@bcp99.bsky.social
Professor of religious studies, reluctant department chair, reader, rural Midwesterner
Oh, us too. But if employers see a university degree as worthless bc they assume that students can game everything with AI, either most universities (incl poor ones like mine) will die entirely or admins will realize more faculty/TAs are needed. I don't have a fix but am sounding the alarm.
December 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Oh, us too. But if employers see a university degree as worthless bc they assume that students can game everything with AI, either most universities (incl poor ones like mine) will die entirely or admins will realize more faculty/TAs are needed. I don't have a fix but am sounding the alarm.
Teaching changes all the the time, and AI might force us to change again (hire more faculty/TAs, reconfigure space, etc.) When I started 20 yrs ago, there weren't computers in most classrooms, I didn't use powerpoint or videos, and we didn't have a CM system let alone entirely online courses.
December 30, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Teaching changes all the the time, and AI might force us to change again (hire more faculty/TAs, reconfigure space, etc.) When I started 20 yrs ago, there weren't computers in most classrooms, I didn't use powerpoint or videos, and we didn't have a CM system let alone entirely online courses.
Yes, the idea of "interaction" is unclear and complicated and I don't know why more places aren't paying attention to it. It suggests to me the (welcome) end of large asynch classes, at least humanities classes and/or those that require any writing.
December 30, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Yes, the idea of "interaction" is unclear and complicated and I don't know why more places aren't paying attention to it. It suggests to me the (welcome) end of large asynch classes, at least humanities classes and/or those that require any writing.
Our underfunded state directional u is prepping for this so I assume other schools with online courses are too. Unclear how it will be interpreted but having to meet with each student individually for 1 hour/semester (2 short oral exams) would not be a crazy time requirement.
December 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Our underfunded state directional u is prepping for this so I assume other schools with online courses are too. Unclear how it will be interpreted but having to meet with each student individually for 1 hour/semester (2 short oral exams) would not be a crazy time requirement.
Online courses require "Regular and Substantive Interaction" between instructor and student (per 34-CFR 600.2, signed 7/1/21) for institutions whose students get Title IV funds. Asynch classes of 50+ are unlikely to meet these criteria (coming into force in 26 or 27, I think?)
December 30, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Online courses require "Regular and Substantive Interaction" between instructor and student (per 34-CFR 600.2, signed 7/1/21) for institutions whose students get Title IV funds. Asynch classes of 50+ are unlikely to meet these criteria (coming into force in 26 or 27, I think?)
The goal of student essay exams is to have students sit and write without distraction for an hour or two (with notes/book or without, qs in advance or not). It reminds them they have knowledge and ideas in their own brains that they can express on their own.
December 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The goal of student essay exams is to have students sit and write without distraction for an hour or two (with notes/book or without, qs in advance or not). It reminds them they have knowledge and ideas in their own brains that they can express on their own.
I would really like to see an upbeat video of Neil Diamond's America with all of this information included.
December 27, 2025 at 5:06 AM
I would really like to see an upbeat video of Neil Diamond's America with all of this information included.
AI is being pitched not just as a "particular tool" but as something like electricity or the wheel. DH said, here's this cool tool you could come up with amazing uses for. AI says, basically, nothing you did before and nothing you think is important matters anymore.
December 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
AI is being pitched not just as a "particular tool" but as something like electricity or the wheel. DH said, here's this cool tool you could come up with amazing uses for. AI says, basically, nothing you did before and nothing you think is important matters anymore.
I'm teaching online classes and am learning how to give Zoom oral exams. I only had one grad school prof who did orals (in-person, obviously) and there's going to have to be a whole pedagogy developed around this if we keep it up.
December 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I'm teaching online classes and am learning how to give Zoom oral exams. I only had one grad school prof who did orals (in-person, obviously) and there's going to have to be a whole pedagogy developed around this if we keep it up.
The other headline from IHE today is "You Can't AI Proof the Classroom, Experts Say. Get Creative Instead." Hmm, I wonder if the "experts" have a financial stake in AI? Also, duh, every prof I know has been frantically creative at least for the last year.
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The other headline from IHE today is "You Can't AI Proof the Classroom, Experts Say. Get Creative Instead." Hmm, I wonder if the "experts" have a financial stake in AI? Also, duh, every prof I know has been frantically creative at least for the last year.
do you think victims of crimes might ever benefit from hearing poetry, reading poetry, or writing poetry? Can you imagine a poem that you would read or give to someone who was suffering, or a poem that you might think of when you were upset about someone else's suffering?
December 9, 2025 at 11:56 PM
do you think victims of crimes might ever benefit from hearing poetry, reading poetry, or writing poetry? Can you imagine a poem that you would read or give to someone who was suffering, or a poem that you might think of when you were upset about someone else's suffering?
