Nicky's Sabbatical Blog

"Platypus: A metaphor for whatever is keeping you down." (definition from Urban Dictionary by ThisIsFine449, January 31, 2020)

No promises to add pieces at regular intervals & no spaces to put comments, but I hope you enjoy some of these small rants and musings.

The reasons for not having spaces for comments are 1) I don't know how to do that with this software and 2) I'd forget to check this space to read them. I do welcome your comments and responses, though! send email to didicher@sfu.ca, and I will post any cogent or otherwise interesting quotations on my blog pages if the commenters agree.

Academic Posts

Decolonizing the Argumentative Essay, Oct 2022 (emerged from thinking about ungrading & from Truth and Reconciliation Week)

Diverse Texts in English for Young Readers, ongoing 2022/'23 (the results of my study leave reading project)

An Intro to Ungrading, Dec 2022 (the results of my research on and thinking about different ungrading systems)

AI, ChatGPT, and the Coming Revolution, Jan 2023 (part one of my review of ChatGPT)

The Educational Revolution and some Tips for using ChatGPT in University Courses, Jan 2023 (part two of my review of ChatGPT)

Star Wars and Harry Potter, Mar 2023 (borderline academic and non-academic)

Antiracism and Antididacticism, July 2023 (trying to get at stuff that's really important to me but hard to discuss)

Gen-AI Basics and Tips, Nov 2023 (an update on ChatGPT et al., one year in)

Best Practices in Teaching, Dec 2023 (what I've learned over 34 years)

copies of old blog posts by me from the 丁香园AV English Department blog

General Interest Posts (non-academic)

Pet Parenting, Aug 2022 (with thanks to I-Chant, for a conversation while walking)

Saving the Planet, Oct 2022 (on simplifying and single-use plastic)

You're an Animal! Oct 2022 (on using animal terms to demean humans)

Walking with Myself, Nov 2022 (thought experiments with imaginary companions)

Eco-Friendly Household Tips, Nov 2022 (feel free to send me more to add)

Secular Christmas, Nov 2022 (thoughts on what's missing from Secular Christmas)

On Rhetoric in Advertising, Dec 2022 (critical thinking about advertising strategies)

Nicky's Favourite Christmas Albums, Dec 2022 (lots of Early Music and folk/roots)

Invisible Disability and Neurodiversity, Mar 2023 (my own, not other people's)

Being Aro, Apr 2023 (I'm doing a lot of self-exploration lately)

A Whole New World of Ewwww, May 2023 (AI to creep you out)

My Sports Heroes, May 2023 (and a bit of self-analysis)

Hope, July 2023 (Emezi teaches me about hope as a discipline)