Derek Bruff
@derekbruff.bsky.social
Educator, author, consultant. Associate director at the University of Virginia Center for Teaching Excellence. Author of Intentional Tech from West Virginia University Press. Host of the Intentional Teaching podcast. Birder.
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Derek Bruff
@derekbruff.bsky.social
· Aug 2
Hi to all the new followers! I'm Derek, and I help higher ed instructors make more informed and intentional teaching choices. I run the Intentional Teaching podcast, intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com, and newsletter, derekbruff.kit.com/profile, among other things!
Reposted by Derek Bruff
Can #AI accurately transcribe tricky primary source documents—including shoes?
At the “AI Transcription Winter 2026 OLLMpics," Library staff tested four platforms, and the results are in:
https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/gamechanger-can-ai-accurately-transcribe-primary-source-documents
At the “AI Transcription Winter 2026 OLLMpics," Library staff tested four platforms, and the results are in:
https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/gamechanger-can-ai-accurately-transcribe-primary-source-documents
February 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Can #AI accurately transcribe tricky primary source documents—including shoes?
At the “AI Transcription Winter 2026 OLLMpics," Library staff tested four platforms, and the results are in:
https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/gamechanger-can-ai-accurately-transcribe-primary-source-documents
At the “AI Transcription Winter 2026 OLLMpics," Library staff tested four platforms, and the results are in:
https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/gamechanger-can-ai-accurately-transcribe-primary-source-documents
They would be as likely to break what was working as they would be to fix what was broken.
Unless you can find the unicorn Lederman describes in this piece.
Unless you can find the unicorn Lederman describes in this piece.
Opinion | An Interim President for Every Institution
What if colleges and universities hired short-term leaders for a year or three to get the really hard stuff done? https://bit.ly/4tlmfm0
What if colleges and universities hired short-term leaders for a year or three to get the really hard stuff done? https://bit.ly/4tlmfm0
February 3, 2026 at 11:58 PM
They would be as likely to break what was working as they would be to fix what was broken.
Unless you can find the unicorn Lederman describes in this piece.
Unless you can find the unicorn Lederman describes in this piece.
If it doesn’t have an RSS feed with audio content, it’s not a podcast.
I just went to subscribe to the new Frakes/Spiner podcast only to find out it’s only available on YouTube. If I cannot experience it fully while washing dishes, it’s not a podcast.
Video podcasts are talk shows. Just admit it!
January 31, 2026 at 4:25 PM
If it doesn’t have an RSS feed with audio content, it’s not a podcast.
Update: The power is back on! We have heat again.
Day five without power at my house. Cell signals are back and the roads are mostly clear. But with more cold coming, our little propane heater can’t keep up so we’re going to stay with friends tonight. Apologies if I owe you an email!
January 30, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Update: The power is back on! We have heat again.
Day five without power at my house. Cell signals are back and the roads are mostly clear. But with more cold coming, our little propane heater can’t keep up so we’re going to stay with friends tonight. Apologies if I owe you an email!
January 29, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Day five without power at my house. Cell signals are back and the roads are mostly clear. But with more cold coming, our little propane heater can’t keep up so we’re going to stay with friends tonight. Apologies if I owe you an email!
Today’s home office. The only corner of the yard where I get an occasional Internet signal.
January 26, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Today’s home office. The only corner of the yard where I get an occasional Internet signal.
It’s rough out there, so here are some birds.
January 25, 2026 at 12:51 AM
It’s rough out there, so here are some birds.
So UT-Austin is committed to "undergraduate research, faculty support, advising," but it's closing the offices and centers that do that work? Um, what?
www.chronicle.com/article/ut-a...
www.chronicle.com/article/ut-a...
UT-Austin Is Closing Its Teaching Center. Faculty Members Ask: Why?
A series of shutdowns announced by the provost are short on detail. Professors say they make little sense.
www.chronicle.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:01 PM
So UT-Austin is committed to "undergraduate research, faculty support, advising," but it's closing the offices and centers that do that work? Um, what?
www.chronicle.com/article/ut-a...
www.chronicle.com/article/ut-a...
Excited to be helping facilitate the virtual track at the Virginia AI Symposium today! UVA's @monasloane.bsky.social is our keynote this morning for those on-site and about 150 of us on the livestream.
January 23, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Excited to be helping facilitate the virtual track at the Virginia AI Symposium today! UVA's @monasloane.bsky.social is our keynote this morning for those on-site and about 150 of us on the livestream.
