Advent Calendar 2006

—Advent Calendar 2006 (Leslie Harpold) A cute Advent calendar. Similar:The Toulmin model for analyzing arguments came up at a faculty pedagogy workshop today. I … AcademiaStudy finds AI tools made open source software developers 19 percent slowerCoders who used AI self-reported that th…BusinessThe grudging emergence of American journalism's classic editorial: New details about ''Is …”Is There…

Pa. teen fatally shoots self at school

Parents trickled to the school later Tuesday morning to pick up their children. Nearly three months ago, a 10th-grader at the same school, just outside Philadelphia, was arrested for allegedly bringing in a loaded gun. The boy showed the gun to another student, and word soon trickled to a teacher and then a security officer,…

Fooled by Cybermum!

I can never resist a challenge and this one, posed by a mischievous friend, was a humdinger: could I befriend one of my own children on one of those ‘social networking’ websites for teenagers without being caught out? Could I make a convincing youngster and engage my son in online conversations? While it was an…

School shuns tech, teaches fountain pen

There is no clacking of keyboards in most classrooms at the Mary Erskine and Stewart’s Melville Junior School, although there is a full range of facilities for computer lessons and technology isn’t being ignored. But the private school’s principal believes the old-fashioned pens have helped boost the academic performance and self-esteem of his 1,200 pupils.…

Slouching Towards Bedlam

*clunk* The rotating tin cylinder within the phonograph vibrates slightly as a brass needle scrapes against it. The sound of a throat being cleared emerges from the machine’s hornshell speaker, followed by a thin, haunting voice. “March the 16th.” A deep, shaky breath. “I dread to say it, but I believe I am going mad.…

Gadgets Built to Fail

Someday, much sooner than you’d like, that shiny new toy you just bought will break. When it happens, you’ll swear, you’ll cry — then you’ll sigh and open your wallet.–Kris Wagner —Gadgets Built to Fail (Wired) “They time them so when you finally paid for them, they’re used up.” — Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman…

What is theory?

‘Theory’, we are told, has radically changed the nature of literary studies, but people who say this do not mean literary theory, the systematic account of the nature of literature and of the methods for analysing it. When people complain that there is too much theory in literary studies these days, they don’t mean too…

Maybe!

—Maybe! (Wondermark) Click to see the punchline. Saving this for the next time I teach A Doll House or “The Yellow Wall-Paper.” This one with an elephant is good, too. Oh, and this one about the kidney made me laugh out loud. I feel like I need to add a new tag called “retro”. Similar:Carolyn at…

A Heterotopic Space

Less intimidating and frustrating than the conference, more “human” than the margin note, audio commentary possesses the potential to become a space where real teaching and learning can emerge in the midst of feedback. —Sommers and Sipple —A Heterotopic Space Haven’t looked closely at this, but I’m blogging it for access later. Since I find…

Does water STILL flow on Mars?

Scientists say they have photographic evidence that suggests liquid water may have been on the planet as little as five years ago. —Julie Wheldon —Does water STILL flow on Mars? (Daily Mail) Similar:Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.First runner-up for the girl’s Halloween…AestheticsStage Right's production of 'Secret…

Nancy Updike (on writing for the radio)

Writing, in a radio story, has to be tighter and simpler than print: the beginning should hook listeners fast and hard, the way a song does. A succession of straightforward, declarative sentences (like those in the beginnings above) might feel a bit too clipped in a print story, but it’s just right for radio. A…

Dumpster Diving…Experience #1

What I got from dumpster this month: 8 giant bags of fun-size skittles (exp. 8/07) 2 giant bags of fun-size starburst (ditto) 8 cloth Halloween gift bags 1 Halloween make-your-own candy necklace (sealed) 1 candy vampire teeth (ditto) 1 rainbow clown wig (new in bag) 1 head of cauliflower 3 8 oz. packs of mushrooms…