Tag Archives: Teaching

A Rationale for Teaching C.S. Lewis’ Fiction in The Wrong Order

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Brenton Dickieson

I am in my sixth year of teaching “The Fantasy and Science Fiction of C.S. Lewis” at The King’s College in New York City. I inherited this online course from Dr. Sørina Higgins, who followed the original mind behind the … Continue reading →

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A Grief Observed: A Talk on the Anniversary of My Parents’ Deaths, with C.S. Lewis

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Here is a little piece on a special day: the anniversary of the death of my father and brother on a villainously cold night when I was fourteen, and on the eve of the anniversary of my mother’s passing in … Continue reading →

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Experimenting on Students: A Thought about Playfulness and Personal Connection in Teaching

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

I recently recorded a couple of lectures in my role as “Distinguished Lecturer in Romantic Theology” in the innovative Doctor in Theology and Ministry at Northwind Seminary. A heady title! I wanted to take the role seriously and do something … Continue reading →

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Help Me Find Video Resources for Undergrad Student Research, Writing, and Life

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

Dear teacherly friends and students of all descriptions, I am trying to create a resource bank of video tutorials and talks (and the odd short reading) to supplement the in-class student experience. Part of this is practical: I have a … Continue reading →

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Enslaved to the Pressure of the Ordinary: What Screwtape Taught Me About my COVID Experience

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

It really has been an extraordinary year. For those future readers who haunt these literary halls, 2020 began easily enough. The British were brexiting, the Americans were engulfed in a couple of primaries to see which old white man would … Continue reading →

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Smiles and Laughs from Anne’s Marking Pile, a Quote from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Avonlea

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

Though fans of L.M. Montgomery will usually take whatever they can get from her, critics are not always satisfied by the Anne of Green Gables sequel, Anne of Avonlea (1909). Montgomery herself was not terribly satisfied, distressed that she was … Continue reading →

Posted in L.M. Montgomery, Memorable Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

“Clarity, Care, Connection, and Credibility: Lessons from 15 Years of Online Teaching”: My Talk the UPEI Community Teaching Conference

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

Recently, the University of Prince Edward Island hosted a Teaching Community Conference–an annual event but one moved online due to COVID-19. My talk was called “Clarity, Care, Connection, and Credibility,” and I highlighted the core principles and simple tips I’ve … Continue reading →

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Why the Logic of Prevention will Always Fail for Some: Steady Thoughts in Response to COVID-19

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

I awoke early this morning, before the alarm, thinking about teaching. Over the weekend, leaders in our largest colleges and universities and in our government have taken steps to limit the spread of COVID-19. It is not yet a state … Continue reading →

Posted in Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Announcement: Teaching Engaging Classes Online: A Tutorial and Discussion (by Signum University)

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Brenton Dickieson

A lot of teachers and professors are suddenly finding themselves in the position of moving to a fully online teaching schedule as colleges, universities, and even some school districts shut down in response to the coronavirus. As a result, there … Continue reading →

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Doctor Doctor

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Brenton Dickieson

So, one of the fun things about successfully defending my PhD was landing back at my local university. While students were congratulatory, it is my colleagues who know the tremendous work (and often deep pain) that goes into a PhD. … Continue reading →

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