it’s 4m till and not looking like it’s happening.  It’s a good peaceful spot to fish.

I’m still debating if I’ll add 7seas to my lot, I really think I will but I need to build a cute fishing spot.  My only holdout is I have to measure my plot, I think Jen said the fishing node is 20m and I think my plot is about 18m wide.

Hoo!  I just fished up the left boot!  Now i have a pair!

I also fished up fishing hats but they do not fit my kitty and they are unresizable.  I’ll fix my kid shape up in fishing gear instead :)  Some of the fishing spots are kid safe too.  One of them, and I’ll have to get back to another entry to add the LM but it’s spectacular.  Fishing, freeplay games, and it’s just nice.

They have this ocean game that’s a bit like battleship and bingo, then a scratch off game too.  Both are really fun (and they have freeplay versions).  I’ll get the LM later so you guys can play too.

Nope it’s Noon, and no one here to run the game.  Too bad!  I’ll have to scope out the event’s list for 7seas and see what else happens today.

I have a class at TUi later I want to take on textures in Gimp.  I have it installed and can get around the basics but I’m used to the Photoshop basics.. my skillz are lacking.

Oh yesterday I took one of the most fun classes.  At TUi with Previous Page.  She ran two yesterday, one was just sorta weird.  The class is “Evil Eye Visitor Tracker” but really, it’s just weird.  You should take it, it was fun.  You sort of make a stand, then the eyeball moves to the nearest person I think.  As a tiny, the eye didn’t do very well until I flew up in the air haha.  Then her second class, I definitely insist you take!

We made snowglobes! :)  I’ll get a photo of mine in a bit to post up.  I’m proud of it!  It’s a great class, very free form.  You make a base.. what ever size you want.  Then you put stuff in, she gave us some flower textures and not sure what else.  Have your library inventory ready to go, you can add tress, or build benches, or build an animal if you want.  It’s a snowglobe, and you can put anything you want in it.  I built a fishing hole with dock, pole, worms, tulips, and fish!

I love classes like that, it’s like a blitz build (speed building contest) only.. not quite.  I think it was a level 3, but you can do it.  Just know how to rez prims and resize and have some creativity that’s all you need.  Plus, you can always work on it after class.  I finished mine afterwards at my house.

Maybe you will see it if you take the class!  I’m really flattered, she asked for a copy of my globe
It has Mr. Nomnom’s cousins swimming around in it.

Take the class.  It’s fun.

I’ll get a photo of my toilet I made at TUi with Diff (I forget her last name, maybe Schmooz?) and that class was hilarious, I can’t remember if I blogged about it.  That was last week though.

I need to take the NCI Griefer’s class sometime, I keep forgetting to go.  I think maybe it’s on the weekend and I’m usally busy or in another class.

Well dang it, no contest here for sure.  6 after and I’m all alone to pee in the ocean.

I’ll blog more later.