Derek Bruff
@derekbruff.bsky.social
Educator, author, consultant. Associate director at the University of Virginia Center for Teaching Excellence. Author of Intentional Tech from West Virginia University Press. Host of the Intentional Teaching podcast. Birder.
Pinned
Derek Bruff
@derekbruff.bsky.social
· Aug 2
Hi to all the new followers! I'm Derek, and I help higher ed instructors make more informed and intentional teaching choices. I run the Intentional Teaching podcast, intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com, and newsletter, derekbruff.kit.com/profile, among other things!
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
January 13, 2026 at 7:35 PM
On today's podcast, @anetv.bsky.social on AI literacy: "Every time I use the term, it hurts my soul a little bit.”
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Annette and I talk about "AI literacy," computational literacy via vibe coding, what students want you to know about AI, and more!
intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
Is there a podcast on leadership out there for high ed administrators? I keep hearing about the dumbest management moves from presidents and provosts and such. They need some help.
January 11, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Is there a podcast on leadership out there for high ed administrators? I keep hearing about the dumbest management moves from presidents and provosts and such. They need some help.
Also blog posts
Very excited for this conversation with @annamillsoer.bsky.social and her work on an #OER book that examines #GenAI & #Writing…check out the interview & consider adopting her #OpenTextbook
#HigherEd #EdTech #AIEdu
open.substack.com/pub/aiedusim...
#HigherEd #EdTech #AIEdu
open.substack.com/pub/aiedusim...
January 10, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Also blog posts
I’m just gonna listen to all podcasts featuring @annamillsoer.bsky.social.
(See my last two reposts.)
(See my last two reposts.)
January 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I’m just gonna listen to all podcasts featuring @annamillsoer.bsky.social.
(See my last two reposts.)
(See my last two reposts.)
Reposted by Derek Bruff
What kind of guardrails should AI companies build to protect learning?
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
What Guardrails Should AI Companies Build to Protect Learning? | Learning Curve
In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things l...
learningcurve.fm
January 7, 2026 at 2:21 AM
What kind of guardrails should AI companies build to protect learning?
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
I talked w/ @annamillsoer.bsky.social for the latest Learning Curve podcast about her argument that agentic AI browsers offer a clear case of how AI & edtech companies can help protect learning.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/wha...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
In today's Tea for Teaching podcast, @annamillsoer.bsky.social joins us to suggest ways in which AI can be used to help students develop their writing skills while also promoting academic integrity. @cyberthread.bsky.social teaforteaching.podbean.com/e/authentic-...
Authentic Voice in the Age of AI | Tea for Teaching
Student use of AI tools presents challenges for faculty teaching writing. In this episode, Anna Mills joins us to discuss when and how AI tools can be used to help students develop their writing skill...
teaforteaching.podbean.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
In today's Tea for Teaching podcast, @annamillsoer.bsky.social joins us to suggest ways in which AI can be used to help students develop their writing skills while also promoting academic integrity. @cyberthread.bsky.social teaforteaching.podbean.com/e/authentic-...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
Avoiding AI — UVA Center for Teaching Excellence
UVA faculty shared their strategies for directing students away from the use of AI in course assignments and activities.
cte.virginia.edu
January 8, 2026 at 4:21 PM
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
Reposted by Derek Bruff
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
Reposted by Derek Bruff
The Center for Academic Freedom has developed some recommendations and language around academic freedom that you can make part of your semester syllabus. Check out this post by CDAF director @isaackamola.bsky.social for details and links. open.substack.com/pub/academic...
Your Syllabus and Academic Freedom
Making an affirmative case for the values that underpin our work.
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:08 PM
The Center for Academic Freedom has developed some recommendations and language around academic freedom that you can make part of your semester syllabus. Check out this post by CDAF director @isaackamola.bsky.social for details and links. open.substack.com/pub/academic...
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
Avoiding AI — UVA Center for Teaching Excellence
UVA faculty shared their strategies for directing students away from the use of AI in course assignments and activities.
cte.virginia.edu
January 8, 2026 at 4:21 PM
How can we direct students away from using AI on course assignments and activities? Here's a recap of a workshop I led in November on the topic of "avoiding" AI: cte.virginia.edu/news/avoidin.... We talked about oral exams, alternative grading, intrinsic motivation, and more.
UVA business prof Scott Miller asked his students to debate a custom AI chatbot styled as Alexander Hamilton, then critique the chatbot. Miller: "The ability to identify where it is wrong is a good demonstration of how well students ‘know’ Hamilton himself."
news.virginia.edu/content/ai-a...
news.virginia.edu/content/ai-a...
AI Alexander Hamilton takes his shot in a Darden School classroom
The custom ChatGPT Founding Father has a key role in students’ final exams.
news.virginia.edu
January 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM
UVA business prof Scott Miller asked his students to debate a custom AI chatbot styled as Alexander Hamilton, then critique the chatbot. Miller: "The ability to identify where it is wrong is a good demonstration of how well students ‘know’ Hamilton himself."
news.virginia.edu/content/ai-a...
news.virginia.edu/content/ai-a...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
I co-authored a post with @katiemattaini.bsky.social and Eden Tanner on @empittsdonahoe.bsky.social blog about Alternative Grading in Large Classes: emilypittsdonahoe.substack.com/p/alternativ...
