Tips, tutorials, and commentary on pedagogy, productivity, and technology in higher education.

Author Archives: Billie Hara

“What’s for Lunch?” Pasta and Salad!

March 10, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

Long gone are the days when eating healthy (and eating vegetarian) meant eating raw celery and drinking a glass of water. Today's ProfHacker column provides two easy vegetarian lunch options that move us far beyond the boring lunches of old: Tomato Salad and Pesto Pasta.

“What’s for lunch?” Bean Salad!

March 3, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

The past few weeks we've written about the activities we can do to get ourselves through a very busy part of the semester. Another of those strategies is having this salad recipe for lunch. It's an easy recipe: if you can open a few cans and stir, then you can make this salad!

Green Tea (as Ritual and Relaxation)

March 2, 2010 in Life, Productivity by Billie Hara

Over the past weeks, ProfHacker has provided tips on how we can take care of ourselves during the busiest times of the semester, this midterm insanity. We have written about taking naps, balancing our lives, eating well, and trying a mind sweep. Today another tip: drinking some green tea.

What’s on your Desktop?

February 25, 2010 in Productivity by Billie Hara

Lifehacker has a recurring post, "What's on your Desktop," that is always fun and informative. It is here you can find creative and interesting uses of desktop real estate. Many of you certainly use some nifty tools on your computer desktops. So, let's see what you've got. Let's share!

What’s for Lunch? Poblano and Corn Chowder!

February 24, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

Poblano peppers are usually used in sauces, salsas, and soups. These Mexican peppers are a cousin to the green bell pepper, but Poblano peppers are stronger. When they are roasted, and combined with sweet corn, you have a lovely chowder that is good for cool or warm weather.

Writer’s Bootcamp: Commitment (to write)

February 23, 2010 in Productivity by Billie Hara

Over the past few weeks at ProfHacker, we've discussed writing, and these discussions have turned into a new series: Writer's Bootcamp. If you are a part of higher education, you know about the ongoing need we have to produce written words.

What’s for Lunch? Cafeteria Food!

February 17, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

It happens to us all: we forget to bring lunch. So what does a busy higher-ed person do for food? The campus cafeteria!

What’s for Lunch? Mushroom Quesadillas!

February 10, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

Our versatile lunch dish for today includes mushrooms! You can use mushrooms in many lunchtime favorites (salads, sandwiches, soups), but today's lunch, Mushroom Quesadillas, are very easy to prepare and even easier to heat for a good lunch.

Strategies for Writers: “Just Do It.”

February 8, 2010 in Productivity by Billie Hara
The Nike slogan, “Just Do It,” has been a staple of commercials and bumper stickers for years.  It’s a motivational and inspirational saying.  Yes, I might think, if I “just do it” (run a marathon, ride in a 50K bike race, swim the English Channel), I’ll be successful (healthy, acclaimed, accomplished).  Just doing it sounds [...]

What’s for Lunch? Citrus Salad!

February 3, 2010 in Food, Life by Billie Hara

My local grocery store, in an effort to sell more of their products, makes samples of foods and plies customers with those samples. All this in the hopes that the customers will like the food and will purchase those items. Their tactics work. Today's salad is one of those samples.

Disruptive Student Behavior: The Case of Talkative Nancy

February 2, 2010 in Pedagogy by Billie Hara

In this recurring series on "Disruptive Student Behavior," we present the case of "Talkative Nancy," the student who has the answer to each and every question you (or anyone else) might ask in a class. How do you handle this kind of student disruption?

Reflexive Pedagogy

January 28, 2010 in Pedagogy by Billie Hara

Course evaluations contain important information for the instructor and the university, but they rarely measure what the students actually learned in that course. Self-reflexivity can help instructors and students understand and own that information.