Friday Learning Community Style. . .

A somewhat more relaxed approach to teaching and learning at the college-level this morning. Once a month, typically on Fridays, a colleague and I host a small online faculty learning community (officially sanctioned by our institution) on digital learning and collaborative problem-solving, something we've done for the last three academic three years. Besides the few MSU faculty who join us, the community also includes a few professors from other institutions here in the U.S. and several from India and Nepal, who join us late in the mid- to late evening their time.

Much of our ongoing discussion -- a remarkable blend of Global English, Hindi, Nepalese, and one or two indigenous Himalayan languages -- during the last two years has been about how artificial intelligence is already influencing and changing higher education. We focus our discussions on how we might get out ahead of that development in ways that actually contribute to student learning, something that will culminate, we hope, in a few collaboratively written journal articles. We'll actually discuss that more concretely in about an hour.

Attire-wise, these meetings are pretty casual affairs for most participants, but I like to tuck in my shirt (always) and wear a jacket of some kind as a nod to our professionalism. I can assure you I am the most "dressed" of the bunch for academic guys in their 30s-60s from around the globe although no one turns up looking like they have just changed the oil in their car, or cleaned out the garage on a hot summer day.

On a loosely related sartorial note, the J. Press items have begun to roll in the last couple of days. A few broadcloth shirts and what will likely be the final navy blazer I purchase since I am easy on my clothing and shoes anyway and went for quality with this particular selection. The usual minor alterations will follow with my tailor next week when I'll also ask him to move my university buttons to it from the 20-year old blazer it replaces.

I know, I know. As comedienne Joan Rivers used to joke about the Queen of England 40-odd years ago, "Fah-fah-fah-fah!"

-- Heinz-Ulrich

The Problem of "Business Casual" Attire. . .

This is how it's done. Business Casual the RIGHT way, ladies and gentlemen. Even during the summer months. A photograph (taken by Studio B Portraits ) which appeared in 425 Business Magazine in May 2017. T his post on the problem of business casual dress began as a quick postscript to a previous blog entry last week but quickly grew and grew as additional thoughts occurred, were developed in more detail, and revisions made. So much so, that it seemed, eventually, like a better idea to make the initial P.S. afterthought into its own entry . Are ya ready, Freddy? Then, here we go. . . ------------ U nless you actually plan to sell beach snacks and trinkets on Cozumel, become a serial barista, or greet customers at a fancy nightclub after taking out huge student loans to attend university somewhere for four or five years, plus an MBA afterward, it's really a better idea to err on the side of (somewhat) more formal work at...

Friday on Campus Style. . .

S omewhat atypically, I was on campus for several hours today helping with an interview that is part of a larger documentary project on which a colleague and I are working. Although I am behind the camera (I'm the audio guy in fact), what better reason does one need to dress presentably? Exactly. Everything worn, barring the recently purchased University of Wisconsin socks, a gift from the Grand Duchess, has been in the rotation for a while now. And, of course, there was the Panama hat, which I'll wear until we pass October 1st when the felt fedoras reappear. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Tan Suit Tuesday. . .

W hile it's now after Labor Day here in the U.S,. we still have almost three weeks left of summer according to the calendar. And since today was bright, sunny, and pleasantly warm (though far from hot), it seemed like a perfect opportunity to trot out my tan cotton suit and tan loafers/belt. Slightly disheveled, yes. And the shoes need some Renovateur to moisten 'em up But not a bad overall look if I might be so bold. -- Heinz-Ulrich

Classic Style

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