Do you define your cultural identity? Or does your cultural identity define you?
A lecture for prospective students at the University of Waterloo.
German Art Stories
A course of four lectures for the Laurier Association for Lifelong Learning.
Ricarda Huchs Große Männer
A presentation at the Online-Symposium Zwischen Dichtung und Wissenschaft: Ricarda Huch und die Essayistik der Moderne, DLA Marbach – Universität Lothringen (CEGIL), 7.-8. Oktober 2021.
Online Course Assessment Strategies
Workshops held “at” The University of the South Pacific, 2021.07.28. and 2021.08.04.
Blended Open Education - COVID-19 Edition
A lecture on how our idea of what constitutes open educational resources needs to be more, well, open.
Reconciling with Schlink’s Reader
A presentation on how we can use the concepts of truth and reconciliation to make sense of Bernhard Schlink’s 1995 novel Der Vorleser (The Reader).
The Weimar Imaginary
A presentation on Jason Lutes’ graphic novel BERLIN and the television series BABYLON BERLIN.
Populism in 2021 and Beyond
In recent years, populism has rattled the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom, India, and other democracies. What accounts for the appeal of populist rhetoric and ideas in our contemporary era? What the future might hold for populism?
Is it Wrong to Like Good Art by Bad Artists?
Is it right to admire works created by artists we despise? In this lecture, I explore whether it’s possible to separate art from the artists.
Designing for Academic Integrity
Presentation for the Commonwealth of Learning Digital Assessment Series, 2021.02.18.
Populism in Germany.
This lecture revisits Germany’s past in order to see if pre-1945 German culture provides any clues about the current political situation. And while one must recognize, to use political scientist Sheri Berman’s words, that “populism is not fascism,” we do well to understand the relationship between the two ideas and how the one can lay the groundwork for the other. We will also look at Germany’s history of leftist populism and how it has affected modern-day politics.
What is Populism Anyway?
This lecture identifies and discusses some of the key features of populism: the “us versus them” mentality; populism’s conflict with elitism; how mass dissatisfaction can give rise to mass political movements; the differences between left-wing and right-wing populism; the role of leadership in populism; and the difficulties scholars have defining populism (and the reasons for that).
Alternative Assessments and Academic Integrity
One of our biggest fears as new online instructors is that students will have more opportunities to cheat. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With thoughtful assessment design, good communication, and other strategies, we can ensure students will engage honestly and diligently with their learning.
Preserving Academic Integrity in a Remote Course
This discussion features James M. Skidmore sharing non-proctored assessment strategies to maintain academic integrity in remote/online courses. This session will include an opportunity to ask questions.
Fostering Student Engagement Online
True or false: “Live interaction is the only way to keep students engaged in their learning.” False! You can raise the bar in asynchronous courses with activities that create community through collaboration and give students rich learning experiences.
A webinar with Pia Zeni, Victoria Feth, and James Skidmore held July 16, 2020.