More blogging, particularly about my own work in the classroom and about books I’m reading. I’ll be back in the classroom in mid-January, but I have some catching up to do with work I did in 2006, including the last Donne seminar podcasts and a special number on my use of blogs for final papers in my film studies class last summer. (Yes, I’m a little behind.) For books, here’s what I have started, and what I plan to blog on soon:
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Hughes, Robert. What I Didn’t Know. Memoir by an extraordinary writer and art critic, the man who through his book and television series The Shock of the New taught me how to understand modern art and modernism generally. My thanks to my fellow blogger at justmusing.net for a lovely birthday present.
Illich, Ivan. Deschooling Society. This one tore the top of my head off, as Emily Dickinson might say. I don’t agree with everything he says, but he gets directly to the heart of what real school ought to be, and why most schooling falls so short of the mark. I’m eager to work through this book again, and I’ll be using it as part of my keynote address at the University of Maryland’s Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference in February. NB: You can find this book online here.
Licklider, J. C. R. Libraries of the Future. An astonishing book that I’m still trying to digest.
Palmer, Parker. The Courage to Teach. A perfect going-away gift from my direct reports at the University of Richmond: Terry Dolson, Mark Nichols, and Kevin Creamer. This is probably the best book I’ve read on teaching since Jerome Bruner’s The Culture of Education, and that’s saying something.
—. Let Your Life Speak. A brave and inspiring book, and another perfect going-away gift from my DRs at UR. They’re a great team. I’m very grateful for their support and talents, and I look forward to hearing wonderful things from them and all the folks at the University of Richmond Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology in 2007.
Happy New Year, everyone.
There’s a New Year’s resolution I heartily endorse! Thanks for the references — the Illich book has been on my to-read list for an embarrassing stretch. Perhaps I’ll nudge it up the priority queue…
You might also enjoy Illich’s first book, In the Vineyard of the Text, which I think I have had returned to me.
Happy New Year!
Ter
Glad to hear that you’ll be back in the classroom. It’s the best place to be. I know, I’ve been out there too.
Welcome back.
Thanks for sharing your reading list. Both the Parker Palmer books are on my bookshelf, and he’s been a powerful influence in my own learning. I’ve been in two workshops with him and his presence is as reassuring and inspiring as his writing. Your post motivated me to dig into spend a little time with Let Your Life Speak this evening–time well spent.
Just goes to show how much I miss if I don’t stay with your blog for you sure like to get around :-). I’ve missed reading you and it’s great to have you blogging again, and I’m hoping it’ll be the push I need to get back on track with mine.
Happy New Year Gardo!