Angela Jenks

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Octavia Butler

Member Voices

Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower (1993) begins in July 2024 on the fifteenth birthday of Lauren Olamina, a Black girl living near Los Angeles. The city and... More

Preparing Your Teaching Demonstration

Teaching Tools

Preparing Your Teaching Demonstration

A teaching demonstration is one of the most important parts of a job interview at a teaching-focused university, small liberal arts college, or community colleg... More

Why Don't Students Read?

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Why Don't Students Read?

I once dismissed a class because no one had done the reading. I was teaching a lower-division course called “Peoples and Cultures of Africa,” and for two weeks ... More

Crafting a Statement of Teaching Philosophy

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Crafting a Statement of Teaching Philosophy

A statement of teaching philosophy is the cornerstone of any teaching portfolio and is required for most academic job applications. But it is often a challengin... More

Teaching Race: Provocation

Member Voices

Teaching Race: Provocation

When I first started teaching undergraduates, I presented my “What is race?” lesson more often than any other. It made an appearance in nearly every course; I k... More

It’s In the Syllabus

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It’s In the Syllabus

“What did we cover in class last week? What’s your late homework policy? When are your office hours? How will my grade be computed?” Jorge Chan’s PhD Comics str... More

On the Same Side: Crafting Humane Course Policies

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On the Same Side: Crafting Humane Course Policies

It’s that time of the year again, at least on the University of California’s quarter system. As spring courses draw to a close and graduation ceremonies approac... More

Lessons for Learning-Centered Course Design

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Lessons for Learning-Centered Course Design

A favorite joke in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) community is based on one of Bud Blake’s comic strips. Tiger, the titular character, is talki... More

First Day Activity: Ten Things You Believe to be True

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First Day Activity: Ten Things You Believe to be True

The first day of class is often a challenge for new instructors. After addressing the inevitable logistical issues (e.g., enrollment, the syllabus, access to co... More

Teaching Resources Round-Up

Teaching Tools

Teaching Resources Round-Up

At the most recent annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in Denver, I presented on and attended several panels focused on teaching-re... More