Firas Moosvi, PhD
@firas.moosvi.com
Lecturer at UBC. Physics PhD, interested in Alternative Grading, STEM EDI initiatives, SoTL, learning analytics, science communication and data science!
Website: https://Firas.Moosvi.com
Website: https://Firas.Moosvi.com
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Are you ready to align your grading practices with your values?
Join us December 17–18 for the Alternative Grading Institute (online), which will bring together faculty from across higher education for a two-day, hands-on experience in standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
Join us December 17–18 for the Alternative Grading Institute (online), which will bring together faculty from across higher education for a two-day, hands-on experience in standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
Alternative Grading Institute
www.centerforgradingreform.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Are you ready to align your grading practices with your values?
Join us December 17–18 for the Alternative Grading Institute (online), which will bring together faculty from across higher education for a two-day, hands-on experience in standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
Join us December 17–18 for the Alternative Grading Institute (online), which will bring together faculty from across higher education for a two-day, hands-on experience in standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
For your amusement.
I am fascinated by this guy who was a Higher Ed administrator and has now moved into teaching classes as a faculty member. He is documenting his whole journey on TikTok. Over the summer, he had so much excitement 🧵
September 5, 2025 at 1:24 PM
For your amusement.
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Dean by day, cruciverbalist by night.
Dr. Mark MacLachlan discusses the science behind the art of his hobby as a crossword creator for @nytimes.com and more.
Dr. Mark MacLachlan discusses the science behind the art of his hobby as a crossword creator for @nytimes.com and more.
This scientist’s side hustle is creating crosswords for The New York Times - UBC News
Dean by day, cruciverbalist by night, Dr. Mark MacLachlan discusses the science behind the art of his hobby as a crossword creator for The New York Times and more.
news.ubc.ca
August 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Dean by day, cruciverbalist by night.
Dr. Mark MacLachlan discusses the science behind the art of his hobby as a crossword creator for @nytimes.com and more.
Dr. Mark MacLachlan discusses the science behind the art of his hobby as a crossword creator for @nytimes.com and more.
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Shaking my fist at @dccmath.bsky.social because his syllabus structure is so good that it is making me want to completely redesign my other syllabus.
August 19, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Shaking my fist at @dccmath.bsky.social because his syllabus structure is so good that it is making me want to completely redesign my other syllabus.
Everyone loves a good #ChartCrime, especially if it’s by OpenAI!
Enjoy !
www.theverge.com/news/756444/...
Also - “vibe graphing” 😂😂😂
Enjoy !
www.theverge.com/news/756444/...
Also - “vibe graphing” 😂😂😂
OpenAI gets caught vibe graphing
An OpenAI staffer apologized for the “unintentional chart crime.”
www.theverge.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Everyone loves a good #ChartCrime, especially if it’s by OpenAI!
Enjoy !
www.theverge.com/news/756444/...
Also - “vibe graphing” 😂😂😂
Enjoy !
www.theverge.com/news/756444/...
Also - “vibe graphing” 😂😂😂
AFAIK, the only major missing feature for instructors using JupyterBook (and the @jupyter.org) is a robust way to present notebooks slides.
Here, @quarto.org really has clean and tight workflow! 🎉
So I’ll be working on building a Jupyterbook with Quarto Live slides…
r-wasm.github.io/quarto-live/
Here, @quarto.org really has clean and tight workflow! 🎉
So I’ll be working on building a Jupyterbook with Quarto Live slides…
r-wasm.github.io/quarto-live/
Introduction – Quarto Live Documentation
r-wasm.github.io
July 22, 2025 at 1:24 AM
AFAIK, the only major missing feature for instructors using JupyterBook (and the @jupyter.org) is a robust way to present notebooks slides.
