March 21, 2020

Discourse covid-19: day 9 | US: GA | info | act

I followed a YouTube tutorial about setting up a Wordpress install on Google Cloud, but instead of WP, I installed Discourse. It was pretty quick and painless, and I’m pretty impressed with myself. . . . OK, I’m over it.

The result is a new server running cool forum software for my students. I’ve used forums before with varying degrees of success. The most recent were on D2L, which I did not like. We know the medium is the message, so I’m hoping better software might mean better participation. 😂 . . . OK, I’m over it. Seriously, I do have to be strategic in my approach. Coupled with a few Zoom meetings, this is how my classes will finish online this semester. Here’s my intro.

                    

Check out Michael T. Osterholm and Mark Olshaker’s piece in the Washington Post for a smart and sober view of the COVID-19 outbreak: “Facing covid-19 reality: A national lockdown is no cure”:

“ We are in uncharted territory. But the best alternative will probably entail letting those at low risk for serious disease continue to work, keep business and manufacturing operating, and “run” society, while at the same time advising higher-risk individuals to protect themselves through physical distancing and ramping up our health-care capacity as aggressively as possible. With this battle plan, we could gradually build up immunity without destroying the financial structure on which our lives are based. ”

Uh, I’m going to go 🥃 now.