- University presses feeling the changing economy
- Professor offered grant to write book
- Textbook piracy thriving in Canada
- Textbook publisher Mazer Corp closes
- McGraw-Hill cuts 375 jobs in fourth quarter of 2008
- The American College of Cardiology renews its publishing partnership with Elsevier
- Four university presses receive $1M grant to publish works in indigenous studies
- Nature Education launches free education site
- Editor offers 15 percent discount to TAA members
- TAA expands scope of TAA Publication Grants for 2009
- Call for nominations to the TAA Council
- Krausz awarded $750 TAA Publication Grant
- Busy TAA People: Bazzett
- Cheng awarded $400 TAA Publication Grant
- Book Review: Robert Boice, Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing
- Meryln's Pen sponsoring 2009 TAA Conference
- Register for the 2009 TAA Conference early and receive two free books
- Contributing Member
- Busy TAA People: Robert Christopherson
- Teaching Point is sponsoring the 2009 TAA Conference
- Busy TAA People: Matt Stevens
University presses feeling the changing economy
One of two budget plans being debated in Utah could mean the end for Utah State University Press. Legislative leaders in Utah are pressing a 19 percent reduction in public university budgets, and if they win, the Press will most likely close. The press receives about $165,000 from Utah State each year.
In December 2008, The State University of New York Press laid off five employees — nearly 15 percent of its 34-member staff. SUNY Press is the one of the largest academic publishers in the country.
Professor offered grant to write book
Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) Professor of History Peter Wallace has been offered a $50,400 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to complete his book, "Friends, Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies: Changing Political Identities in the Upper Rhine Valley, 1580-1740." The book is under contract with Brill Publishers. Wallace said he plans to write the book while on sabbatical during the 2009-2010 school year.
Textbook piracy thriving in Canada
An investigative report by Toronto's Star, found that several copy shops near the University of Toronto and Ryerson University were ignoring copyright laws and opening copying textbooks for students. Read the full article: Click Here
Textbook publisher Mazer Corp closes
Dayton, Ohio-based textbook publisher Mazer Corp closed December 30, 2008, blaming "a combination of events in the publishing market and the state of the general economy" for its demise. The entire staff has been laid off. The number of people who worked there is unknown.
McGraw-Hill cuts 375 jobs in fourth quarter of 2008
McGraw-Hill Companies announced on January 6, 2009 that it had cut 375 positions in the fourth quarter of 2008, 215 of which were at its McGraw-Hill Education division. The total positions cut at McGraw-Hill Education in 2008 totaled 455.
The American College of Cardiology renews its publishing partnership with Elsevier
Elsevier, the leading publisher of medical and scientific literature, announced Jan. 8, 2009, that it has renewed its publishing partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) (http://www.acc.org), the leading nonprofit medical society in the field of cardiovascular research. The agreement calls for Elsevier to publish the society's flagship journal, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jac), for the next ten years. Also included are the ACC's two specialty journals, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jacima) and JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/JACINT), both successfully launched by the ACC and Elsevier in 2008.
Four university presses receive $1M grant to publish works in indigenous studies
Four university presses have been awarded a collaborative publishing grant of more than $1 million from the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to publish books in the underserved and emerging field of indigenous studies. The support is earmarked for works by authors who have not been published before. These funds will allow for unprecedented collaboration among four university presses: the University of Arizona Press, the University of North Carolina Press, the University of Minnesota Press the Oregon State University Press. The $1.03 million grant will assist the presses in releasing titles that will expand the field to reflect the broader issues facing all indigenous peoples worldwide. Indigenous studies encompasses scholarship by and about more than 370 million people from more than 70 countries. The presses will use the grant money in all aspects of the publishing process, from acquisitions to marketing.
Nature Education launches free education site
Nature Education launched Scitable (www.nature.com/scitable), a free, online educational resource for undergraduate biology students and educators. Currently focused on genetics, Scitable combines authoritative scientific information with social media functionality. Scitable is the first product launch from Nature Education, a division of Nature Publishing Group formed in January 2007 to develop innovative education resources and tools for college science students and educators.
"Research supports the fact that while science students are still using textbooks and library resources for their science classes, they are now depending increasingly on the Internet. However, reliability of information is a concern," says Vikram Savkar, publishing director of Nature Education. "Our goal is to provide an authoritative and compelling science resource on the Internet for students and faculty anywhere in the world."
