Pecha Kucha in the ClassroomPosted on March 3, 2020 by Chris ParisClassroom presentations often seem like a good idea. After all, why not give students a chance to share their thoughts, engage their classmates in quality conversations, and earn valuable experience? Then it happens. The class falls victim to a well researched, but over-the-top presentation where as much text as possible is squished onto the screen….
The Bible and Pop Culture: An Academic Journey?Posted on July 18, 2014 by Chris ParisWhenever I learn of classes that feature pop culture, my initial enthusiasm is always tempered by wondering how any of these courses can truly be academic. I had the opportunity to wrestle with this issue when Vanderbilt Divinity School allowed me to teach The Bible in American Culture….
The Wonderful—Yet Misunderstood—World of WikisPosted on April 11, 2014 by Chris ParisIn academia, the word “wiki” often conjures up images of students copying and pasting assignments from Wikipedia, daring the plagiarism police to catch them. The word reminds others of that revolutionary vanguard of the fifth estate known as WikiLeaks—with some welcoming a new age of electronic social justice and others arguing that some dams should never crumble. Wikis can be powerful tools for cataloguing and disseminating information. However, with their ability to inform and misinform, some may wonder about their value for research and classroom collaboration….