Some time ago I posted about a battle I was having with writer's block, which generated excellent forge-ahead advice from fellow toilers. Since eliminating the source of that obstruction, I have found myself in editorial purgatory: the anticlimactic and seemingly endless process of back/forthing that eventually (god willing) results in a finished product. After a... Continue Reading →
small ‘a’ advocacy.
I’ve recently experienced another first as a librarian: writing letters of recommendation for two of the brightest students I have had the pleasure to interact with. I’m happy (but not particularly surprised) to say that the process is having a palpable this-makes-all-the-hard-work-worthwhile effect, and for two important reasons. Not only does it offer me the... Continue Reading →
failsafe: cultivating dysfunctional tech-literacy.
I came into the office this morning dragging a long mental to-do list, only to find internet access down in most buildings on campus. This being a large (albeit temporary) productivity barrier for the average e-learning librarian, I searched myself and realized that the only thing I’ve been meaning to do that doesn’t require connectivity... Continue Reading →
recharge and retool.
This post, the first I have written in quite a while, looks at two sides of a familiar problem: resource scarcity. Present times continue to try on many fronts, and I cannot think of one person from either hemisphere of my life – personal or professional – who is not actively doing more with (or... Continue Reading →
e-texts and (library) accessibility.
In the past year or so I have been thinking more about issues related to digital accessibility, particularly in the area of e-text usability and universal design. On the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, federal plans are now underway to incorporate more comprehensive accessible technology and design guidelines into... Continue Reading →
log lady v. agent cooper.
This week I have been laid up and largely computer-averse due to a most unpleasant eye infection. With a merciful ray of (non-migraine inducing) light, a guest post at In the Library with the Lead Pipe that I loved writing came out on Wednesday: Librarians as __________: Shapeshifting at the periphery. I admit it: I... Continue Reading →
“issues” in next-generation teaching and learning (video).
A few months back I moderated a panel at the Next Generation Teaching and Learning Symposium at UC Berkeley, an all-day event keynoted by Social Media Classroom creator (and fellow Reed alum, how about that) Howard Rheingold. Event organizers recently posted video for each session: Having endured the singularly unpleasant experience of watching myself talk... Continue Reading →
falling off the horse, revisited.
Deep in final editing mode, I just cut a huge, redundant chunk out of one of the last chapters of Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning but couldn't bring myself to trash it. Please enjoy and/or empathize with this particular form of pedagogical pain: Disaster Preparedness Just as you considered barriers to learning in previous chapters, it... Continue Reading →
sweet (anxiety) dreams: a convo with momma stillwell.
My mother, Julie Caroline Stillwell, has hilariously vivid stress dreams. Most mornings I have been lucky enough to share with her (including this one) open with, “You’re not going to believe the nightmare I had last night….”, and end with both of us cracking up over watery Southern-style coffee. They tend to focus on one... Continue Reading →
the TED amendments.
I have noticed a lot of recent interest in the TED Commandments, the list of rules every Technology/Entertainment/Design conference presenter receives (chiseled somewhat melodramatically in stone) that reinforce the high bar for which TED talks are known. Let me preface this post by admitting that I am a consummate fan of TED, which I think... Continue Reading →
info-mational 