Somewhat stressed today by the once a year (well, I did it last year and it seems to be becoming a fixture), computing lecture that is entirely online to students all over the world. Primarily Africa and Asia it seems.

It wouldn't be so bad but they use their own (non-standard) virtual learning environment and chat space which I don't have regular access to, don't use but this one time, and found flaky last year.

What's more my login doesn't appear to be working and emailing people 8 hours ahead of my time zone never makes for quick communication.

But the lunchtime edition of the session went ok (logged in with the host lecturer's account in the end but that meant she couldn't be present directly - could only follow the chat logs a minute or so behind and then email me if there was something to clarify - not ideal).

It's a marathon session of typing for the best part of an hour, but I was able to cover the basics I needed to get through and respond to their questions. Even managed to chat for a few moments before the class started about where they were from and ended up playing is-there-a-student-here-from-a-country-I-haven't-visited? (No.) (Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong...)

There was a 'repeat' session at 6pm for those who couldn't make the first due to time zone differences but as no one turned up for that I was free to go home... which was a relief as by then the promised snow was falling and travelling home was beginning to look iffy.