I know I’ve spoken about Kickstarter before, as a geek, it is a really cool way to support other geeks. Kickstarter is a way that “crowdsourcing” is being used to fund various projects that might otherwise not see the light of day. Many projects have educational value or can be used as demonstration pieces, especially in a STEM environment where engineering & design are an important part of the curriculum. Since each funding level has different rewards I have attempted to pick levels of funding that provided resources for my classroom. Since I started funding projects over a year ago I decided I would share a list of the projects I have supported for use in my classroom & school. Some I’m still waiting on pieces arriving, but you need to give geeks time to create (you know, like this comic strip). Check out some of these and some local projects.
Graphic Novel Library:
Films/Video:
Video Games:
Engineering & Science:
All work & no play makes Jack a dull boy… so here are some projects I’ve funded just because I thought they were cool:
*not successfully funded, yet. But as of this post there’s still time.
I know it has been a while since a new comic has graced this site… Life sadly has gotten in the way, but that will soon change (I know- “Promises, Promises”). Spring Break, C2E2, & taxes while all fun, they also keeping me away from creating anything. Combine that with a massive writer’s block, work, and needing to figure a few things out. I have strips plotted out, so I will be sitting at the drafting table and computer to get the scribbling done and the comics posted.
That all said I thought I would share this cool PSA about reading while you wait to read my comic. It is sad that as a teacher I have many students who are masters at feigning reading. I try to get good books in their hands, but reading just isn’t a priority, it never was from the earliest of ages. I know I wasn’t a voracious reader growing up, or at least I don’t remember reading much beyond comics until I was in middle school. All I can say is If you have kids I hope you are reading to them every night, there is no excuse. The students in my classroom who are really successful are always reading.
Today marks the end of Spring Break for my school district a week where I should have, could have, would have, drawn a couple comics and got them posted, but instead I went on vacation in hopes that I will have some adventures to write about. So that is what I have planned… but I thought I should at least give you the vacation by the numbers (*spoilers*)
So give me some time to put this whole thing together and hopefully I’ll be able to get back to a regular schedule, soon.
I do love TED Talks, they are fantastic, this one was an interesting take on failure.
Last week was the first round of statewide high stakes testing week and the last week of the grading period. Both things take a lot out of teachers or at least me. Hence the hiatus as I regroup and rethink the direction of the comic. My passion has always been teaching… not testing, and testing is what teaching has become since it is now run by politicians, not educators.
On Wednesday afternoon, my students had the opportunity to watch a webcast with three wonderful cartoonists (Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier, and Jeff Smith). Technical difficulties caused us to miss out on a part of it, so we started a discussion about graphic storytelling. I used My Geek Odyssey as an example. One of my students asked the question, “If you have this web site, why aren’t you famous?” (Yes, students today are that rude) Then today, I see this TED Talk… and “unless…”
Expect new comics starting March 19. Thank you all for your support. Who knows maybe one day I will be “famous” not just “infamous.”
If you haven’t noticed My Geek Odyssey has started to become somewhat random when it comes to being published. If you haven’t, then I’m better with smoke & mirrors than I thought. I’ve started to miss a few days which is something I really never had the intention of doing. Some times the real world gets in the way of our plans and schemes. Right now I’ve hit a wall, with the high stakes statewide test starting this week, report cards and other things going on I feel overwhelmed and something has got to give. This year has been difficult with a number of changes that would make an already full time job, more so. So for the short term everything that I have spent the past three years constructing is going to have to be put on pause. I’m hoping it will only be for a couple of weeks so I can get a few things straightened out in the real world, but I don’t know. For those who have stuck with the comic through thick & thin, I thank you & I’m sorry that I just can’t seem to keep all the balls in the air right now. We will be back, I’ve been considering some changes, so look for them upon the our return.
