Ever since I entered higher learning, costly textbooks have been a constant contributor to my agony and frustration. As a student, I could never avoid one or two classes every semester (if I'm that lucky) for which I have to burn my wallet to buy these monstrous-sized textbooks, printed in full color, that are only … Continue reading So You Want a Free Textbook? Try Writing Commons
Education
The Rhetoric and Design of Course Syllabus
It's that time of the year when professors and instructors squeeze their brains and put together their hopefully-comprehensible course syllabi for respective classes. As I enter my fourth semester of teaching a freshman-writing course, I realize there's a constant urge to put more and more into my syllabus: maybe I should tell my students not … Continue reading The Rhetoric and Design of Course Syllabus
Ph.D. Finder for Rhetoric and Composition Programs
Earning a higher educational degree is a notable pursuit. This pursuit usually starts when one has developed an interest around a certain area of study and began looking for universities and programs that meet his/her academic needs. Yet, as a graduating master's student and Ph.D. applicant, I cannot rant enough how frustrating the process of … Continue reading Ph.D. Finder for Rhetoric and Composition Programs
How are We MOOCing?
This winter break and holidays have been an ideal time for me to work on my MA research, which focuses on power and ideological borders within MOOC interfaces. Having already written about 40% of the anticipated 15,000-word thesis essay, I find my interest and desire to learn about MOOCs grow stronger each time I come … Continue reading How are We MOOCing?
To Write or Not to Write: Should We Get Rid of College Essays?
This morning, I woke up to a heated discussion on the WPA (Writing Program Administration) listserv around Rebecca Schuman's latest article, "The End of the College Essay," on Slate. Essentially, Schuman thinks instructors hate grading college papers just as much as how their students hate writing those papers: So you know what else is a … Continue reading To Write or Not to Write: Should We Get Rid of College Essays?
Jason Tham, Ph.D. 