I do a variation of this where on the final I require them to select a reading to "assign" to anyone of their choice (someone they know, a politician, a church leader) and explain why, but that's a great idea to do it during class and have them hammer out a reading list!
December 4, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I do a variation of this where on the final I require them to select a reading to "assign" to anyone of their choice (someone they know, a politician, a church leader) and explain why, but that's a great idea to do it during class and have them hammer out a reading list!
Or: "which illegal orders should American soldiers obey?"
November 25, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Or: "which illegal orders should American soldiers obey?"
"Which illegal orders should a US soldier obey?" should be the question posed to these Republican leaders.
November 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
"Which illegal orders should a US soldier obey?" should be the question posed to these Republican leaders.
My first thought was that someone wanted to get him to resign but couldn't so gave him a heavy teaching load at the least desirable times.
November 17, 2025 at 6:20 AM
My first thought was that someone wanted to get him to resign but couldn't so gave him a heavy teaching load at the least desirable times.
Douthat is often simplistic - that terrible piece on women shows he is ignorant of basic women's history (eg why didn't we have the right to vote in the first place, and how did things change to make that happen?). But he is at least an indicator to NYT readers of what *some* people care about.
November 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Douthat is often simplistic - that terrible piece on women shows he is ignorant of basic women's history (eg why didn't we have the right to vote in the first place, and how did things change to make that happen?). But he is at least an indicator to NYT readers of what *some* people care about.
As a religious studies prof I think most journalists avoid the topic of religion (or at best do "Christian nationalism evil/MLK Christianity good"). These three get how important it is, and every once in a while are able to capture its complexity. (Well, French does.)
November 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
As a religious studies prof I think most journalists avoid the topic of religion (or at best do "Christian nationalism evil/MLK Christianity good"). These three get how important it is, and every once in a while are able to capture its complexity. (Well, French does.)
Have gifted Bonne Maman and a couple of tea ones, and covet good chocolate, but my favorite nontreat Advent calendars are the German co. yellowpapers' adorable libraries, forests, gardens, etc: www.etsy.com/shop/yellowp...
www.etsy.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Have gifted Bonne Maman and a couple of tea ones, and covet good chocolate, but my favorite nontreat Advent calendars are the German co. yellowpapers' adorable libraries, forests, gardens, etc: www.etsy.com/shop/yellowp...
To be fair, you could argue that communism started in the New Testament era: "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:44-45). Do you think that's what he meant?
November 6, 2025 at 12:07 AM
To be fair, you could argue that communism started in the New Testament era: "All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:44-45). Do you think that's what he meant?
yes x1000. I put in my policy that AI can tell them the word "God" appeared in the article 34 times but can't tell them which time they find the most illuminating.
November 4, 2025 at 3:09 PM
yes x1000. I put in my policy that AI can tell them the word "God" appeared in the article 34 times but can't tell them which time they find the most illuminating.
This is awesome but will they read it? can they read it? will they be listening when I go over it? I expanded mine too but am trying to keep it short enough to cover in a punchy two minutes in class.
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This is awesome but will they read it? can they read it? will they be listening when I go over it? I expanded mine too but am trying to keep it short enough to cover in a punchy two minutes in class.
Yeah, if you're secular or a moderate of whatever faith, you might think, "that's sort of mean," but any non-Christian marrying an evangelical would have sorted that out. As a religious studies scholar I have lovely friends who think I might be going to hell and you just get used to that.
November 1, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Yeah, if you're secular or a moderate of whatever faith, you might think, "that's sort of mean," but any non-Christian marrying an evangelical would have sorted that out. As a religious studies scholar I have lovely friends who think I might be going to hell and you just get used to that.
I understand the impulse to tear it down, but what could be most triggering for him would be to absolutely flood the zone with images of President AOC's inaugural ball, complete with Latin Dance Festival, President Crockett, Pride Festival, etc. superimposed on the ballroom plans.
October 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I understand the impulse to tear it down, but what could be most triggering for him would be to absolutely flood the zone with images of President AOC's inaugural ball, complete with Latin Dance Festival, President Crockett, Pride Festival, etc. superimposed on the ballroom plans.
I think visualizing it as the place of Sasha or Malia Obama's inaugural ball is the way to go.
October 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I think visualizing it as the place of Sasha or Malia Obama's inaugural ball is the way to go.
I'm no strategist but it seems clear to me there should be a single unified Democratic response to this: "Obviously the president is deeply afraid that he can't control his bowels."
October 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I'm no strategist but it seems clear to me there should be a single unified Democratic response to this: "Obviously the president is deeply afraid that he can't control his bowels."