As part of our unit on marketing, I generally engage in research on businesses and industries that may connect with our values and relate to sustainability or China. For the last few years I’ve been interested in Garmin because: their…
On retiring a well worn accordion file.
The Gradapocolypse/ Gradearmageddeon approaches and while cleaning my office (part of the process) and looking at how I will carry the papers, I realize it’s time to retire a well worn folder. It’s covered with thoughts on assessment and wisdom…
Reflection on TBL Ad Campaign FA18
This year our “product” was civic engagement and we tied our Team Based Learning inquiry learning project to the mid-term elections. No one endorsed or campaigned for any candidate, but students were enouraged to research issues while focusing on a…
One reason to visit Xi’an before committing to live there.
The pollution in China is, for want of a better word, epic. On Reddit today I found reference to an app that converts the pollution index to the equivalent of cigarettes smoked. Yesterday living just outside of Xian and breathing…
OER project funded via sabbatical!
I get to travel to Taiwan and China for 3 months to gather content for a book to share with my students! The project involves primary research and travel to develop and write for a themed textbook, specifically for JCCC…
Who can be dyslexic?
According to Mother Nature Network, yes. This interests me. I’ve read that Chinese readers are less likely to be dyslexic, and reasoned that it had to do with a character based text rather than a phonetic or quasi-phonetic text. I…
My first name ain’t Mister; it’s professor, Dr D if you’re nasty.
My first boss required me to go by “Professor Dixon” with my students. I was in my mid twenties and looked quite young for my age. He reasoned that this would help my students respect me and help discipline in…
Tractor hacking
Every farmer I’ve known – and dad sold tractor tires and I grew up in a SMALL rural ag community – has been a pretty amazing mechanic and maker. The move by big ag companies to restrict farmers from working…
Cell phones
From the article “Child drownings in Germany linked to parents’ phone ‘fixation’” The German Lifeguard Association (DLRG) – the biggest organisation of its kind in the world, providing 40,000 volunteer lifeguards at German beaches, lakes and the coast – has…
Applied Linguistics for the BURN.
I follow Tom Nichols. He’s a bit conservative and crotchety, and his obsession with people in sandals amuses me, but he’s sharp as hell, and not afraid to state his mind. He went to Harvard, which isn’t a bad…