I’ve been on the gamification train for a long time. Still, I haven’t run out of things to learn, so when Mary Kayler announced a gamification workshop this spring, I was eager to sign up. Creating successful gamification classes/assignments is very time intensive, and I’ve had an idea brewing in my head a long time: … Read moreFun & Games
Last year, in an effort to “walk the walk”, I reviewed the LEGO Robie House. I find myself teaching the LEGO FSEM again this fall, and figured: well, let’s walk again. This time, I picked a set I was super excited about, the CITY Fun in the Park set. It’s a pretty small set, considering … Read moreLEGO Critique Deux: CITY Fun in the Park Set (This time it’s PERSONAL!)
I haven’t blogged in forever. Not to excuse my lack of output but I do have a new baby and classes and a six year old and I am department chair. So I’ve had other stuff on my mind. Still, I’ve missed blogging. It’s a good way to stay abreast of current events and express … Read moreMono…! D’oh! Or, why we should invest in infrastructure maintenance
I generally am a big believer in “walking the walk”, so if I’m going to make students do something, I try to do something similar. Right now, I’m teaching a LEGO freshman seminar (as I’m reminded of daily whenever I navigate to the UMW site. It’s kind of disturbing to see myself staring back at … Read moreLEGO Robie House Review
This is where I’m gonna sound old and out of touch. Kids today, they don’t know the value of cursive! Now granted I’m not that old, but I did grow up in France which has (had?) different views on cursive. Growing up, I was made to learn cursive and use it. In fact, French kids of … Read moreGet off my lawn!
I just returned from Paris, and am currently wallowing in the joys of being home. Oh, Soup & Taco, how I missed you! Most of the classes I taught in Paris are of things I know very well: I’ve been to all the museums dozens of times each, and visited some places on a weekly … Read moreBeyond the childhood haunts
Urban planning has an antichrist. His name is Robert Moses. He was larger than life: he built parks, roads, and a ton of buildings all around New York State, was in power for over 40 years, and for a while held over a dozen offices. Why antichrist? Well, when it came to NYC, he served … Read moreThe Long and Short of Robert Moses
This post is the second in my syllabus/course development series. The intro is here. Creating a course from scratch is paralyzing. There’s just so much to figure out: readings, assignments, format, and it all interconnects. A good course setup is a balancing act that takes years to really master. One mistake I think is widespread … Read moreThe cart before the horse
Winter break is over, the semester is underway, and the winter doldrums have set in. It’s long past time I get back to this blog. I’ve been mulling ideas of what to discuss but much of it is too depressing (the news) too self-aggrandizing (I replaced the screen on my iPhone all by myself!) or … Read moreSyllabus (de)constructed
Serial just ended. Like most people, I listened to the entire series, and looked forward to each new podcast on Thursdays. Like most people, I also have an opinion about the series. The main critique I’ve heard about it is that it’s racist. Personally, I think that’s a counterproductive accusation. Let me explain with an … Read moreLong uncomfortable silence