Here, @quarto.org really has clean and tight workflow! 🎉
So I’ll be working on building a Jupyterbook with Quarto Live slides…
r-wasm.github.io/quarto-live/
Here, @quarto.org really has clean and tight workflow! 🎉
So I’ll be working on building a Jupyterbook with Quarto Live slides…
r-wasm.github.io/quarto-live/
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
I am in dire need of case studies from higher ed instructors using flipped learning in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, or business for the 2nd edition of my book. If this is you, or you know someone or can reach someone like this, @ me and I'll send details. 🙏
July 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I am in dire need of case studies from higher ed instructors using flipped learning in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, or business for the 2nd edition of my book. If this is you, or you know someone or can reach someone like this, @ me and I'll send details. 🙏
Congratulations to Serene (my first grad student) for defending her masters thesis today 🥳🤩 !
Thesis: Instructor Perspectives on Alternative Grading at UBC ☂️!
Thesis: Instructor Perspectives on Alternative Grading at UBC ☂️!
June 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Congratulations to Serene (my first grad student) for defending her masters thesis today 🥳🤩 !
Thesis: Instructor Perspectives on Alternative Grading at UBC ☂️!
Thesis: Instructor Perspectives on Alternative Grading at UBC ☂️!
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
hey lovelies, I finally got around to publicly sharing my compilation of big tech energy and emissions data. I'll be using it in articles, posts etc but it's yours too, free to use (w/ attribution is nice)
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/23/d...
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/23/d...
May 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
hey lovelies, I finally got around to publicly sharing my compilation of big tech energy and emissions data. I'll be using it in articles, posts etc but it's yours too, free to use (w/ attribution is nice)
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/23/d...
ketanjoshi.co/2025/05/23/d...
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Alternative graders! I'm working on a blog post about "rookie mistakes" -- the things that new alt. graders most commonly do that cause them trouble.
My list so far:
- Unlimited reassessments
- Too many standards
- Super-duper complex system
What would you add?
My list so far:
- Unlimited reassessments
- Too many standards
- Super-duper complex system
What would you add?
May 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Alternative graders! I'm working on a blog post about "rookie mistakes" -- the things that new alt. graders most commonly do that cause them trouble.
My list so far:
- Unlimited reassessments
- Too many standards
- Super-duper complex system
What would you add?
My list so far:
- Unlimited reassessments
- Too many standards
- Super-duper complex system
What would you add?
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
2025. #DEI. "findings could help promote equity in STEM by ensuring greater focus on the fields in which women and girls are most underrepresented and negatively stereotyped." www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Divergence in children’s gender stereotypes and motivation across STEM fields | PNAS
STEM disciplines are traditionally stereotyped as being for men and boys. However,
in two preregistered studies of Grades 1 to 12 students in the U...
www.pnas.org
May 7, 2025 at 2:31 AM
2025. #DEI. "findings could help promote equity in STEM by ensuring greater focus on the fields in which women and girls are most underrepresented and negatively stereotyped." www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
I am happy to announce the publication of the first part of a 2-part @jcmsjournal.bsky.social Teaching Media dossier on #ungrading that @lisawj.bsky.social and I co-edited. Please check out "Part I: Critical Reflections on Ungrading" here: quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jcms/teach... Part two coming soon!
Journal of Cinema and Media Studies - TeachingmediaFind us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on Instagram
quod.lib.umich.edu
March 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I am happy to announce the publication of the first part of a 2-part @jcmsjournal.bsky.social Teaching Media dossier on #ungrading that @lisawj.bsky.social and I co-edited. Please check out "Part I: Critical Reflections on Ungrading" here: quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jcms/teach... Part two coming soon!
Charts are back…✨
Southbound crossings at the busiest border crossing in Western Canada are stable for USA license plates, but substantially down for B.C. ones, particular when it comes to one-off trips.
Today’s charts.
Today’s charts.
March 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Charts are back…✨
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
As the (brand new!) head of the department that is doing the hiring, I can confirm that this position is available... please share and apply! Tagging #AcademicSky 🧪 for reach!
