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Big Media Video


A short video I will be using for my new class and New Media and Technology next semester: ...>

A Visit With Sir Salman Rushdie


NOTE: My apologies dear readers, but between finishing my tenure portfolio, starting classes, writing papers, having plenty of meetings, attending to family, and all in all trying to manage the onslaught of the beginning of the academic year (not to mention the events described below), it has been ...>

Piece of Ground, Lyrics


One of the songs I will feature in my upcoming class on Dissent is "Piece of Ground," written by Jeremy Taylor in 1960 as a protest against the South African Apartheid system. The version I will play is sung by Miriam Makeba, and what a wonderful job she does of singing it. I've heard this song sung ...>

Quieting the Mind in the Classroom


Sounds a bit off doesn't it? I usually want my students to wake up and get their minds in gear while in the classroom. Then again, there is really no contradiction. There are times when you need students to settle down, to focus and exert a bit of mental discipline. A mindfulness practice does wond ...>

Poems by Phoenix


Phoenix has been writing poetry at school, and as part of the lesson plan they've been going over various poetic forms. These are two of his recent poems. Aren't they wonderful? The Tree The tree is Green Like The Grass With pokey vines Like a knife Yiiiiiiikes!! My Mom My mo ...>

Ad Free Education Wikis at PBWiki


A while back I posted on Wikis and my search for a good wiki system that I could use for some school projects I had in mind. I ended up checking StikiPad, PBWiki, and a bunch of other wikis, but ultimately did not arrive at a final decision on one system or another. I'm still making up my mind. I l ...>

Rumble In


A short email I sent to my students, after a conversation yesterday about class participation. At times I wonder what is it that scares students so... when it comes to participating in class, to answering questions. Some of you have told me that it is fear of not "getting the right answer," or fe ...>