After a long break for the holidays we’re back to school.  I’m easing into this school thing slowly, my first classes were not until Friday of this week, and since I don’t have classes scheduled on Monday I have a three day weekend.  But looking at the syllabus I think I may have trouble this semester.  Just what IS an algorithm anyway?  And why oh why do I need to know how to use it if all I want to be is a librarian when I grow up?

And what’s the difference between a class called “Choice & Learning” and one called Search & Retrieval?”  Couldn’t this all be one course?  Don’t you make choices as you search, and don’t you learn when you retreive?  Of course I recall the same feeling of confusion at the beginning of last semester, and at least this time I can navigate a little better both around campus and around ctools. (the computer software we use to provide communication between faculty and students.) 

I haven’t attended the other two classes I have this semester yet.  I can only hope they are more obvious in their goals and meanings, than the two foundation courses I have attended so far.  And more fun!  I fear, though, that “Fundamental Human Behavior” is going to be a whole lot like “Choice & Learning”.  We shall see. 

Meanwhile I am getting organized, setting up file folders, notebooks, buying textbooks, figuring out schedules and trying to think like a student again. Amazing, after “only” three weeks I seem to have forgotten how to roll with the punches of student life.  I figure that will come back quickly though, for really, what else can you do?