Blog
I am much more of a fox than a hedgehog. No, I don’t blog every day, but it’s fair to say that I’m pretty prolific. On this site, you’ll find a boatload of posts on higher education, technology, platforms, communication, collaboration, analytics, and other topics. They generally fall into the following buckets: insights, provocations, musings, predictions, and rants. I write more about big ideas than listicles and snackable content. Finally, I inject humor often into my posts and despise jargon. Click here to see an interactive word cloud and tree map of my posts’ tags.
Chemonics Receives Innovation Award
Recognition for good work never gets old.
Making Class Memorable With a Basketball-Inspired Python Example
A little program to calculate game logs and stimulate student interest.
Having Fun With Python in the Classroom
Using pop-culture references to make potentially boring coding exercises more interesting.
In Defense of Using PowerPoint in the Classroom
When you see horrible slides, blame the Indian, not the arrow.
Four Myths About Slack
Shedding some much-needed light on what the collaboration tool can and can’t do.
The Pros and Cons of Teaching Back-to-Back Sections
Honest reflections on teaching a compressed schedule.
What I’ve Learned From My Student Evaluations
Thoughts on what the data tells me—and what else I’d like to know.
Audiobook of Analytics: The Agile Way Is Now Available
Good news for those of you who like to listen to books.
Thoughts on Teaching Older Students
What do when someone possesses a great deal of professional experience.
Lessons From Slack’s Origins
A pox on you if you think that the idea behind the popular collaboration tool was someone’s master plan.
Thoughts on Facebook’s Stock Drop
Where does the world’s largest social network go from here?
How to Successfully Introduce Slack in the Classroom
Tips for professors new to the collaboration tool.
Why I Often Answer Analytics Students’ Questions With Questions
Thoughts on the Socratic method, critical thinking, and providing too much guidance.
Does Uber treat its driver-partners fairly?
Thoughts on the company’s data and price discrimination.
Traits and Skills of Effective Professors
Thoughts on common characteristics at people who are really good at this job.
Why I Teach
My motivations behind my choice of vocations.