This week, I had the opportunity to serve as an external committee member for a doctoral qualifying exam outside my department. As always, it's a privilege to be part of the process. I enjoy being able to witness how disciplinary cultures (beyond my own experience or contexts) shape knowledge building and research practices. For academics, … Continue reading Clarity is an Act of Respect
The content discusses the impact of AI on communication design education, emphasizing the importance of understanding rhetorical purpose over product appearance to foster meaningful learning and critical engagement with technology.
As I write this in late December, I'm coming to the end of my first faculty development leave—a full semester away from teaching and formal service obligations. Like many academics taking their first sabbatical, I approached it with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Would I actually be more productive? Would I feel guilty about … Continue reading Reflections on My First Sabbatical
As I wrap up another summer rhetoric course, I'm sitting here with that bittersweet feeling that comes at the end of every term—exhausted but energized, ready for a break but already missing the weekly conversations that pushed my own thinking in surprising directions. This was my fourth time teaching "the Black Mirror course," but my … Continue reading Another Summer Through Black Mirror
As someone who teaches technical communication, I am interested in the stories behind the frameworks, methods, and best practices of information design. How did we get here? Who figured out what works and what we should do in the future? I believe the history of our field isn't just interesting but also useful. To gather … Continue reading Learning from Information Design Experts
Jason Tham, Ph.D. 