Scitable provides students with free online access to more than 180 overviews of key genetics concepts. The overviews are evidence-based and have been vetted by Nature Publishing Group staff. By connecting with other Scitable users via groups, chat functionality and other social media features, students can collaborate online with classmates, or with a wider community of experts, researchers and fellow students.
Scitable is also intended as a teaching tool for faculty. Educators can set up public or private groups for their students, providing reading lists, course-packs of Scitable articles and group discussions. Scitable is flexible and easy to use, and can be incorporated into courseware services such as Blackboard.
Nature Education introduced the Scitable beta site in October 2008 and invited faculty and students to provide feedback. Of 31 faculty who beta-tested Scitable, 97 percent would recommend it to other teaching faculty and 100 percent would recommend Scitable as a study resource to students.
"I am looking forward to using Scitable's resources for my genetics class," said Clare O'Connor, associate professor of biology at Boston College. "The articles are written expressly for undergraduates in a way that helps students to understand how our current genetic concepts rest firmly upon experimental evidence. The availability of a large number of articles in different areas of genetics allows instructors to construct instructional paths tailored for their own students."
Scitable currently contains content in the field of genetics, specifically: chromosomes and cytogenetics, evolutionary genetics, gene expression and regulation, gene inheritance and transmission, genes and disease, genetics and society, genomics, nucleic acid structure and function, and population and quantitative genetics. Nature Education plans to expand the service to other subject areas in future.
Editor offers 15 percent discount to TAA members
Freelance editor Elsa Peterson is offering TAA members of at least one year 15 percent off her services. Peterson has been a freelance editor since 1984, specializing in college textbooks in the behavioral and social sciences, arts, humanities, and related disciplines. She is skilled in all facets of manuscript development, from market/competition analysis to line editing, art and photo research, copyright and permissions. Contact Peterson or other editors offering discounts to TAA members: Click for more
TAA expands scope of TAA Publication Grants for 2009
The TAA Council approved changes to TAA's Publication Grants program to include providing grants to textbook authors, and for additional expenses incurred in the publication of journal articles, books and textbooks by TAA members.
Members can apply for grants of up to $750 to cover expenses incurred in publishing already accepted print academic journal and book and textbooks including academic journal page costs or university press subventions; the cost of preparing of artwork or other charts, diagrams, or images to be included in accepted journal articles or academic books or textbooks; and journal reprint costs.
Grants have also been expanded to include available for expenses incurred as a direct result of research leading to publication of a book or article, including:
- Interlibrary loan costs, or computer time costs incurred in the analysis of data, leading to publication of academic print materials.
- Costs of single photocopies of source materials for research related to the publication of an article or book.
- Costs of secretarial (copying and/or delivery) services incurred in the preparation of academic print materials.
- Cost of permissions incurred in the preparation of academic print materials for reprinting images, quoted material.
TAA has awarded five grants so far, the first to geologist Reika Yokochi. The other grants were awarded to Gail Baura, Marguerite Rippy, Joselina Cheng, and Michael Krausz.
"We've been pleased at the number of people who have availed themselves of this next year," said TAA Executive Director Richard Hull. "We hope more members will apply."
TAA has up to $7,500 available for making TAA Publication Grants in 2008-2009. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant period runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. To apply: Click here
Members who joined TAA through a workshop and received a gift membership are not eligible to apply until they have renewed their membership for a second year.
Call for nominations to the TAA Council
One officer position and two Council positions will be opening up on the TAA Council on July 1, 2009. Any member of TAA is eligible to serve on the TAA Council. The open officer position is Secretary, and will be a three-year term. The Council terms are also three years.
"This is an exciting time for TAA as several important issues are coming to the forefront," said Don Collins, vice-president/president-elect and TAA Elections chair. "TAA has always been open to new blood and new ideas. Please look over the board expectations and carefully consider nominating someone for any of these positions. I also want to point out that this election as all others in the past have been open for self nomination. Several board members past and present have been self nominated."
TAA Council members are required to attend two meetings per year, one in January in St. Petersburg, Florida, and one the day prior to the association's annual conference (held traditionally in late June or early July). Travel and lodging expenses related to attending these meetings is reimbursed. Officers also attend monthly teleconferences.
