Category Archives: Robert’s posts

The other Spotify scandal

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Robert Basil

Esteemed recording engineer Steve Albini explains in a recent twitter thread that there’s “an important thread of continuity over time about the exploitation of bands by record labels that deserves a closer look, re the current Spotify debate.” It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Leave a comment

Alas

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Robert Basil

“Critical thinking isn’t contagious.”

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged mental hygiene | Leave a comment

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Robert Basil

English Bay logs, gathered after wind storm.

Posted in Robert's posts | Leave a comment

You complete the world.

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Robert Basil

It seems staggering that the brand new mayor of NYC, Eric Adams, could use the words “low skilled workers” to describe anyone who works in his city. I could walk for hours through Manhattan before seeing *anyone* whose work I … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged gratitude, language | Leave a comment

Joan Didion

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Robert Basil

Farewell, nonpareil, with some tears. Your clarity shocked, delighted, and taught me.

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged writing | Leave a comment

More on rigour

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Robert Basil

Over at the Teaching and Learning Commons, my colleague Jennifer Hardwick places the concept of rigour in the context of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) : The Oxford English Dictionary defines “rigour” as “the fact of being careful and paying great … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged for educators | Leave a comment

Heroines Revisited

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Robert Basil

I saw the first photographs from Lincoln Clarkes’ monumental series “Heroines” the day after his initial exhibition closed. That was the day I met Lincoln as well. The curator at Vancouver’s Helen Pitt Gallery hadn’t taken the show down yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged photography, Vancouver | Leave a comment

Retraction Watch

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Robert Basil

A student recently alerted me to this splendid website and resource. It’s endlessly useful and interesting – a gift to researchers of all stripes, including students, teachers, scientists, and journalists. Some praise: “The seamier side of academia, lying, cheating and … Continue reading →

Posted in Robert's posts | Tagged for students, for teachers, journalism | Leave a comment

Pedagogy

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Robert Basil

Rigour seems to mean two different practices: The thoroughgoing-ness of the curriculum (here rigour is expected of the professor in terms preparation *and delivery*) and the exactingness of assessment (where the onus is on the student, at the mercy of … Continue reading →