Juror’s Creed

While researching my obligations for #juryduty Thursday, I came across this “Juror’s Creed.” The gender-specific reference to men, the instruction to reflect upon the virtues of democracy, and the instruction to respect the judge’s education all hint at a historical context for the creed. Institutions never put their creeds into writing unless they feel those…

Spent a productive work day doing nothing but optimizing my blog.

Spent a productive work day doing nothing but optimizing my blog. Added a very nice plugin for displaying thumbnails of related posts. Similar:Working Towards a ResolutionLooks like all the content has been remo…BusinessHow The NY Times Is Sparking the VR Journalism RevolutionJust as young people in journalism schoo…CybercultureUshering The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.…

RT @mykidcancode: Managing Your Preschooler’s Fasc…

RT @mykidcancode: Managing Your Preschooler’s Fascination with Apps – bit.ly/lv1ZyR #parenting #technology Similar:I am not up on My Little Pony lore. Can anyone suggest why this AI features a winged Vulca…AestheticsDo the Best Professors Get the Worst Ratings?To summarize the findings: because they …AcademiaGreebles make me happy.Before CGI, filming a science-fiction st…AestheticsWhat do students need…

“Bach is not for the weak of mind.”

“Bach is not for the weak of mind.” — Miss Renee, my kids’ piano teacher. “I’m in trouble.” — Peter, my son. Similar:Wanted in College Graduates: Tolerance for Ambiguity”What answer do you want?” “Just tell…AcademiaIt’s that time again.PersonalProfessoring. With an(other) apple pie cupcake.I touched up and board-ified a presentat…AcademiaThis Is How Tyranny Begins (Robert Reich)As…

Classroom collaboration marketplace

While I am uncomfortable with the whole “classroom as marketplace” metaphor, since it’s pretty much gamifying without the fun, I am nonetheless interested in this strategy for encouraging students to collaborate by having them attach a value to the artifacts they present to the class for sharing.. We shop for everything from apps to ideas.…

Study: Singing together synchronizes your heartbeat

The researchers found that each singer’s heartbeat was linked to the song’s melody – i.e. the speed and structure of the music. They also found that when the choir sang together, their heart rates tended to increase and decrease at similar times. “As soon as the singing begins, (the hearts) start following each other,” Vickhoff…

In Defense Of Metaphors In Science Writing

We live in an elegant universe. The cosmos is like a string symphony. Genes are selfish. There is an endless battle between thermodynamics and gravity. Do you love these statements, or hate them? The reading world gets pretty divided over whether or not it’s okay to apply metaphors and similes to descriptive science writing. It…

The Reading Project

Literature majors and students otherwise drawn to literature courses can be an introverted bunch. Students overall can at times resist course projects that fall outside the expected parameters of a given discipline. Yet my class proved my assumptions wrong. Many of the students were nervous, to be sure, but overall they seemed to enjoy the…

Tweet: Feeling productive. Hammered out eight scripts fo…

Feeling productive. Hammered out eight scripts for training vids (3-5min each). It helps that I had an outline & know the content well. Similar:It's been nice knowing you, iPad3 It’s been nice knowing you, iPad3, but…TweetsDesert Bus: The Worst Video Game Ever CreatedPenn and Teller are involved with this s…BooksI'm no longer surprised, but still…

Tweet: So, the correct quote from “Miri” is actually “No…

So, the correct quote from “Miri” is actually “No ‘blah blah blah’” not “No more ‘blah blah blah.’” Classic Trek trivia I did not know. Similar:Parallel Structure vs. Faulty ParallelismI just touched up a handout on Parallel …HumanitiesShe doesn't have keys or a phone or an ID. Why does my tween need a purse?To stash…

Tweet: Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled on…

Came around the corner and saw my kids huddled on the couch, reading an Iron Man comic. http://t.co/S3xPQoZh1o Similar:Classroom collaboration marketplaceWhile I am uncomfortable with the whole …BusinessWhat kids do when Dad won't hand over the iPod So I’m not being selfish… this is …Education10 Rules of Internet – Anil DashA very useful, concise summary…

The Humanities: What Went Right?

The search for what went right might take a hard look at the job market for our graduates. One recent survey, by the Web site payscale.com, paints a somewhat depressing picture of salaries, with humanities majors typically earning from $5,000 to $15,000 less than those with undergraduate professional degrees. Fifteen years after graduation, however, the…