To nominate yourself or a colleague for the TAA Council, email your nominations to TextandAcademicAuthors@taaonline.net or mail to TAA, P.O. Box 56359, St. Petersburg, FL 33732-6359. Contact TAA if you have any questions: (727) 563-0020 or TextandAcademicAuthors@taaonline.net
Nominees must send a 100-150 word bio, and a 100-150 word position statement with their nominations, describing why they would be a good candidate for the TAA Council. Deadline for completed nominations is March 1, 2009. Ballots are mailed to the membership March 15, 2009. The deadline for the receipt of ballots from members is April 15, 2009. Terms begin July 1, 2009.
TAA Headquarters is also sending Nomination Forms to all TAA members by mail.
PDF Downloads for more info:
2009 TAA Council Call for Nominations Letter
TAA Secretary Duties and Responsibilities
TAA Council Member Duties and Responsibilities
Krausz awarded $750 TAA Publication Grant
 Michael Krausz |
Michael Krausz, professor of philosophy at Bryn Mawr College, has been awarded a grant of $750 to cover a portion of the cost of compiling an index for his collective volume, The Idea of Creativity, edited by Krausz, Dennis Dutton and Karen Bardsley. The book will be published by Brill Publishers (Amsterdam and New York) in 2009.
"This TAA Publication Grant will be very helpful to me in recovering some of the costs of hiring a professional indexer," said Krausz.
TAA members can apply for a Publication Grant of up to $750 to cover the cost of publishing already accepted journal articles, or for the preparation of artwork or other charts, diagrams or images to be included in accepted articles or academic books. (Click for more info on grants)
Krausz's volume collects seventeen original and reprinted essays that address the intriguing question, “What is Creativity?” Part One asks: “What are the criteria for creativity?” “Should we assign logical priority to creative persons, creative processes, or creative products?” “Is creativity essentially mysterious?” “Can creativity be explained?” “If creativity is explainable, can it be explained naturalistically?” “Is creativity unpredictable?” “Is creativity goal-directed?” “What role does skill play in creativity?” “How does a creative product relate to medium and work?”
Part Two asks: “Is creativity essentially inspirational or rationalistic?” “How do intuition and awareness relate to creativity?” “What is the relation between creativity and habits of attention?” “How does creativity relate to self-transformation?” “How does creative activity relate to our place in the world?” “How does our knowledge of the circumstances of creativity effect our appreciation of its products?” And Part Three asks: “What forms of creativity are there?” “How do forms of creativity relate to different domains of human activity?” “How do creative scientists make phenomena intelligible?” “Can a reader of a creative literary work, for example, also be a creator of it?” “Rather than adding something to the world, does creativity involve subtracting something from the world?” The essays propound differing views, urge contrasting emphases, and reflect diverse philosophical idioms.
Krausz is the Milton C. Nahm Professor of Philosophy at Bryn Mawr College. Trained at the Universities of Toronto and Oxford, he has been visiting professor at Georgetown University, Oxford University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, American University in Cairo, University of Nairobi, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, University of Ulm, and others. Krausz is the author of Rightness and Reasons: Interpretation in Cultural Practices (Cornell University Press), 1993; Varieties of Relativism, with Rom Harré (Basil Blackwell Publishers), 1995; Limits of Rightness (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers), 2000; and Interpretation and Transformation: Explorations in Art and the Self (Rodopi Publishers), 2006. He is also contributing editor of Critical Essays on the Philosophy of R. G. Collingwood (Clarendon Press, Oxford), 1972; Relativism: Interpretation and Confrontation (Notre Dame University Press), 1989; The Interpretation of Philosophical Essays (Clarendon Press, Oxford), 1993; Is There a Single Right Interpretation? (Pennsylvania State University Press), 2002; and Relativism: A Compendium (Columbia University Press, in production). Krausz is contributing co-editor of The Concept of Creativity in Science and Art (Nijhoff Publishers), 1981; Relativism: Cognitive and Moral (Notre Dame University Press), 1984; Rationality, Relativism and the Human Sciences (Nijhoff Publishers), 1986; Jewish Identity (Temple University Press), 1993; Interpretation, Relativism and the Metaphysics of Culture (Humanity Press), 1999; and The Idea of Creativity (Brill Publishers, in production). Krausz is the co-founder and former Chair of the thirteen-institution Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium. In 1997 Krausz was awarded the Hans Kupczyk Prize from the University of Ulm. In 2001 the University of Delhi sponsored a four-day international conference on his philosophical work. In 2003 a festschrift dedicated to Krausz's work, entitled Interpretation and Its Objects: Studies in the Philosophy of Michael Krausz, was edited by Andreea Deciu Ritivoi and published by Rodopi Publishers.
