Career Re-Direction

I've been coordinating the web design program for over ten years. I've written materials for over fifteen courses, I've consistently upgraded my skills, and I've mostly enjoyed what I've done.

But now it's a little stale. I'm not teaching as well as I should, mainly because the subjects are starting to bore me solid. Flash, for instance -- I can teach it with my eyes shut, and I'm sad to say that's basically what I've been doing this semester. And I hate grading. I really, really do. And my Inbox is piled with stuff right now. Web design was "hot stuff" at one time, but it's been pretty much sidelined by other programs. I'll never have the numbers I had in the early 90s, and I'll never convince my boss of that fact.

There are so many things I'm tired of. This might sound like a bitch session, but it isn't. I'm trying to pinpoint exactly what I dislike about my job so I can figure out what needs to change.

• Seven class preparations a semester. Ugh.
• Unappreciative supervisor who doesn't know how to manage me
• Feeling that my classes aren't making a difference in people's lives, that I'm not making a difference in people's lives
• Feeling unconnected to the material and to the students
• Feel little need to be creative on the job since my suprervisor doesn't appreciate or even know what I'm doing.
• Feel very unenthusiastic. Very hard to get out of bed in the morning. It wasn't like this five years ago.

So those are the problems. I have a lot of ideas for change:

• Initiate the developmental computer literacy program we keep talking about
• Make the eBay store a reality
• Grow the Video Game program
• Work more on Teaching/Learning Committee assignments

Now I need to decide if these changes will remedy the problems I'm facing. I just don't really know at this point.

I want to give away web design, starting in Fall. Let another faculty member have it. We have two who aren't coordinating much of anything. Let one of them have it. Let me move on to something new.