Today is 20k day. As of writing this, I’m at 20,945 words. I haven’t written for today yet. So it’s safe to say I’m doing all right this year. Today I want to talk about accountability in writing. Accountability is, in fact, part of the magic of NaNoWriMo. Part of the reason that more wordsContinue reading “NaNoWriMo 2020 Update #2”
Author Archives: arcoxphd
NaNoWriMo 2020 Update #1
Novel word count at time of publication: 8,588. As you are probably aware, it’s November. That means, among other things, that it’s time for NaNoWriMo. It’s a familiar rhythm at this point, and I love it. And it’s the rhythm of NaNoWriMo I want to talk about today. Honestly, it’s the only thing that feelsContinue reading “NaNoWriMo 2020 Update #1”
The Contract Grade and The LMS
Many of my colleagues who use contract grading, or another kind of alternate evaluation system, eschew the use of a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Canvas or Blackboard. Honestly, they’re probably right to do so. There are a lot of problems with LMSs, not least of which is how they enable surveillance and otherContinue reading “The Contract Grade and The LMS”
Problems With Contract Grading
Traditional grading, which, like so many of our so-called traditions in the US isn’t actually very old, has a lot of obvious problems. It’s been rightly called racist, classist, and eugenicist. The conventional grading structure likely causes more harm to students than good, and yet teachers are forced into it by administrative demands that benefitContinue reading “Problems With Contract Grading”
Quarter Semester Reflection
My students are about a quarter through their coursework now. They’ve finished one of four projects. So I decided now would be a good time to assess how I’m doing in serving them as teacher. I’ve seen a number of instructors suggesting weekly (or even more frequent) check-ins with students. I like that idea, butContinue reading “Quarter Semester Reflection”
Three Levels of Learning
I’m preparing a lesson on reflection for my students right now, which has me of course reflecting on learning itself. There is, of course, Bloom’s taxonomy and its variations, which work very well and have bee the foundations of a lot of good pedagogy, and I won’t try to mess with a good thing inContinue reading “Three Levels of Learning”
Apparently It’s Suicide Awareness Month?
***Serious Content Warning: suicide, self harm. Seriously. This one’s raw. . . . So, apparently September is “Suicide Awareness Month.” Let me just start by saying This Sucks. Seriously. I hate it. All those blithe “You have so much to live for, I’m always listening, here’s the suicide hotline” shareable posts. If you share oneContinue reading “Apparently It’s Suicide Awareness Month?”
Genre, Learning, and Why Your Students Are So Tired
It’s a bit of a cliche right now, due to the pandemic, that we have to “relearn” how to do things that were normal. But it’s also, like many cliches, not wrong. And as teachers struggle to find a mode of instruction that meets ever-changing guidelines and protects themselves and their students but still preservesContinue reading “Genre, Learning, and Why Your Students Are So Tired”
Diversity Representation in Children’s Media that Isn’t Working
Today I want to tell a story. I want to tell this story because, while I’m not a specialist in disability studies of any kind, I’m a disabled person, and following the work of those specialists has lately really helped me understand my own stories. I’m hard of hearing. My sister has exactly the sameContinue reading “Diversity Representation in Children’s Media that Isn’t Working”
Asynchronous Accommodations
At the beginning of the semester, it’s routine for me to receive several letters from our office of disability services requesting accommodations for students. These letters are form letters where they just drop in a list of accommodations from a fairly standard list of options, such as time and a half on exams and quizzes,Continue reading “Asynchronous Accommodations”
Dr. Cox's Desk 