Busy TAA People: Bazzett
Terry Bazzett won a 2009 New England Book Show award from Bookbuilders of Boston (www.bbboston.org) for his college textbook, An Introduction to Behavior Genetics, published by Sinauer Associates.
Cheng awarded $400 TAA Publication Grant
 Joselina Cheng |
Joselina Cheng, an assistant professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, has been awarded a $400 TAA Publication Grant to cover the cost of publishing her paper, "The effects of innovative pedagogy on student learning outcomes in relation to learning styles", in the spring 2009 issue of the Journal of American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences (ASBBS).
"The Publication Grant from TAA has made it possible for me to publish at tier-one journals that are listed in the Cabell directory," said Cheng. "One impact of publishing at the tier-one level is the scholarly credibility that can enhance my probability of tenure and promotion in an academic setting. Another is that is allows me to share my vision with readers, authors, researchers, and policy makers by promoting the integration of advanced technology and innovative pedagogy in order to promote better teaching and learning in the global e-learning environment."
Cheng's paper discusses the advantage of advanced technology to enhance teaching and learning in the e-learning environment. "Since literature shows that static, text-based lectures do not address student's learning styles sufficiently, the paper stated research background and intellectual merit to conduct research, extend past research, and add to the body of knowledge," she said. "The research objectives were to extend past research studies if a positive correlation existed between multimedia-based learning modules and student learning outcomes in terms of addressing students’ auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning styles."
The quantitative quasi-experiment study employed multimedia-based learning modules that were created with Camtasia and Microsoft Visual Studio. While multimedia-based learning modules were given to students in control group, static lectures were given to the control group, and pretests and posttests were administered to both groups. The score of pretests and posttests were used as measures to compare differences in the learning outcomes of students in both groups. Dissemination, leadership implication, and research significance were presented. Future studies were also suggested to extend the knowledge as more traditional brick-and mortar universities transition to hybrid institutions to meet the rising demands for quality online education.
Cheng said she that decided to apply for a Publication Grant from TAA rather than from another source as a way to promote TAA to other academics: "In addition to being an author of publications with major publishers such as McGraw-Hill and Prentice Hall, I also present at regional, national, and international conferences. I liked the idea of having the opportunity to introduce and acknowledge TAA to other scholars in academia, and to industry professionals in cross-sectors."
She also wanted to promote diversity among the TAA membership, she said: "Personally speaking, the special feature of highlighting TAA members who have been awarded with TAA Publications Grants on the TAA website and print newsletter is a great way to promote diversity and to reach diverse members in global communities."
Cheng has worked in the Information Technology industry for 20 years as a project manager and senior analyst who designed, developed, and implemented software for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. To answer her calling to teaching, she switched to the academia in 2000. She earned her doctorate in Business Administration with specialized research in organization learning, change management, innovative pedagogy, and e-learning. She has published workbook and virtual tutor learning systems with Prentice Hall, McGraw-Hill, and Pearson. For scholarly activities, she stays busy with innovative research, grant writing, conference presentation, and journal publication. She has published in referred-reviewed journals that are listed in the Cabell directory, including Journal of American Society of Business and Behavior Sciences (ASBBS) and Journal of Business and Education Leadership. She was nominated for a AAUP-UCO Distinguished Teaching/Mentor Award 2008-2009, a UCO Distinguished Alumni Award 2007-2008, awarded with excellent online design, and inclusion in the 11th Edition of Who is Who Among American Teachers & Educators.
TAA members can apply for a Publication Grant of up to $750 to cover the cost of publishing already accepted journal articles, or for the preparation of artwork or other charts, diagrams or images to be included in accepted articles or academic books. (Click for more info on grants)
Book Review:
Robert Boice, Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing
Reviewed by Anna Adachi-Mejia
 Robert Boice Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press, Inc., 1990 ISBN: 1-58107-13-X 186 pages |
In academia, a key metric by which professors are measured – prolific writing – is not formally offered in academic training. When I have asked productive scholars to describe their method, they typically articulate a singular strategy rather than a process: scheduling a set time, locking yourself in a room until the work is done, or working when you are fresh. In search of ways to increase my own output, I began to read what others had written about academic writing, and noticed that all but of one of the books in my growing collection had something in common: they cited Robert Boice. So, when the opportunity came to review Boice’s Professors as Writers, I jumped at the chance. But I also wondered – had more recent books rendered Professors as Writers obsolete?
