Category Archives: academe

My 7-yr-old understands the economics of higher ed

Posted on January 3, 2011 by jbj

Sorry it’s been a while: It turns out that simultaneously launching ProfHacker and getting elected union president had deleterious effects on my private blogging. But no more!) On New Year’s Eve, the 7-year-old spent about 45 minutes putting together a … Continue reading →

Posted in AAUP, academe, higher education | Comments Off on My 7-yr-old understands the economics of higher ed

Professor-funny

Posted on July 18, 2009 by jbj

In his mailbag yesterday, ESPN’s Bill Simmons offers up a taxonomy of the different ways athletes can be–or, painfully, not be–funny.  For example: 5.0 — Learned Funny Humorless people who learn how to be adequately sports-funny in the right situations … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, higher education, humor, teaching | 1 Comment

As goes California . . .

Posted on July 14, 2009 by jbj

The California budget crisis, and its impact on the state’s higher ed system, merit close attention, as well as support where possible. Right now, one of the best resources is Remaking the University (via Barbara Hui on Twitter), which aggregates … Continue reading →

Posted in AAUP, academe, higher education | 1 Comment

Why we need to think about PhDs & the job pseudo-market

Posted on July 13, 2009 by jbj

This article about Fort Hays State University’s decision to outsource gen ed courses is frustrating an harbinger of doom.  According to the reporter, “the school will accept credits from a private company that runs introductory courses in subjects such as … Continue reading →

Posted in AAUP, academe, academic freedom, higher education, things that should stop | Comments Off on Why we need to think about PhDs & the job pseudo-market

Known-new contract FAIL

Posted on July 13, 2009 by jbj

From the AAUP’s “Things to Know Before You Go” page for this summer’s institute:  There is also a public wireless network available in any building on campus for those with laptops. Please remember to bring your cables. [emphasis added] Either … Continue reading →

Posted in AAUP, academe, higher education, silliness | Comments Off on Known-new contract FAIL

Working the bureaucracy

Posted on July 12, 2009 by jbj

Seth Godin (via BoingBoing) offers some cogent reflections on “the art and skill of working with bureaucrats,” pointing out that the reason you tend to see the same companies in all the airports is that they’ve optimized for tolerating municipal … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, productivity | Comments Off on Working the bureaucracy

Graff & curricular mixed messages in English depts

Posted on April 13, 2009 by jbj

Mark Bauerlein posted over the weekend about Gerald Graff’s presidential address (some scrolling required) to the MLA.  The argument will be familiar to anyone who’s read Graff’s Clueless in Academe: The default attitude of many professors is a kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, English major, higher education, teaching | 2 Comments

On rules

Posted on April 7, 2009 by jbj

“Why Rules Matter,” Gary A. Olson’s “First Person” essay in the Chronicle this morning, surveys the comical sense of “rules for thee but none for me” that operates all too often on college campuses.  I’ll never forget standing in the … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, academic freedom, higher education | 1 Comment

Learning from our public schools: What matters in evaluations

Posted on March 29, 2009 by jbj

So, this weekend we received a document with two forms: the teacher of the year nomination and a parent survey, largely about satisfaction with the school.  We’re pretty happy with the school, and very happy with the teacher, so no … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, assessment, higher education, new britain, public schools, silliness, teaching, things that should stop | Comments Off on Learning from our public schools: What matters in evaluations

Deploying the iPod Touch in a classroom

Posted on March 26, 2009 by jbj

Put the case that you were piloting the widespread deployment of iPod Touches in a classroom.  You can assume the following: Two sections of the same class will be taught in a 5-week period.  For the sake of argument–let’s call … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, higher education, iPod Touch, teaching | 17 Comments