I really like Mark Bullen’s Net Gen Skeptic blog, because I, too, maintain a healthy skepticism about they hype surrounding the so-called Net Generation.  I don’t think they’re all disengaged, tech-savvy people.  When I teach and use something as simple as a blog, I have to teach about 80% of the class how to use…

I had the great pleasure today of leading a session on Personal Branding for Drexel University co-op students.  I’m not what one might call a “guru” on the topic, but I’ve essentially been creating a personal brand since 1998.  I also worked as a salesperson for a few years and have been through several job…

Alex Reid and Tim Burke have both commented on this Chronicle article about SMU’s proposal to remove computers from the classroom.  Both Reid and Burke have pointed out that removing computers does not guarantee that teaching will automatically improve.  Burke notes that teachers who use PowerPoint as a crutch used to use notes or transparencies…

This New York Times article describes a summer program for middle schoolers where lesson plans are generated by computer algorithm. On the one hand, it sounds like many of the kids are enjoying the computer games that teach math.  On the other hand, this seems like a scary prospect of kids sitting in front of…

ianqui writes about her mother’s problem with boundaries Cathy Davidson on this article quantifying the costs of humanities and social science publishing. I need to think about this more. One key figure for me: 47% of the cost is in the editorial process. In light of some things I’ve read, mainly Shirky, it seems the…

I had jury duty this morning, which turned out to be just Blah. They sent us home at 12:30, which I should be happy about, but my brain tends to be on vacation from about 2 on. So, after eating lunch, I pretty much feel like doing nothing. I was actually hoping to serve on…

Me at Indian restaurant, originally uploaded by lorda. It’s been a long time. I’ve been in North Carolina, and then Paris, Indianapolis and now finally home again. The weather is beautiful here, making the transition back to real life a bit easier. I’m sitting now on my back deck with a beer, trying to recreate…

This is where I am. It’s beautiful and relaxing, all the things you need for a good vacation. — Post From My iPhone Please consider donating to my efforts in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure

I managed a little more writing today, amid the chaos of channeling the kids’ energy appropriately and the sounds of “why can’t I”. Today, I began thinking about and writing about the idea of expertise. Academics (an others) complain that blogs are written by non-experts and are therefore prone to promoting bad and inaccurate information.…

You would think that now that I’m officially unemployed, I’d be free as a bird, but no, there’s more to do. I’m predicting no break until I go on my first summer trip in late June. The last couple of weeks have been busy ones around the Geeky household. The semester ended. I went away…