Boice has clearly thought a lot about professors as writers. Not surprisingly, the themes in Professors as Writers appear in the books which have followed it: write regularly to avoid binge writing, keep track of your writing time, revise a lot, find a writing buddy, and accept that writing is hard work. But Professors as Writers uniquely helps willing readers self-identify and eliminate poor, typically unintended, work habits. In spite of its unattractive cover, thin margins, and lack of an index, Professors as Writers offers readers the gift of Boice’s wisdom and experience.
Professors as Writers provides strategies to correct writing problems and to prevent relapse. It includes a fully-annotated bibliography of “hindrances” to productivity. I appreciated Boice’s guide for avoiding excessive and unchecked spontaneous writing, which leads not only to “emotional upheavals” but also to a physical “disarray” of writing copy. I laughed out loud while brainstorming possibilities for contingency management to facilitate regular writing. My favorite contingency: sending a check “to a despised organization.”
The Appendix contains the gem: “The Blocking Questionnaire: An Instrument for Assessing Writing Problems.” This tool enables readers to quickly identify specific problem areas. You may find, as I did, that you are blocked in areas you did not want to recognize. As you uncover areas to specifically address, Professors as Writers can help your individual needs.
Boice offers a means to “make life feel less harried.” For me, the power of Professors as Writers grew with each re-reading. Though brief, it is not a quick read: Boice offers readers an individualized process to iteratively explore. He explains, “You’ll have to see what works most reasonably and reliably for you. And, you’ll need to use good sense. Writing made too high a priority – so that it excludes a social life or proper attention to teaching is doomed to failure.” Professors as Writers should be required reading for anyone involved in academic writing – writer, teacher, or mentor.
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Reviewed by Anna Adachi-Mejia
Anna Adachi-Mejia is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School, and Assistant Director of the Community Health Research Program at the Hood Center for Children and Families at Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She received both her M.S. and her Ph.D. from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Adachi-Mejia has extensive experience in survey research methods. As a behavioral health scientist, her primary areas of investigation include obesity and tobacco prevention in rural youth, promotion of physical activity in rural mothers, and promotion of healthful eating in the workplace. As an editor and writing coach, she reviews and edits manuscripts and grants, supports graduate students navigating the challenges of academia, and helps motivate blocked writers. She can be reached at mywritingpartner@gmail.com.
Meryln's Pen sponsoring 2009 TAA Conference
Merlyn's Pen is sponsoring the 2009 TAA Conference at the $200 level. Merlyn's Pen is a tool for writers and developers of writing and reading assessments and English, reading, literature and ESL/EFL textbooks. Visit the Merlyn's Pen website: Click here
Register for the 2009 TAA Conference early and receive two free books
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The first 30 people to register for the 2009 TAA Conference on Text and Academic Authoring (San Antonio, TX, June 25-27) will receive a copy of Robert Boice's Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing (read review), donated by the publisher, New Forums Press, and Self-Publishing Textbooks and Instructional Materials by Franklin H. Silverman, donated by the publisher, Atlantic Path Publishing. Register Now
Contributing Member
TAA thanks Contributing Member Hannah Rubenstein.
Busy TAA People: Robert Christopherson
The sixth edition of Robert Christopherson's Elemental Geosystems (® 2010) will be published in February 2009.
Teaching Point is sponsoring the 2009 TAA Conference
Teaching Point is sponsoring the 2009 TAA Conference at the $200 level. Teaching Point was established to develop comprehensive teacher preparation and instructional support materials written by expert teachers who understand the needs of novice teachers, teachers with new assignments and teachers facing out-of-field assignments — the Expert Systems for Teachers™ Series. Visit the Teaching Point website: Click here
Busy TAA People: Matt Stevens
Matt Stevens, author of Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day, and a consultant with Stevens Construction Institute, has been hired to run a program to help newly formed Minority Business Enterprise firms understand the essentials of running a construction company. The program, The Contractors Book Camp, is being funded by a Workforce ONE Maryland project grant awarded to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for Base Realignment and Closure-related workforce development efforts done at Ft. Meade, Maryland.
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