My alma mater, the University of British Columbia, Dept of Medical Genetics, is hiring for a tenure track junior faculty position specializing in chromatin regulation / gene regulatory mechanisms. Beautiful city and vibrant epigenetics research. Please share!
medgen.med.ubc.ca/assistant-pr...
medgen.med.ubc.ca/assistant-pr...
Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) | Department of Medical Genetics | Life Sciences Institute (LSI) - Department of Medical Genetics
The Department of Medical Genetics, in collaboration with the Life Sciences Institute (LSI), invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, tenure track with...
medgen.med.ubc.ca
March 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
As the (brand new!) head of the department that is doing the hiring, I can confirm that this position is available... please share and apply! Tagging #AcademicSky 🧪 for reach!
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Looking forward to being back in Vancouver for Digital Pedagogy Lab next week.
I’m co-teaching about alternative assessment with the inimitable Martha Burtis.
bccampus.ca/event/digita...
I’m co-teaching about alternative assessment with the inimitable Martha Burtis.
bccampus.ca/event/digita...
Digital Pedagogy Lab 2025 (2025-02-18)
Are you ready to push the boundaries of teaching with technology?
The Digital Pedagogy Lab is more than just another educational conference. It’s a dynamic, cohort-based community of practi...
bccampus.ca
February 13, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Looking forward to being back in Vancouver for Digital Pedagogy Lab next week.
I’m co-teaching about alternative assessment with the inimitable Martha Burtis.
bccampus.ca/event/digita...
I’m co-teaching about alternative assessment with the inimitable Martha Burtis.
bccampus.ca/event/digita...
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
In other news, if you’re looking for a speaker on engaging all students, teaching STEM, teaching large classes, or need someone to offer mentor training or coaching, HMU!
February 6, 2025 at 12:42 AM
In other news, if you’re looking for a speaker on engaging all students, teaching STEM, teaching large classes, or need someone to offer mentor training or coaching, HMU!
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
2i2c has officially become part of the mybinder.org federation, introducing a new, cost-effective, and faster approach. We hope to make it easier for more people to join the federation by contributing a single-node BinderHub at 2i2c.mybinder.org.
More in our blog: https://2i2c.org/blog/2025/binde…
More in our blog: https://2i2c.org/blog/2025/binde…
February 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
2i2c has officially become part of the mybinder.org federation, introducing a new, cost-effective, and faster approach. We hope to make it easier for more people to join the federation by contributing a single-node BinderHub at 2i2c.mybinder.org.
More in our blog: https://2i2c.org/blog/2025/binde…
More in our blog: https://2i2c.org/blog/2025/binde…
🤯
Ontario post-secondary institutes (colleges + universities) operating income by source, 2001-02 to 2028-29 (projected).
This is kind of wild.
This is kind of wild.
February 2, 2025 at 6:11 AM
🤯
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Just saw 4 more articles that used final & final exam grades as statistical measures of improvement.
Please - for the love of all research everywhere - STOP using grades as a measure of anything.
Grades can’t be combined statistically b/c they have too many embedded factors - some defined some not
Please - for the love of all research everywhere - STOP using grades as a measure of anything.
Grades can’t be combined statistically b/c they have too many embedded factors - some defined some not
January 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Just saw 4 more articles that used final & final exam grades as statistical measures of improvement.
Please - for the love of all research everywhere - STOP using grades as a measure of anything.
Grades can’t be combined statistically b/c they have too many embedded factors - some defined some not
Please - for the love of all research everywhere - STOP using grades as a measure of anything.
Grades can’t be combined statistically b/c they have too many embedded factors - some defined some not
💯 this…
I’m right at the threshold, teetering on the brink, one way and then another.
I’m right at the threshold, teetering on the brink, one way and then another.
I think there's an age threshold where if you're below it, your primary emotion upon learning about a solid LaTeX rival like @typst.app is excitement, whereas if you're above it, that emotion is anxiety.
Whenever I’m forced to use Microsoft Word, I say a little prayer to thank Donald Knuth for his many blessings. And then I get even more excited about @typst.app.