Alternative Grading in Large Classes
How to implement pedagogical values within logistical constraints
emilypittsdonahoe.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:41 PM
I co-authored a post with @katiemattaini.bsky.social and Eden Tanner on @empittsdonahoe.bsky.social blog about Alternative Grading in Large Classes: emilypittsdonahoe.substack.com/p/alternativ...
Listening to this and realizing I don’t know anything about auto repair pedagogy.
Even hands-on trades are getting infused with AI, and in some surprising ways. That's what I learned when I visited an auto tech class experimenting with the technology.
learningcurve.fm/episodes/is-...
learningcurve.fm/episodes/is-...
Is Your Mechanic Using AI? | Learning Curve
Skilled trades are typically seen as professions that won’t be permeated by AI. But that’s starting to change. Jeff visited auto tech classes at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., wh...
learningcurve.fm
January 8, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Listening to this and realizing I don’t know anything about auto repair pedagogy.
Reposted by Derek Bruff
Things are going great out here dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy a...
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Things are going great out here dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
I unfortunately engaged with a Facebook post about a fired professor getting his job back. I'm surprised at how many people think that the First Amendment only protects speech about or against the government, not all kinds of speech.
January 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
I unfortunately engaged with a Facebook post about a fired professor getting his job back. I'm surprised at how many people think that the First Amendment only protects speech about or against the government, not all kinds of speech.
Reposted by Derek Bruff
Gift link to my piece on January 6 last year with Charlie Warzel arguing that social media was most dangerous not because it changed minds but because it allowed people to discard and neutralize the compelling evidence in front of them www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
The Internet Is Worse Than a Brainwashing Machine
A rationale is always just a scroll or a click away.
www.theatlantic.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Gift link to my piece on January 6 last year with Charlie Warzel arguing that social media was most dangerous not because it changed minds but because it allowed people to discard and neutralize the compelling evidence in front of them www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Reposted by Derek Bruff
The 2026 ABA Bird of the Year is the Horned Lark! Get ready for a great year of celebrating Horned Larks!
www.aba.org/the-2026-aba...
www.aba.org/the-2026-aba...
The 2026 ABA Bird of the Year: Horned Lark! - American Birding Association
The 2026 Bird of the Year is the Horned Lark: a widespread, resilient, and fascinating species uniting birders through art, storytelling, and conservation all year long.
www.aba.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:46 PM
The 2026 ABA Bird of the Year is the Horned Lark! Get ready for a great year of celebrating Horned Larks!
www.aba.org/the-2026-aba...
www.aba.org/the-2026-aba...
I just remembered that there’s a new episode of New Year’s Day, the fiction podcast that comes out once a year! www.atypicalartists.co/newyearsday
NEW YEAR'S DAY — ATYPICAL ARTISTS
www.atypicalartists.co
January 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I just remembered that there’s a new episode of New Year’s Day, the fiction podcast that comes out once a year! www.atypicalartists.co/newyearsday
Please can we have some Benny Hill music for that last play.
January 2, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Please can we have some Benny Hill music for that last play.
I finally got the sports reference from @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social !
The Cuckold Bridegroom, by Jan Havicksz, 1670, 📸 by Justin Ford
January 2, 2026 at 4:54 AM
I finally got the sports reference from @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social !
@josheyler.bsky.social Found a slow read of Les Mis! thebigread.substack.com/p/the-big-re...
The Big Read 2026: An Entire Year With Les Miserables
A chapter per day of Victor Hugo's classic.
thebigread.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:49 PM
@josheyler.bsky.social Found a slow read of Les Mis! thebigread.substack.com/p/the-big-re...
I’m pretty sure no one else has these top five podcasts for the year.
December 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I’m pretty sure no one else has these top five podcasts for the year.
One reason I'm excited to see The Norton Guide to AI-Aware Teaching published next year is that @anetv.bsky.social and @thesteinline.bsky.social and I have manage to curate a robust set of example assignments and activities from around higher ed for teaching with, about, or against AI.
December 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
One reason I'm excited to see The Norton Guide to AI-Aware Teaching published next year is that @anetv.bsky.social and @thesteinline.bsky.social and I have manage to curate a robust set of example assignments and activities from around higher ed for teaching with, about, or against AI.
Ken Bain (_What the Best College Teachers Do_) passed away in October, and to honor his legacy I'm sharing in my podcast the full interview I conducted with Ken in 2023 for the oral history I produced of the Vanderbilt CFT, a center Ken founded. intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...
December 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Ken Bain (_What the Best College Teachers Do_) passed away in October, and to honor his legacy I'm sharing in my podcast the full interview I conducted with Ken in 2023 for the oral history I produced of the Vanderbilt CFT, a center Ken founded. intentionalteaching.buzzsprout.com/2069949/epis...