It’s the define-a-sandwich activity! In its full, peer-reviewed glory.
My newest paper about defining sandwiches is out!
@drew-lewis.com @sbagley.bsky.social @annemho.bsky.social Mary, Jessica, Bill, @matthematics.com Kate, Sarah
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@drew-lewis.com @sbagley.bsky.social @annemho.bsky.social Mary, Jessica, Bill, @matthematics.com Kate, Sarah
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Humanizing Defining in Mathematics with Sandwiches
This paper discusses multiple versions of an activity in which participants create, discuss, and analyze possible definitions of the term “sandwich.” This activity has helped us humanize mathematic...
www.tandfonline.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:43 PM
It’s the define-a-sandwich activity! In its full, peer-reviewed glory.
Reposted by Derek Bruff
I wish Bluesky listed post per day somewhere in a user's profile. Sometimes I think I want to follow someone, but I'm worried they'll fill up my feed more than I'd like.
January 19, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I wish Bluesky listed post per day somewhere in a user's profile. Sometimes I think I want to follow someone, but I'm worried they'll fill up my feed more than I'd like.
It’s rough out there. Here’s a bird.
January 17, 2026 at 7:38 PM
It’s rough out there. Here’s a bird.
“Texas A&M assumes as its historic trust the maintenance of freedom of inquiry and an intellectual environment nurturing the human mind and spirit.“
Texas A&M mission statement
Texas A&M mission statement
Texas A&M Cancels Graduate Ethics Class in Ongoing Course Review
Administrators say the professor teaching the course did not specify when and how race, gender and sexuality might come up in class. The professor says that would be impossible. https://bit.ly/49n6zqm
Administrators say the professor teaching the course did not specify when and how race, gender and sexuality might come up in class. The professor says that would be impossible. https://bit.ly/49n6zqm
January 15, 2026 at 7:34 PM
“Texas A&M assumes as its historic trust the maintenance of freedom of inquiry and an intellectual environment nurturing the human mind and spirit.“
Texas A&M mission statement
Texas A&M mission statement
Reposted by Derek Bruff
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
January 13, 2026 at 7:35 PM
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
January 13, 2026 at 7:35 PM
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Is there a podcast on leadership out there for high ed administrators? I keep hearing about the dumbest management moves from presidents and provosts and such. They need some help.
January 11, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Is there a podcast on leadership out there for high ed administrators? I keep hearing about the dumbest management moves from presidents and provosts and such. They need some help.
Also blog posts
Very excited for this conversation with @annamillsoer.bsky.social and her work on an #OER book that examines #GenAI & #Writing…check out the interview & consider adopting her #OpenTextbook
#HigherEd #EdTech #AIEdu
open.substack.com/pub/aiedusim...
#HigherEd #EdTech #AIEdu
open.substack.com/pub/aiedusim...
January 10, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Also blog posts
I’m just gonna listen to all podcasts featuring @annamillsoer.bsky.social.
(See my last two reposts.)
(See my last two reposts.)
January 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I’m just gonna listen to all podcasts featuring @annamillsoer.bsky.social.
(See my last two reposts.)
(See my last two reposts.)
Reposted by Derek Bruff
What kind of guardrails should AI companies build to protect learning?
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
What Guardrails Should AI Companies Build to Protect Learning? | Learning Curve
In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things l...
learningcurve.fm
January 7, 2026 at 2:21 AM
What kind of guardrails should AI companies build to protect learning?
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
In today's Tea for Teaching podcast, @annamillsoer.bsky.social joins us to suggest ways in which AI can be used to help students develop their writing skills while also promoting academic integrity. @cyberthread.bsky.social teaforteaching.podbean.com/e/authentic-...
Authentic Voice in the Age of AI | Tea for Teaching
Student use of AI tools presents challenges for faculty teaching writing. In this episode, Anna Mills joins us to discuss when and how AI tools can be used to help students develop their writing skill...
teaforteaching.podbean.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
In today's Tea for Teaching podcast, @annamillsoer.bsky.social joins us to suggest ways in which AI can be used to help students develop their writing skills while also promoting academic integrity. @cyberthread.bsky.social teaforteaching.podbean.com/e/authentic-...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
Avoiding AI — UVA Center for Teaching Excellence
UVA faculty shared their strategies for directing students away from the use of AI in course assignments and activities.
cte.virginia.edu
January 8, 2026 at 4:21 PM
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
Reposted by Derek Bruff
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).