tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post2145103783924451220..comments2024-03-26T00:50:30.273-07:00Comments on silver in sf: my teaching narrativedavid silverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13007485910206158803noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-92158750042590557582016-09-15T22:57:19.632-07:002016-09-15T22:57:19.632-07:00I am quite unsatisfied by the distinctions between...I am quite <a href="http://www.ufgop.org/pdf/unsatisfied" rel="nofollow">unsatisfied</a> by the distinctions between the oral and literate. See the link below for more info. <br /><br />#unsatisfied<br />www.ufgop.orgAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07720547920308398294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-7901578712228580012011-12-01T01:59:24.879-08:002011-12-01T01:59:24.879-08:00Pearl Tutors help the experts team homework assign...Pearl Tutors help the experts team homework assignment, homework, class work and help K-12, college, or university students in their work, they are valuable offers help for students. Passionate and professional team of people online homework services provided by the students time to respond the best offers on the question. thesis writing help in the assignment, essay, etc. are out of reach of plagiarism and help shine grammar and vocabulary assignments.Deepak Yadav (Yadavd)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11508398625953145632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-71662178522369674622008-09-30T01:53:00.000-07:002008-09-30T01:53:00.000-07:00I never had the pleasure of having David Silver as...I never had the pleasure of having David Silver as a course professor, but I nonetheless benefited enormously from the energy, creativity, insight, and commitment to student growth that he brought to University of Washington. During the time we both worked in the Simpson Center for the Humanities, I witnessed David's engagement with students, faculty, and visitors on a number of levels. He was always an advocate for students, fostering an open and tolerant academic environment and encouraging everyone to find their passion and put their best efforts forward. He has the rare ability to help people see their own potential and spur them to realize it, a real gift for his students.<BR/><BR/>I should also mention that the "September Project" he founded has influenced my thinking about the world, about communities, and about how to engage with publics. It was and remains such an innovative model of community engagement, and really the wave of the future -- an open network for building person-to-person connections, sharing ideas, and sustaining a vision by spreading it. That model has powerfully influenced my professional approach to community engagement. <BR/><BR/>In short, David's impact has been long-lasting and far-reaching, even for those of us whose interactions with him were primarily outside the classroom. He is the professor of the future, but more importantly, he is a genuine person with a love of teaching who reaches students in a way few can. He would be an asset to any institution. <BR/><BR/>Candace Faber<BR/>University of Washington 2005<BR/>Master of Science in Foreign Service, Georgetown University 2007<BR/>Currently: Deputy Cultural Attache, U.S. Embassy WarsawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-53516528008367718952008-09-27T22:33:00.000-07:002008-09-27T22:33:00.000-07:00Hi David, I apologize for adding to this discussio...Hi David, <BR/>I apologize for adding to this discussion so late - I've been busy with teacher training/reading my grad packets, etc... <BR/>I don't even know where to start, and I know that David knows much of how I feel about him as a teacher. But for those who do not know, there really isn't too much to add to the wonderful panorama of things already said. <BR/>David is inspiring - he cares about his subject; thus he cares about whether or not you actually connect and learn about what he's teaching. <BR/>David has connected his scholarship and teaching methodology - this is something my grad mentors keep telling me is essential in the classroom. <BR/>David cares about people - other people have said this, but it really is true that he can make a 400 + person lecture feel personal and connected to things in your life. <BR/>If I can touch half of the people you have touched in your career David, I will count myself successful. <BR/>Thank you. <BR/><BR/>Jennifer LeMesurier (used to be Larson)<BR/>University of Washington, BA Communication and Dance 06<BR/>Graduate Student in English, Language and RhetoricJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16606705601123812775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-85381171899295273202008-09-18T11:18:00.000-07:002008-09-18T11:18:00.000-07:00I have had the hardest time keeping this message c...I have had the hardest time keeping this message concise because David has done so much for me throughout my education at the University of Washington, and subsequently enhanced my career opportunities as well as enlivened my interest in the field of communication. <BR/><BR/>During my time at UW, I had the pleasure of registering for several of David’s course offerings and working on an independent research project for the September Project. Each experience showed me all the remarkable things that David’s unique teaching style can do: I watched in awe as he turned a 500 person lecture hall into a dynamic group discussion; I became inspired to change my major to Communication; and I built supportive and intellectual friendships that have lasted well beyond the classroom. Even now, years after graduation, my fellow classmates and I meet regularly to attend university lectures or volunteer for local non-profit organizations. All of which was motivated by course discussions and dynamic lectures in courses such as LGBT Media Studies. The impact of David’s courses transcends across many aspects of my life, and has been the most relevant in building my career and my own personal enrichment. <BR/><BR/>I am very pleased to have this opportunity to recommend David for tenure as I am sure that David’s work at the University of San Francisco has been as important to the students there has it has been for all of my classmates and I at the University of Washington.