I feel kind of dumb for not realizing there was a website that reported findings of research misconduct. As a teacher of composition, I have my students write a research paper each semester—a paper that, for many of my students, is their first go at research-writing. That being said, when teaching I must be cognizant […]

“With organic systems, if conditions are right, life is inevitable.” Equal parts comedian and educationalist, Sir Ken Robinson’s talk, “How to Escape Education’s Death Valley,” has a serious—though, too, seriously optimistic—message: We’re all humans. We’re all organic. We, in the United States, are not setting up our students to learn. There’s a solution to make […]

As a creative writing MFA student, hearing the debate over artists’ place in academia is no novel point of discussion. Some pursue the degree for networking, some do it for the patronage of paid writing time and some are in school because they actually believe writing can be taught. Now, I’m not trying to get […]

Last Monday, I found myself telling my students what I wish I never had to tell them at all: “I’m talking at you for almost an entire class period right now. Shout at me if you have questions. Here’s my administrative hoo-ha. Fifty-minute marathon. I’ll never do this to you ever again.” Each syllabus day, […]

As a person who wishes to continue teaching as a vocation—who, too, sees teaching as her calling—I hope to never lose perspective of what it is to be a student. And, if I feel that sense slipping, I hope I’ll have the self-awareness to know it’s time to go back and better empathize with my […]