Truth in Advertising and Packaging

You should know at the outset what kind of course you are taking. As my title indicates, I am visiting at Colgate this year in a special position. This is an opportunity for me to experience a different teaching setting and to develop some new courses. This will be one of them. While the course is new for me, the topic is not. I have been teaching and writing about related topics for all of my academic career. One problem for me is that I know so much that I want to share with you about these topics, that I must pick and choose so that I do not overwhelm you with information. A consequence of this is that this course is being invented as we go along, and will be subject to revision. The good news for you, I hope, is that this means you, as a class, will have some input into various aspects of the course. The bad news is that various aspects of the course will change, so syllabus and everything else is subject to revision. Among other consequences, one is that failure to attend class could lead to nasty surprises. However, I will give notice of at least a week before any major event, like a take-home essay or in class test.

You should also know that when I teach, and especially in a situation where a course is being developed or revised, I work hard at being fair. But let me explain "fair." For me, fair means to the entire class and to each individual in it. It means that it assigning grades for various activities I need to consider both overall performance of the class, and of each individual in relation to the entire class. Most of all, I strive for consistency. A difficulty sometimes arises here. Different individuals have different backgrounds. Obviously, a senior who has had 4 or 5 course related to this course will be able to do quality work with less effort than a sophomore who is encountering this type of material for the first time. Another example: a student who is an excellent, fast writer, will have an easier time than a student who is not a good writer, and who must struggle to write coherently--even in the case where the second student actually "understands better and knows more" [I was like that myself once, so understand the frustrations it can produce].

Of Computers, Technophilia, Technophobia, and Pedagogy

If you cruise to my homepage[s] you will learn a lot about me, not the least of which is that I like to play with computer technology. For some of you, this will be good news; for others it may verge on the terrifying. For all of you, it will be in your long-term interests. Computers are coming into use in all areas of life more and more. The more computer literate you are, the better positioned you will be to do well in whatever work you do in life. Computer literacy is rapidly becoming like basic writing skills: marks of an educated person. As an interesting aside, some of the best computer use for learning has been developed by historians who do not have the reputation of being machine aficionados, not social scientists, who often use computers extensively in their research [especially those who do quantitative work].

One of the potential benefits of computerization is that many things can be done via computer, and face-to-face interaction saved for what it is best for in teaching--extended discussions. It allows one to stay in touch and communicate and teach even at a distance.

For all these reasons this course will use computers extensively. Some important URLs [computer addresses] are:

Here you can find lists of my publications and research, links to some of the papers; by C.V., and most important material on courses. Until the other links are fully set, check here for syllabus, assignments etc.

More on this later.

More on this later.

My email is: