Thomas J. Tobin
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thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Thomas J. Tobin
@thomasjtobin.bsky.social
2K followers 270 following 460 posts
He, him. #ActuallyAutistic higher-ed quality author, speaker, scholar. Going Alt-Ac | UDL x3 | © Ninja | Evaluating Online Teaching +. Books/book me: http://thomasjtobin.com
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thomasjtobin.bsky.social
FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS [do peer observations] WITHOUT ...

... attending our #POD25 workshop Nov 19, 9a-12n.

Join me, @laurenbarbeau.bsky.social, @claudiach.bsky.social, & Marguerite Regan for "How to Design a High-Trust Peer Observation Program."

Just $100! Register via bit.ly/POD50PeerObs!
Promo slide for POD Network pre-conference workshop "How to Design a High-Trust Peer Observation Program," Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 9:00a-12:00n. Registration link https://bit.ly/POD50PeerObs. Image of the San Diego skyline, POD Network logo, and photos of Lauren Barbeau, Georgia Tech; Claudia Cornejo-Happel, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Marguerite Regan, Newman University; and Thomas J. Tobin, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Vote!
Tom Tobin wears an "Election Official" name badge.
November 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
STILL A FEW SPOTS LEFT!

Want to know how to use #AI to help lower access barriers for learners (and for you)?

Sign up for my @higheredplus.bsky.social webinar 12n-1p EST on Nov 12 & find out!

www.publicationacademy.org/webinar-regi...
Title slide for "How to Use Artificial Intelligence to Support Universal Design for Learning" from Thomas J. Tobin. Image of HigherEd+ logo and photo of Tom Tobin—a white man with gray hair, glasses, and a giant black mustache—smiling in a tan suit.
November 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Yes.

Hey-ey-ey-ey!
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Job Posting!

Penn State's Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence is hiring an early-career Faculty/Ed Developer.

bit.ly/PSUEdDev

This is a *faculty* position, working with splendid colleagues, including my wife, Mary Ann!

Thanks for applying or for sharing this posting to your networks.
Logo for Penn State Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, with a Nittany Lion head on a white shield shape.
November 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Moar Nashville
October 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
How does #UDL make IT work go smoother?

Pearl Xie and I know!

Stop by the @educause.bsky.social Commons from 3:15-4:00p on October 29 & learn how UDL helps more than 290 IT roles be more effective.

events.educause.edu/annual-confe...
Title Slide for EDUCAUSE 2025 annual conference poster session "Scaling Smart: How Universal Design for Learning Makes 291+ Higher-Ed IT Roles More Efficient," with images of UW-Madison and Virginia Tech logos, as well as photos of Tom Tobin and Pearl Xie, presenters.
October 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
While I wait for my flight to go home today, here is a photo of my cat Webster to bless your timeline.
An orange cat sleeps in a curled position on a red couch.
October 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
I'll be traveling home on Saturday, October 18, so I can't attend my local event. But you know damn sure I'll have my yellow on to support the #NoKings movement. I stand for democracy and community. Join us.

www.nokings.org
The "No Kings" logo of a crown with a red X slashed through it.
October 16, 2025 at 7:29 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
It's an honor to speak at the @sunyofficial.bsky.social Farmingdale State College Accessibility Summit today. Thank you for inviting me!
Tom Tobin smiles in front of a sign for Farmingdale State College. Tom Tobin smiles in a room full of educators. Tom Tobin smiles in front of a sign advertising his keynote at Farmingdale State College.
October 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Rest in peace, Dr. Jane Goodall.
Tom Tobin stands in front of a sign with Jane Goodall on it.
October 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Thank you very much, @unmc.bsky.social, for inviting me to keynote your InnovatED Symposium today. I am proud of the work you are doing to lower access barriers for learners.
Tom Tobin smiles in front of a sign for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Tom Tobin stands next to an emergency room bed in a simulation room at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
September 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Where am I? Right or wrong answers welcome.
Tom Tobin smiles in front of a fiberglass gorilla who is holding two giant hamburgers.
September 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Glad to be in Trinidad today! Thank you to the University of the West Indies for inviting me to give the Premium Open Lecture on UDL.
Tom Tobin smiles in Trinidad in front of palm trees and lush forest.
September 26, 2025 at 11:32 AM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Purr-fessor Webster and I are reading about autistic self-determination. Thanks, Sol Smith for a splendid book!
Tom and his cat Webster sit at a table and read a book together.
September 20, 2025 at 8:35 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist" is playing on repeat in my head today.

