As I noted previously, I noticed for the first time this summer that students were using generative AI in their writing assignments for my class. So, for the first time, I will include a policy statement on student use of AI in my class syllabi this fall. I tried to embrace the reality of AIContinueContinue reading “Policy on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) by Students”
Category Archives: Teaching
Using AI to Generate an AI Use Policy for College Student Writing
In my Introduction to Sociology course this summer, I noticed for the first time signs that students were using AI software to generate responses to writing assignments. Having read student writing for over 25 years now, I know the “voice” of AI-generated text differs from the “voice” of undergraduate student-generated text. In the olden times,ContinueContinue reading “Using AI to Generate an AI Use Policy for College Student Writing”
“New Glaze” by Zali Lawrence
As I travel around the country this summer, I am teaching an online, asynchronous “Introduction to Sociology” course at Wake Forest University. For the first module, we are considering Peter Berger’s famous idea in Invitation to Sociology, “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this–things are not what they seem.” OneContinueContinue reading ““New Glaze” by Zali Lawrence”
July Message to Intro Soc Students about Class in Fall 2020
This week Wake Forest University is unveiling its new fall course schedule and students will have the opportunity/be forced to re-register for courses depending on their personal preferences/circumstances and availability of courses in different modalities. Faculty were given the opportunity to teach in one of four modalities: online, blended (traditional and with an online pathway),ContinueContinue reading “July Message to Intro Soc Students about Class in Fall 2020”
Small Teaching Online Book Summary
Over the past three weeks I have participated in a Wake Forest Center for the Advancement of Teaching summer reading group led by Director of Educational Development Dr. Kristi Verbeke. Over 30 faculty (IIRC) read and discussed Small Teaching Online by Flower Darby and James Lang. What follows is my reading notes and reflections onContinueContinue reading “Small Teaching Online Book Summary”
Battling the Cell Phone Menace in Class for a Decade Now
Facebook’s wayback machine (“On this Day” app) reminded me this morning that I have been battling students using their cell phones in class for a long time now. I know some professors don’t care if students use their phones in class. Fine by me; their class, their rules. And some are just unaware. Many WakeContinueContinue reading “Battling the Cell Phone Menace in Class for a Decade Now”
Data on Gender Segregation in Occupations (2012)
Teaching Arlie Hochschild’s The Managed Heart in my sociological theory class recently, I was looking for data on the percentage of flight attendants today who are male. I found a nice post on the issue by Mona Chalabi (“Dear Mona”) on the FiveThirtyEight blog. Answer: In 1980, 14.3 percent of flight attendants were male; inContinueContinue reading “Data on Gender Segregation in Occupations (2012)”
New Course for Fall 2015: The Sociology of Guns
I am excited to be teaching a new course in the fall semester, related to my new research project on American gun culture: Sociology 384: Special Topics Seminar – The Sociology of Guns. Course description follows the flier. COURSE DESCRIPTION Guns often have a spectacular presence in the American imagination, from George Zimmerman to Sandy HookContinueContinue reading “New Course for Fall 2015: The Sociology of Guns”
I Am a Professor
There, I said it. I am a professor. The description does not exactly roll off my tongue. I am a professor. It somehow sounds pompous to me. So I generally avoid saying it. When I am traveling and a cab driver asks me what I do for a living, or at holiday parties when IContinueContinue reading “I Am a Professor”
Putting Grading and Grades in Perspective
The quickening of life due to technology is a blessing I depend on daily. But it is also a curse at times, especially at the end of the semester when it comes to grades. I submitted my fall grades today at 11:45am (they were due at noon!). By 4pm the first grade complaint had arrivedContinueContinue reading “Putting Grading and Grades in Perspective”