Questions from the Introductory Survey

• Why did you choose Grinnell?
  • Of all the places I interviewed (and there were a lot), it felt the most like my alma matter (Univ of Chicago) in the sense that students here really seem to value learning for learning's sake. The students were also the best (or at least the best interviewers) of all the students I encountered. I also felt like I "hit it off" with the department, and I very much respect Henry and John's work?
  • What else? On more practical terms, the teaching load and salary were on par or better than other offers, or expected offers.
  • Even more: it seemed like a great place to raise my son.

• Isn't the environment here more demanding on professors than at other, larger schools?
  • Different demands. Grinnell demands that I be an outstanding teacher. Given that I love to teach, I don't find that to be a problem. Many larger schools would demand that I don't concern myself with teaching, which I would find difficult. Grinnell also demands that I stay active in my research, but that is also a demand that I don't find too demanding.

• What do you think of Grinnell so far?
  • I really like it. People in the community are friendly, the college treats its faculty members well (it treats the visitors better than any other place I know), and I even convinced some of you to talk in class.

• What are your computing interests?
  • My Ph.D. research had to do with interfaces for lazy functional languages. While there are a lot of ways to look at my work, it's easiest to say that I developed a form of "pipes for trees."
  • At my previous position, I did a lot with multimedia, developing multimedia systems as well as supporting applications.
  • I care a lot about computing in education, which I consider a computing interest, but others might consider an education interest.
  • These days, I'm looking at languages for hypermedia and multimedia manipulation (and I'll see if I can convince some of you to work on tools to help the development of such languages).

• Did you know that there are over 100 different species of trees on the Grinnell campus?
  • No. Is there a guide?

• What would be taught in the plus-2 section of this course?
  • No one's fully explained the plus-2 sections to me, so I was hoping not to teach one.

• Are you going to bring new research projects to Grinnell?
  • Yes, certainly. My intent is that I'll determine appropriate projects as a gauge student interest and instutional resources. As some of you know (and as I've mentioned above, my inclination is towards languages for multimedia and computers in education).
  • My guess is that serious research won't get started until next semester, but I will be requesting funds for student assistants for the Spring and Summer.
  • I'll be having a planning meeting in a few weeks wherein we'll discuss equipment for the research lab (okay, right now it's a corner of the computing lab, but ...) and possible projects.
  • Ravel, a lazy functional language for hypermedia manipulation, is one such project. I've thrown out past work, and am beginning a new design.
  • I've been working on, and expect to continue to work on, a system to make it easier for teachers to create Course Webs.

• Do you happen to know a good Mercedes mechanic in the area?
  • No, but I've added it to the list in the hopes that someone does (email me, and I'll email the sender).

• Why did you leave Dartmouth?
  • Scared of hills?
  • Didn't like Winter in Hanover? (Boy will I be surprised?)
  • Main reason: my position at Dartmouth was not tenure-track. My position at Grinnell is tenure track.
  • Additional reason: Dartmouth students are often employment-oriented (what will this course add to my vitae? how will it help me find a job?). I had thought that Grinnell students were more learning oriented (how will this course help me think better?), but after your answers to "why are you in this class, I'm not so sure.
  • Note that I really did love it at Dartmouth, and the previous answer is slightly extreme.

• When you say 'Roots or Americana or whatever we're calling it this week,' are you referring to alt.country?
  • Probably a little bit broader than the alt.country, and perhaps a little bit more rockin'. I'd include stuff like Los Lobos, the Blasters, (and even Dash Rip Rock), and center less around the Parsons descendents (worshipers?), if that makes sense. [Those of you with no idea what we're talking about don't need to worry.] I do read No Depression, though.

• Have you heard the new Whiskeytown record? Six String Drag?
  • I picked up the new Whiskeytown for $2.00, but haven't had a chance to listen to it.

• Are you enjoying Grinnell?
  • Yes, I like it very much. I miss having good used record and book stores, but after trying to get my house unpacked, I'm better off without them.

• What do you like to do in your spare time (i.e., hobbies, etc.)
  • As the father of a two-year old, I have no spare time. When I used to have spare time, I spent it reading, collecting music (I love looking through odd cheap CDs/vinyl/whatever), playing cards, and playing guitar.

• Did you expect our class to be larger?
  • 152 - yes.
  • 223 - no.

• Your office used to be the "majors meeting room and pass-through corridor. Can we still use it for our stuff, or to sleep?
  • No.

• Can we at least pass through as a shortcut to the MathLan lab?
  • Yes, as long as both doors to my office are open. Do say hi and remind me as to who you are when you walk through.

Disclaimer Often, these pages were created "on the fly" with little, if any, proofreading. Any or all of the information on the pages may be incorrect. Please contact me if you notice errors.

Source text written by Samuel A. Rebelsky.

Source text last modified Sun Aug 31 22:24:57 1997.

This page generated on Fri Sep 5 12:27:57 1997 by SamR's Site Suite.

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