Teaching with iPads: Motivation, Inspiration and Alienation in the Appleverse

Here are the slides for the half-day workshop I presented with my colleagues, Laura Patterson and Christine Cusick. Similar:Google Books ruled legal in massive win for fair use (updated)Update in a legal battle that’s been goi…BooksIn praise of the sci-fi corridorCorridors in science-fiction movies. I l…AestheticsIn February 2000, I was blogging about "The Heist" (Sorrels);…

Making Writing Socially Engaging: Asking Why New Media Draws Us In

[View the story “Making Writing Socially Engaging: Asking Why New Media Draws Us In” on Storify] Similar:Woman comments on man's looks. Man FREAKS OUT.If I ever over-react to a tweet, I hope …AestheticsYahoo, You Nagged Me Too Many Times; Bye!I have a Yahoo account that I use when a…BusinessWhy do academics dress so badly? (Answer:…

Seussical: Stage Right Homeschool Production

My 13yo was Horton the Elephant and my 9yo was the Sour Kangaroo (with attitude). Similar:My Anti-Linkbait Pledge: Cynical Overhyping vs. Simply Being OnlineWhen I find something interesting that a…CultureGround-nesting Yellowjacket WaspsWhile my 16yo son was mowing the lawn wi…CultureLast weekend I roughed out shapes to represent buildings, in order to provide some sense o…Last…

“Scary Things”: An Address to the Class of 2011 — The Goreletter — Michael Arnzen

Mike Arnzen posted his weird and wonderful address to graduation seniors. “Scary Things”: An Address to the Class of 2011 — The Goreletter — Michael Arnzen. Similar:Homage to PoeMichael Dirda offers a thoughtful assess…BooksThe Girl Wins the Upper Division Monologue in the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Public Theatre's …CultureI may have mentioned that I have a…

Another Nerdy Lord of the Rings Post

I just got an email from Amazon saying that typos and omissions in my Kindle edition of The Lord of the Rings have been corrected, and I can opt to receive the updated edition for free. However, like a certain similarly magical gift that I’m sure we’re all thinking of right now, this boon comes…

Bacon Starry Night Meme

I’ve no idea where the “Bacon Starry Night” meme comes from. Other than Vincent Van Gogh, and bacon, of course. My wife asked whether there is a bacon “The Scream.”  Not yet, apparently. Similar:Churning Out More Non-profit Arts PromosAs part of my volunteer work for a local…AestheticsMore modular, swappable building components. I’ve got to work…

The New York Times Makes The Nerdiest Correction Ever – Featured on BuzzFeed

The New York Times Makes The Nerdiest Correction Ever – Featured on BuzzFeed. Similar:Given a chance to explain his support for a YouTuber who warns about alien DNA, Trump abru…After mounting a half-hearted defense of…Current_EventsEvery conversation between a parent and a child, in four conversations. (Slate)This whole item applies very well to one…AmusingWhat happened when…

Helping students engage with challenging texts

Based on the constructivist theory of learning suggesting that students make sense of new information by joining it with information they already have, his guidelines suggest that students begin with a quick pre-read, in which they underline words they don’t know but don’t stop reading until they reach the end. They then would follow up…