A Short List of Things That are Happening That Also Happen to Be Good
Bright lights in a dark time
Welcome to Newsletter twenty-six of Once More, With Feeling.
This newsletter has been quiet of late in part because life has been anything but, and in part because in the last months I have struggled to find something to say that feels appropriate for the present moment. It may also be that my general approach to deeply uncertain times is to pull inward.
But remarkable people are publishing so many books I want to tell you about, and I’ve missed communicating with you all. And so here are some loose threads and updates, all centered around the positive.
BE THE SPARK - Thoughts on Teaching and Learning
There are so many great books on teaching and learning hitting the shelves.
Attendees of last POD Network’s anchor session will be delighted to hear that Jim Lang’s Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience is available for pre-order!
Speaking of Jim, the latest offerings from the always-great Teaching, Learning, and Thriving in Higher Education series helmed by Jim Lang and Michelle Miller are the latter author’s short but eminently practical book A Teacher’s Guide to Learning Student Names, and the warm and wonderful The Present Professor by the warm and wonderful Liz Norell.
If you need a break from the AI hype machine, at long last John Warner’s More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in an Age of AI is available for pre-order.
For educational developers who are looking to revamp or reignite their course design academies, I’ve been eagerly anticipating this tome by such a stellar group of scholars: Developing High-Impact Course Design Institutes: A Model for Change.
I’ve also really been enjoying Kevin McClure’s newsletter as he writes his way through The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation, which is also available for pre-order now.
Did I already tell you about Josh Eyler’s vigorous call to action Failing Our Future? I must have done, it can’t have been that long since I updated this newsletter - but check it out if not.
In less book-shaped teaching and learning writing news, over at the University of Virginia Derek Bruff is lending his online-curation skills to create the “UVA Teaching Hub”: collections of readings and resources on various pedagogical topics with Michael Palmer and the rest of his center. I was honored to be asked to put together one on Emotions and Learning.
Finally, anyone going to AAC&U's new CLASS conference in San Juan in April, I'm doing a preconference Thursday, a Mind Over Monsters book signing Thursday during the reception, and an interactive session on Friday morning. Come say hi!
HIVEMIND - Our Synchronous Selves
My moderate take on whether social media is ultimately good or bad for humanity has sure taken a beating recently, and I’ve pulled myself off of both Twitter and Facebook. You can find me on Bluesky. In a spot of good social media news, Bluesky now has an Instagram replacement called Flashes.
In fighting-the-good-fight-against-disinformation news, some of my wonderful library science colleagues at Simmons University have been awarded a large Mellon Foundation grant to create a Center for Information Literacy, and I look forward to supporting them however I can.
FEELING AND STRIVING - Emotion & Motivation
Later this March I am having a virtual conversation with one of my favorite conversation partners, Karen Costa. Our topic is dark—climate anxiety in the classroom—but based on our past conversations I anticipate laughing a lot and ending the time reassured by community. We welcome you to join us. It is free and open to all, thank you to OneHE for the platform. Register here.
OUR MONSTERS, OURSELVES - Uncertainty, Challenges, Mental Health
In a time of such uncertainty, I’m grateful to institutions and people who speak out with certainty about their values.
Thank you to the POD Network leadership for being an early voice reaffirming our core values.
Thank you to Nature journals for covering the federal attack on science funding.
Like many others, I’m moving a lot of my purchasing power over to Costco, who are one of the few corporations to reaffirm their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion rather than abandon it.
I am, as always, so grateful to be working at an institution founded for equity.
INCIDENTALLY - A Short List of Recent Things That Made Me Happy
The brilliant “radicchio, not roses.”
My kiddo’s favorite musical, Heathers, is coming to New York, and the show dates land before the imminent college departure.
Hummingbirds are (possibly) observed to be living in collectives for the first time.
Gen X women are having the best sex.
This novel was wonderful. So was this one. This one was seemingly for so many people but not for me, but I did enjoy trash-texting with my cousin Elizabeth about it (it was also not for her).
Baz Luhrmann opened a gothic rock-n-roll cocktail bar. Sadly in NYC not Boston, but maybe when I’m in town for Heathers!
And failing all else, there is always this.
Thanks for the shout-out my friend!