'Rude' texting students say they're only multitasking

Two Seton Hill sources are mentioned in this local story. Millennials appreciate professors who bring technology into the classroom, whether it’s YouTube, PowerPoint or posting grades online after assignments, said Theresa Conley, 27, a junior at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. “That way, you can see where you’re at and what you’re getting, so you’re…

Learn from this typesetter’s mistake

Wisdom to keep in mind as I plan for this semester’s “History and Future of the Book.”   FAIL Blog. Similar:Page Weight MattersUnexpected consequences, when a develope…CybercultureEvery few years, I Google the name of the kid who saw "The Empire Strikes Back" the night …HistoryFascinating details in reports about Trump's Russian retractionWe’re all still reeling…

Constitutional Kombat: Psychological Evidence Used to Restrict Video-game Violence

Violent video games have triggered substantial controversy due to highly publicized incidents of youth violence that have been allegedly inspired by the content of such games. Several jurisdictions have passed legislation penalizing the distribution of violent video games to minors and used psychological research to support the justification for such laws. However, courts have consistently…

on lesson plans and pedagogic tactics

I am far less interested in turning my students into good bloggers, or good podcasters, or good YouTubers, and far more interested in helping them develop the big-picture synthesizing and evaluative skills that will enable them to learn whatever comes along next, and to keep learning whatever comes next.  Of course, I also ask students…

Raising a stink over printer ink

The price of printer cartridges has long irritated consumers and their advocates, and they say the lack of information from manufacturers only aggravates the situation. One recent study even estimated that consumers could save billions of dollars a year if they were armed with full information about how much it would cost to operate various…

First-Person Tetris

An interesting spin on Tetris. Similar:Playing with depth of field (blurring details that are closer than and farther from the fo…AestheticsThe girl sank her brother's last ship with the homophonous cry "I-1."AmusingThe #Blender3D #eevee denoising filter gives off a pretty amazing Caldecott prize-winning …The filter won’t replace real hand-drawn…AestheticsPlay-Doh was Originally Wallpaper CleanerThe story of…

What Type are You?

Why did Brian Wilson use Cooper Black on the cover of Pet Sounds? Why did Obama use Gotham for his election propaganda? It has long been apparent that typefaces reflect the character of the person using them, and that type choice, as well as the words that are typed, is a powerful conveyor of meaning. At…

Nil by mouth

Afer extensive treatments for cancer, including the removal of part of his jaw, film critic Roger Ebert is still critiquing movies and writing, but he is unable to speak; he also can’t eat or drink. His recent column reflects on life without a mouth. One day in the hospital my brother-in-law Johnny Hammel and his…

The Turtlenecked Hairshirt

Ian Bogost has stirred up some discussion with his post on how digital humanities has challenged the humanities at large.  I’ve been very happy with the level of support I’ve received from my English colleagues, my humanities colleagues, and the dean, but all interdisciplinary, hybrid, and emerging fields rub against the sharp edges of the…

Colossal Cave Adventure Playthrough (with my 11-year-old son)

  Similar:The Hidden World of the TypewriterWhen I was interning at a radio station …AestheticsSave our children from the Grammar TribeSimilarly, “dived” is the traditional pa…CultureDuke stops assigning numeric values to essays, test scoresThis story is about the admissions proce…AcademiaStudying STEM Isn’t The Career Boost We ThinkTurns out, getting a STEM education may …AcademiaGoogle responds…

My 11yo Son and I Play Adam Cadre's 9:05 (Interactive Fiction Playthrough)

Similar:Star Wars' Original, Scum-Caked BrillianceThe B-movie shoddiness of actors and aes…AestheticsWhen is the phrase "when asked about…" part of good news writing? Rarely.A new graphic for an existing handout, w…AcademiaOn Death and iPods: A RequiemI never owned a classic iPod, though I d…CultureThe Emma Watson nude pictures hoax shames our ‘news’ cultureDid you hear that…

A playable game of Tabletop Pong

If that’s not good enough for you, try Similar:How to Annoy Your Parents (Smurfs, Tweety, Jar-Jar and Ewoks)   http://www.youtube.com/wat…AmusingThoughtful analysis of how the tension, shot choices, and music contribute to a memorable …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbq9xy8a…AestheticsAt Home In Fantasy's Nerd-Built WorldsIn other words, more than the profound l…AestheticsHow My Mom Killed Facebook Lest you think this is…