Blogging with Moxie

Just finished The IT Girl’s Guide to Blogging with Moxie by Reeder and Scoleri.  Honestly, I’m a bit torn on how to feel about the book.  Overall, there is useful and relevant information included and presented in an easily readable manner.  This is a good thing.  The authors also provide a plethora of examples for the reader to examine.

The book does have one serious drawback, however, in that it is almost too girlie for any woman to want to be seen reading it.  While I can deal with the hot pink cover, what is more difficult to explain are the “Relax, Refresh, Reward” sections.  For example, what exactly does knowing how to make a cosmolito have to do with being a good blogger?

And, that is precisely the part I’m torn on.  I *think* I understand what the authors are trying to do.   I understand the whole “grrrl power” feminism approach, but I also can’t help wondering if it does more harm than good sometimes.  As way of explanation, I had the book in my office last semester.  A male student picked it up and started looking at it.  While he had no comments to make about the relevant information other than looking intrigued, as soon as he turned to the grrl sections, he made snarky comments.  While I can explain his reaction in a variety of ways, I have to admit the sections of the book invite that kind of criticism.  It’s like showing up to an executive meeting with a Hello Kitty binder. Sure we’re asserting that we can be and do anything we want, but is there a better way of doing it.

Still, despite the possible flaw, the book is worth the read.  Definitely picked up a few tricks and techniques to incorporate in class and in my own blogging.

Graphic Syllabi

Ok, so I’m a total geek.  I’m probably the only person who can get excited at the prospect of reading a book called The Graphic Syllabus and Outcomes Map: Communicating your Course.  And, perhaps my excitement is part of my downfall.  Overall, the book has some interesting points.  The author makes a strong case for needing a graphic syllabus to complement the traditional text syllabus (in part because students don’t read any more).  However, there is a nagging voice in my head that tells me that a graphic syllabus is just rewarding lazy behavior.  Does it scream to the students, “You don’t need to read, we’ll hand feed you everything”?

If you can get past that glitch in the logic of using a graphic syllabus, Nilson’s book does provide a huge number of examples that you can refer to often.  Unfortunately, the examples don’t make much sense without explanation and the majority of them are from science courses.

In spite of that, I do think I’ll be giving a graphic syllabus a shot for the next semester. Mostly I want to do that because, when paired with an outcomes map, I think the graphic syllabus will help focus me more than the students.  It will help me have a clearer vision of the course and what I expect in the end of each module.

Welcome to Book Hack

This blog is the brainchild (or brain fart) of two book geeks.  We thought that instead of emailing each other a list of books that we were reading and loving, we’d take the time and write reviews here.  Enjoy.

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