No reason.

youtu.be/6ODNxy3YOPU
EP cover for Sepultura's 1993 song "Refuse/Resist," showing a protester holding a flaming Molotov cocktail running toward Korean riot police.
September 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Okonomiyaki + takoyaki = oishii!
Tom Tobin smiles in a Japanese restaurant, holding chopsticks and a plate of takoyaki octopus fritters. There is a plate of okonomiyaki on the table in front of him.
September 13, 2025 at 12:52 AM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
FREE #UDL Webinar!

"Beyond the Guidelines: UDL Strategy-Development Meta-Pathways," Sep 17, 2-3p EDT.

Are you a nerd for all things #UDL? This one's for advanced-level practitioners (& those who want to be).

Bring your brain, questions, and colleagues.

www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the...
Title slide for "Beyond the Guidelines: UDL Strategy-Development Meta-Pathways" showing Goodwin University logo and a photo of Tom Tobin, a white man with gray hair, glasses, and a giant black mustache, smiling in a suit.
September 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
I will gladly accept my photojournalism prize, now.
Webster the orange cat looks up with a derpy look on his face.
September 5, 2025 at 11:23 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Hello, friends & new followers. I'm glad you're here. You can expect that I will

address inequity,
lower barriers,
call bullsh*t,
celebrate marginalized voices,
speak truth to power,
simplify complex topics,
question why we do what we do, &
share cute animal vids/pics/memes.
In a mysterious smoke-filled space, actress Meryl Streep turns toward the camera to reveal she is wearing a large false mustache.
September 3, 2025 at 5:44 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Hey, academic friends.

Are you hosting a conference, need workshop facilitators, or have grant funds for professional development?

I made a PDF list of dozens of splendid people who can help you!

P.S. Who's awesome and should be added?

www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ie713...
Screen shot of a word=processed document titled "Who's Our Next Speaker," with a note from Tom Tobin and a fuzzed-out list of categories and people. The note reads "Thank you for working with me to be part of your event. Many folks ask me “who should we ask next,” and I’ve compiled a list of speakers and facilitator who can help you continue your good work. Please reach out to any of these colleagues and let them know that I mentioned them to you. Thanks!"
August 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
IT'S OFFICIAL.

I'm proud to be a Fulbright Specialist at the University of the Cordilleras in the Philippines during February 2026!

Local friends, let's plan to connect. See thomasjtobin.com.
Line drawing of the world map, showing a line from Pennsylvania to the Philippines. Cartoon image of Tom Tobin (a white man with gray hair, glasses, and a giant black mustache), saying "I'm proud to be a Fulbright Specialist in the Philippines during February 2026! Local friends, let's connect. See https://thomasjtobin.com."
August 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Two great books: *Of Many Minds* from eds. @agilefacultyrpr.bsky.social & @readywriting.bsky.social (Johns Hopkins UP), and @drtolunoah.bsky.social's *Workshops* book (Routledge).

Get yours today, friends!

www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...

www.routledge.com/Designing-an...
Tom Tobin reads two books at the same time: *Of Many Minds* and *Designing and Facilitating Workshops with Intentionality.*
August 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
Your Monday musing for higher education:

Artificial-intelligence products are, after all, just tools.

How much do you know about the companies who sell them to our colleges and universities?

Ask your IT and procurement teams to see the agreements.
Image of a person's hands holding a magnifying glass, looking at the heading "contract" in a printed document.
July 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
thomasjtobin.bsky.social
R.I.P., John "Ozzy" Osbourne.
A black square.
July 22, 2025 at 8:12 PM