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March 20, 2008 The Professor as Open Book By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM IT is not necessary for a student studying multivariable calculus, medieval literature or Roman archaeology to know that the professor on the podium shoots pool, has donned a bunny costume or can*t get enough of Chaka Khan. Yet professors of all ranks and disciplines are revealing such information on public, national platforms: blogs, Web pages, social networking sites, even campus television. [snip] There was a time when professors did not outrank music premieres on television. They were buttoned-up authority figures, like the legendary fictional Professor Kingsfield, portrayed by John Houseman in *The Paper Chase.* The personal lives of professors could only be imagined from the sparse clues of clothing, handwriting and the contents of offices. These days, the clues are usually digital and are broad invitations to get to know the person behind the Ph.D. It is not uncommon for professors* Web pages to include lists of the books they would take to a deserted island, links to their favorite songs from bygone eras, blog posts about their children, entries *written* by their dogs and vacation photographs. [snip] Certainly, professors have embraced the Internet since its earliest days, using it as a scholarly avenue of communication, publication and debate. Now it is common for many to reveal more personal information that has little connection to their work. Some do so in hopes it will attract attention for a book or paper they have written; others do so inadvertently, joining Facebook to communicate with students and then finding themselves lured deeper by its various applications. Many, though, say that by divulging family history and hobbies, they hope to appear more accessible to students. [snip] Mr. Irwin updates his Facebook page with photos and titles of books he is reading, but he misses what he calls the Las Vegas feel of MySpace. Still, his postings ignite a conversation with students. *Anything I can do to kind of meet them halfway,* he said, *I try to do.* [MORE] Excerpted Story Available at [ http://onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com/2008/03/open-scholar-professors-are... ] Happy Full Day of Spring! /Gerry Gerry McKiernan Associate Professor Science and Technology Librarian Iowa State University Library Ames IA 50011 gerrymck@iastate.edu There is Nothing More Powerful Than An Idea Whose Time Has Come Victor Hugo [ http://www.blogger.com/profile/09093368136660604490 ] Iowa: Where the Tall Corn Flows and the (North)West Wind Blows [ http://alternativeenergyblogs.blogspot.com/ ]