I don’t usually do New Year’s Resolutions (this year is a slight exception), but I do do New Semester’s Resolutions. I like the rhythm of fresh starts so regularly in academia . So let’s talk New Semester’s Resolutions this semester, Spring 2020. First, the philosophy of New Semester’s Resolutions: as teachers (and when we wereContinue reading “New Semester’s Resolutions: Faster Feedback for Students (Spring 2020)”
Category Archives: Work Thursdays
Obligatory End of Year Post 2019
Measurements of time are arbitrary, of course. You can tell me that we measure time according to the movements of the celestial bodies, but we all know that’s merely a reference point. And it’s certainly not why we’re being innundated with “What did you do this decade?” social media posts right now–that’s very arbitrary, really.Continue reading “Obligatory End of Year Post 2019”
What Is Genre Chauvinism?
I’m sure there’s a better term for this, and I really ought to know it given my dissertation work, but lately in my head the term that’s been sticking for the way that certain genres (which, not coincidentally, are often those associated with youth or women) are unfairly considered unimportant or even toxic is genreContinue reading “What Is Genre Chauvinism?”
Finals Week Reminders for Teachers
Many of us are in finals week right now, or just coming off finals, or just entering them, right now. And we could all use a few reminders at this time when our brains feel like they’re in a pressure cooker, when we’re numbly doing that math of “If it takes me X minutes toContinue reading “Finals Week Reminders for Teachers”
Talking Disability and Accessibility in the Composition Classroom
Like many instructors, my composition students generally finish the semester making a multimodal/multimedia presentation of their topics to the rest of the class. I love this assignment; it’s creative, it’s real-world, it’s student-driven, it’s everything I love in an assignment. Let me explain the assignment a little: my students deal with “local” issues in theirContinue reading “Talking Disability and Accessibility in the Composition Classroom”
Double Feature: Finishing NaNoWriMo and Starting Advent
I’ve got two things that I need to talk about TODAY, so if you’re here for just one, feel free to skip down to wherever you want to start reading. I’ve marked them with section headers. Or, just keep scrolling for both. Finishing NaNoWriMo It’s always a little weird, finishing November. There’s a sort ofContinue reading “Double Feature: Finishing NaNoWriMo and Starting Advent”
Academic Thanksgiving: We Love Librarians
It’s Thanksgiving in the USA, and for many of us it’s a tradition to name the things we’re grateful for. So today I want to name the group of people who are probably the most important part of academic work: librarians and archivists. We live in an age of easy information. Reasonable people can andContinue reading “Academic Thanksgiving: We Love Librarians”
Here’s To You, Steady Writers: NaNoWriMo 2019 Report #3
You’re dependable. You’ve written every day, faithfully: 1667 words. Maybe sometimes a little less, maybe sometimes a little more. Your graph is smooth. And no one is asking you if you’ll be ok, because they know the answer: Yes, and you’re doing fine. Just fine. And it feels weird. Because all around you, you’re seeingContinue reading “Here’s To You, Steady Writers: NaNoWriMo 2019 Report #3”
Algorithms and Class Policies
For years, I’ve used the same late policy: work accepted up to a week late, 20% reduction in grade, no questions asked. And it’s been a pretty effective policy. I’ve been criticized for it being both too lenient (“They need to learn deadlines are real!”) and for it being too strict (“20% off even ifContinue reading “Algorithms and Class Policies”
Imagine There’s No Grades
About a month ago, Asao Inoue visited my campus to talk about pedagogy and race; the room was packed, standing room only. Among his recommendations that day for addressing systemic racial injustice in education: Don’t grade. For most people who have been raised in most late 20th/early 21st century formal education systems, this seems impossible.Continue reading “Imagine There’s No Grades”
Dr. Cox's Desk 