Teaching STEM Students Communication through the Lens of Science Fiction

Science Fiction’s Potential in the Communications-Classroom As an instructor who teaches introductory English communication courses (ENGL 1101 and 1102) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a leading institution in the fields of engineering and computer science, I was confronted by the challenge of engaging STEM majors in the communication course… Continue reading

Pandemic Pedagogy – Short Essays

At the beginning of last year we asked for reflections from Brittain fellows on teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in instructive articles from “The Shift to Online Consulting at Georgia Tech’s Communication Center” by Jeff Howard et al. to “A Sense of Belonging in the Archive and the… Continue reading

Technically Pop: “Normal People and Ireland in Film and TV”

This week, Molly Slavin, Eric Lewis, and Corey Goergen discuss depictions of Ireland in two 2020 properties: the film Wild Mountain Thyme and the television adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People. We discuss why so many Irish-set fictions seem like period pieces and what, exactly, a “balletic millennial bedtime” is. Then, we… Continue reading

Technically Pop, “Disney+”

Elizabeth Olsen (as Wanda Maximoff) and Paul Bettany (as Vision) sit together, smile, and pose for the camera. The photograph is in black and white, to mimic the style of 1950s sitcoms.

This week, Alex Edwards, Eric Lewis, Josh Cohen, and Corey Goergen talk WandaVision, the second season of The Mandalorian, and Disney+. What do we want from televised depictions of our favorite properties? How will Disney’s early success with these shows change the television and film landscape? Why is Kat Dennings the best?… Continue reading

Technically Pop, “Bridgerton”

The cast of Bridgerton pose in full costume against a background of a lavish, carefully maintained garden.

Technically Pop is back at the tail end of the semester with a 4-episode miniseries! For our premiere episode, Eric Lewis and Corey Goergen welcome special guest Courtney Hoffman, a Brittain Fellow and the Assistant Director of Writing and Communication. Together, we talk the ‘ton–Bridgerton, that is. Released on Christmas day,… Continue reading

Technically Pop, “Holiday Evergreen Extravaganza”

It’s grading season, but at Technically Pop, we are already dreaming of winter break. Join us as we explore holiday content from Charles Dickens to Mariah Carey. Alexandra Edwards ponders the role of Phil Spector, convicted murderer, in shaping the sounds of Christmas; Josh Cohen reads of Love, Actually as… Continue reading

Why Not?: On Punk and Pedagogy

Not long before the Primitives changed their name to the Velvet Underground, the band’s singer, Lou Reed, wrote to his Syracuse University professor, poet Delmore Schwartz, I decided that I’m very very good and could be a good writer if i work and work. i know thats what ive got to… Continue reading

Selfish Researchers, Neglectful Educators: Student Misconceptions of What We Do

By Jennifer Forsthoefel Here is an example of a popular meme depicting how different groups might understand the role of the professor. Friends may believe professors have summers off; parents may liken them to a school teacher; society may assume they show students movies to pass the time. Although I… Continue reading

“Tech Gets Medieval” and Other Ways We Teach the Past

For many instructors, teaching about the past can be problematic, especially to Georgia Tech students who may have little interest in any time period that predates their existence, or who may have the interest, but don’t see how such topics can aid them in their pursuit of a STEM degree…. Continue reading

Little Eureka Moments

The final project for my ENGL1102 course “London City Comedy” is a collaborative digital edition of Tarlton’s Jests, a 17th century collection of anecdotes about the Elizabethan clown Richard Tarlton. The assignment consists of five parts: Continue reading

Teaching in Real Time

On November 18, the Georgia Tech Writing and Communication Program hosted the Fall Communication Colloquium in which two Brittain Fellows presented on work their students have been doing in class this semester.  The presenters did such a wonderful job generating discussion during the sessions (a link to an archive of… Continue reading