January 1, 2025 at 6:36 AM
💯 this…
I’m right at the threshold, teetering on the brink, one way and then another.
I’m right at the threshold, teetering on the brink, one way and then another.
An insane story of an intern working at ByteDance (TikTok), deliberately sabotaging models to redirect compute resources.
And then winning Best Paper at the prestigious NeurIPS ML conference.
To be fair, the work was evaluated “blindly” but it wasn’t revoked after 🤔
www.wired.com/story/byteda...
And then winning Best Paper at the prestigious NeurIPS ML conference.
To be fair, the work was evaluated “blindly” but it wasn’t revoked after 🤔
www.wired.com/story/byteda...
Former ByteDance Intern Accused of Sabotage Among Winners of Prestigious AI Award
Keyu Tian and his coauthors won the Best Paper Award at the annual NeurIPS machine-learning conference for their work on a new technique for generating images. Some have objected to the decision.
www.wired.com
December 28, 2024 at 7:37 PM
An insane story of an intern working at ByteDance (TikTok), deliberately sabotaging models to redirect compute resources.
And then winning Best Paper at the prestigious NeurIPS ML conference.
To be fair, the work was evaluated “blindly” but it wasn’t revoked after 🤔
www.wired.com/story/byteda...
And then winning Best Paper at the prestigious NeurIPS ML conference.
To be fair, the work was evaluated “blindly” but it wasn’t revoked after 🤔
www.wired.com/story/byteda...
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Who is for abolishing grad app letters of rec at the point of application? Would it be so bad if letters were requested AFTER candidates were shortlisted? If we do this at UCSD who will join us?
December 14, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Who is for abolishing grad app letters of rec at the point of application? Would it be so bad if letters were requested AFTER candidates were shortlisted? If we do this at UCSD who will join us?
Nice!
Thanks to some great instructions, changed my handle from @firasm.bsky.social to @firas.moosvi.com 🎉.
Also I survived the term - congrats to everyone who also did! Onwards...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
Thanks to some great instructions, changed my handle from @firasm.bsky.social to @firas.moosvi.com 🎉.
Also I survived the term - congrats to everyone who also did! Onwards...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
How to verify your Bluesky account - Bluesky
Here's how to verify your Bluesky account by setting your website as your username.
bsky.social
December 8, 2024 at 8:52 PM
Nice!
Thanks to some great instructions, changed my handle from @firasm.bsky.social to @firas.moosvi.com 🎉.
Also I survived the term - congrats to everyone who also did! Onwards...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
Thanks to some great instructions, changed my handle from @firasm.bsky.social to @firas.moosvi.com 🎉.
Also I survived the term - congrats to everyone who also did! Onwards...
bsky.social/about/blog/4...
Reposted by Firas Moosvi, PhD
Fully realizing that all of these folks are up to way more than puzzling about more humane, just, and effective assessment, here is our attempt at a @growbeyondgrades.org starter pack! Who’s missing?
go.bsky.app/8EEJ1Tw
go.bsky.app/8EEJ1Tw
November 28, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Fully realizing that all of these folks are up to way more than puzzling about more humane, just, and effective assessment, here is our attempt at a @growbeyondgrades.org starter pack! Who’s missing?
go.bsky.app/8EEJ1Tw
go.bsky.app/8EEJ1Tw
Optimist: the cup is half full
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Educational developers: Is “having a full cup” one of your course learning objectives? But how will you assess the fullness of the cup? Could your assessment be more authentic? And have you considered ungrading?
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Educational developers: Is “having a full cup” one of your course learning objectives? But how will you assess the fullness of the cup? Could your assessment be more authentic? And have you considered ungrading?
Optimist: the cup is half full
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Tolkien: but they were all deceived, for another cup was made.
Pessimist: the cup is half empty
Tolkien: but they were all deceived, for another cup was made.
November 24, 2024 at 5:15 AM