It’s probably too much of a cliché to start a Feb. 2 newsletter by talking about the movie Groundhog Day, but so be it. If you are one of the rare folks unfamiliar with the storyline, Bill Murray plays a weatherman stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day again, with each day offering a new opportunity to make the right impression on his love interest. Through trial and error (mostly errors), he figures out what works to win her heart. While the movie could arguably be an extreme example of the way we all learn new skills, as we hunker down into this messy February, the teacher in me is even more drawn to thinking about a tension expressed so effectively by Murray’s snarky character: the vacillation between the tedium of the endless repetition of the same events and the promise of the eternal do-over, the chance to set things right, do things differently, and experiment freely with impunity. In our teaching lives, we often have the good fortune (?) of teaching the same class more than once—sometimes WAY more than just once. How do we keep a class we’ve taught over and over fresh and interesting—for us? (For me, include: how can I teach the verb être again in a way that won’t feel stale to me and will also help my students?) We’re always happy to brainstorm with you here in the Faculty Hub, but today, I’m also offering some ideas for renewal and experimentation in the resource section below.
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On a related note, Groundhog Day coincides with the Christian holiday of Candelmas. In France, Candelmas (la Chandeleur) is the occasion to make crêpes that create warmth and evoke the light of the sun. In the spirit of that season, here’s to warm treats, thawing of the ice, and light in the darkness.
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Coming Up in the Faculty Hub
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Beginning Monday, February 2
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Sharing a couple of recent resources for inspiration…
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Resource Spotlight: Academic Writing Consultant for Faculty Interest Form
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To support your writing, UR has arranged a limited number of time slots available for writing coaching and consulting with Dra. Aurora Chang. With over 30 years in higher education, Dra. Chang is a published author and a formerly tenured professor who brings real insider knowledge to their work with faculty. She has worked at the University of Wyoming and Loyola University and has published more than two dozen academic articles and two scholarly books. Deeply committed to advancing social justice through education, she offers faculty thoughtful, credible support grounded in lived academic experience. Sign up here.
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We are always looking for new and exciting projects and collaborations. Feel free to contact us.
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