Month: December 2025

Books that have influenced me and students who are teaching me… (Nov 19, 2008)

Three books that I have read and reread over the past few years are George Orwell (Eric Blair)’s 1984 and Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

George Orwell fascinates me on several accounts — his mastery of language, his prescience, and his outlook on politics. While I was faculty president, I gave copies of his book to people as a reminder of the chilling threats and effects of totalitarianism and doublespeak on this campus.

Lewis Carroll, though more playful, is also masterful with language and in alerting us to the dangers when illogic becomes the norm and language is misused.

I find Carroll’s decisions a few years ago (process and outcome) to eliminate the word “department” from our Carroll argot, and the more recent change of our name from “college” to “university,” Orwellian and Humpty-Dumpty-like.

Still, the joy of teaching remains, and the truth will set us free.

Reflections While Blogging Tonight (Nov 18, 2008 )

Look at my cluttered desktop above (click on the JPEG to see the screenshop taken with SnagIt). Cluttered with Web 2.0 tools waiting for me to fully master, evaluate, and teach.

Doggy is snoring at my feet. My First Year Seminar students are sending me their first formal blogs as I type this. So far, I am pleased by their efforts.

I’m pondering whether to request release time for two courses next year to deepen my mastery of Web 2.0 tools and promote their use among other faculty and interested students. Every day, I discover a new application that has high potential for learners. What do you think?

So much to learn. Should I give up two classes next year and, in return, use that time to become an educator in Web 3.0 tools for all interested faculty and students? Write a book? It’s a tempting idea since time is such a precious commodity, and I think that I now have the knowledge base, the momentum, and the student talent. Carpe diem?

There are so many NEAT and potentially useful gadgets. And I believe potential readers of this blog know that clicking a hypertext link can be rewarding!

Here, for example, is a way for students to search for Psychology topics on the Social Psychology Network.

Time to return through the Looking Glass. (Ask Alice).
Even more curious in Carroll Land and seeking help.

Getting Started (Nov 17, 2008)

Curious how each piece of blog authoring software takes getting used to. I’m looking for something as close to what I used when I was writing the “Curious David” column JSOnline yet will allow me to share the many things I now know are possible.

I’m writing this on my Mac। I hope to make this blog useful and of interest especially to my students and former students.

Dog Years (Dog Days)

Originally Published 2008 /11/16 at 5:35 pm

 

It’s odd to rediscover the earlier posts. Robin is now three (and a svelte 127 pounds). She has had two major ACL operations and has matured into a wonderful, if idiosyncratic, companion. She might even think the same of me, though Debbie is without doubt her first love.

And oh, how my blogging experiences have matured (and blogging has changed) since I first explored this tool. I had a year’s experience blogging as “Curious David” for the educational community JSOnline and explored Web 2.0 Learning Tools while teaching a course at Carroll University.

Reviving Curious David in CARROLL LAND

Curious. I seem unable to put to rest this venue where I blogged for so many years with my talented student research assistants. Perhaps it is because I continue to hear from former (and present!) faculty, staff, students, and trustees on Facebook and LinkedIn.

So much to learn. So little time. That platitude is so true – especially during retirement! I’m going to use this venue to s t r e t c h my mastery of WordPress.

Also, to experiment with the MPL-Publisher plugin for ebook publishing.

Like this flip book.