I am re-reading Jenny Odell's How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy in an effort to think about attention in the ways you are recommending here. Creating space and time for attention in a technological environment that insists on efficiency and productivity instead of reflection and imagination feels urgent. And, very much related to the material conditions of our labor. Thanks, Marc, for all the excellent writing you have done in 2024. I look forward to more of it in 2025.
I read "How to Do Nothing" and Cal Newport's "Slow Productivity" back-to-back one week. I love the sentiment, but like you said, the environment we exist in militates against these philosophies at every turn. Feels like we're entering another "go-go 80's" productivity grind again, just without the rose-colored glasses.
It does feel like it, though if we aren't wearing the glasses, maybe there is more room for viable alternatives to develop. Or is that my new glasses talking?
Thank you for supporting educators facing these challenges every day. Thank you for nudging us to pause and reflect on what we are doing and what is going on around us. There is so little time to do this, so I very much appreciate the moments that reading your blog provides. I am looking forward to being part of your 90 minute plan next year! And now I hope you will be able to enjoy some well deserved rest.
Thanks for saying all of this about sustainability, Marc! When I run workshops, I always ask what support and incentives faculty are getting to participate. Often it's just food or goodwill. Especially coming out of pandemic teaching--which no one got compensated for--faculty are tired. We're all tired!
I’m really looking forward to that series, Marc. It has been hard to feel supported when those who should be offering the support are themselves overwhelmed by the pace of it all.
I am re-reading Jenny Odell's How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy in an effort to think about attention in the ways you are recommending here. Creating space and time for attention in a technological environment that insists on efficiency and productivity instead of reflection and imagination feels urgent. And, very much related to the material conditions of our labor. Thanks, Marc, for all the excellent writing you have done in 2024. I look forward to more of it in 2025.
I read "How to Do Nothing" and Cal Newport's "Slow Productivity" back-to-back one week. I love the sentiment, but like you said, the environment we exist in militates against these philosophies at every turn. Feels like we're entering another "go-go 80's" productivity grind again, just without the rose-colored glasses.
It does feel like it, though if we aren't wearing the glasses, maybe there is more room for viable alternatives to develop. Or is that my new glasses talking?
The pace of change is ridiculous. Why are we as humans even doing this? What is the endgame? Who does this serve?
Thank you for supporting educators facing these challenges every day. Thank you for nudging us to pause and reflect on what we are doing and what is going on around us. There is so little time to do this, so I very much appreciate the moments that reading your blog provides. I am looking forward to being part of your 90 minute plan next year! And now I hope you will be able to enjoy some well deserved rest.
Thanks for saying all of this about sustainability, Marc! When I run workshops, I always ask what support and incentives faculty are getting to participate. Often it's just food or goodwill. Especially coming out of pandemic teaching--which no one got compensated for--faculty are tired. We're all tired!
I’m really looking forward to that series, Marc. It has been hard to feel supported when those who should be offering the support are themselves overwhelmed by the pace of it all.