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-56865948288343770432008-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:002008-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:00Starting out at USF was a little intimidating, but...Starting out at USF was a little intimidating, but I got lucky. I had the fortune of being in the Introduction to Media Studies course in the fall of 2007. I had the even bigger fortune of having David Silver instruct the very first class of my college career. It couldn't have started, and ended, on a better note.<BR/><BR/>I know it may be too soon to look back and say "wow, what an amazing class," but I think it's true. You know a course is valuable when the topics and discussion begin to transcend into other classes...some that couldn't be further from the world of media studies.<BR/><BR/>In the past year, David has helped encourage and motivate me towards following what I'm passionate in. This is especially valuable considering a lot of us don't know what we're passionate in, until someone lets us know. And to that, thank you!Aaron Diashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01424443450816592462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-25399840974573669412008-09-15T08:59:00.000-07:002008-09-15T08:59:00.000-07:00As my husband and I were recently going through th...As my husband and I were recently going through the painful process of figuring out what books to give away in order to make room for the steady influx of good reads that had been piling high on our dinner table, I started to do something I promised myself I would never do. I began pruning from among my college and graduate course books. <BR/><BR/>Off went <I>Screening the Sacred: Religion, Myth, and Ideology in Popular American Film</I>. Along with it went <I>The Complete Works of John Milton</I>, and about a dozen other titles that I donated to the library with the rationale that I’ll just check them out if I ever really need them again. Yet, when I came to the stack of books that were assigned for David Silver’s “Cultures of Cyberspace” course, I couldn’t let even one of them go. <I>Wired Women</I> has got to stay. <I>The World Wide Web and Contemporary Cultural Theory</I>? It’s a classic! As was just about everything we read in that course back in the Fall of 2001. <BR/><BR/>This has always been one mark of a great class for me: It ages well (And that’s no small feat for a course about the internet). Another mark of a great class is the degree to which a professor encourages you to own your ideas beyond the classroom and boldly share your work with others. When an instructor creates a respectful, supportive environment where students can accept and learn from criticism while also being inspired by the work of their peers, that’s a powerful—and exceedingly rare—dynamic. More than that, it teaches skills that serve the students well in work life, personal life, and beyond. David has gifted his students with these skills so many times over that it’s hard to overstate his impact. <BR/><BR/>There’s not enough space on this blog to accommodate all of the wonderful things that should be said about David Silver’s teaching and mentoring over the years, but it’s delightful to see so many of his former students contribute comments here in a way that’s illustrative of Silver’s signature embrace of collaborative production. In my time as a student of David’s, I always felt that I was being challenged to become a better reader, writer and critical thinker. But perhaps more importantly, I also felt challenged to become a better person. <BR/><BR/>In my experience, David’s approach to teaching has always been organic—way before being organic was cool. David teaches to the whole person, incorporating your past, present and who you will be. For that reason, I also hope that this teaching narrative will continue to evolve over time, because David’s achievements are ongoing and will inevitably extend far beyond this tenure application process. As impressed as I am to see his long roster of accomplishments recounted here, I’m equally excited to see where his story will go. <BR/><BR/>-Mary MaddenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-85352342115940525702008-09-15T01:15:00.000-07:002008-09-15T01:15:00.000-07:00When I arrived at UW I was set on majoring in comm...When I arrived at UW I was set on majoring in communication though I was pretty discouraged by the competition to just enroll in the classes. My first course in the communication department was Intro to Comm (Winter 05) and by the end of the first class I knew why the class always filled up so fast. Silver’s passion for teaching (and what he was/is teaching) was obvious to anyone who spends time in his classes. I learned a great deal in those ten weeks, but I also enjoyed going to class. Concepts I learned in that course not only helped me become a better critical thinker (and a better student during my remaining time at UW) but they are also concepts I continue to think about to this day in the media saturated world we live in.<BR/><BR/>A year later I was lucky enough to get a spot in Silver’s Concepts of New Media class. Out of all my classes I think about this one the most. Every day when I log into my facebook account I think about what a simple medium it was at the time we were in class and the ideas we came up with to improve facebook that were soon implemented after we sent off our proposal (don’t think any of us could have predicted the changes in the last two years!). Looking back, I don’t know of any other teacher that would be as forward thinking as Silver, to embrace using a social networking site as a course platform. It was a medium we were all familiar with and gave us a way to communicate with and learn from each other.<BR/><BR/>I was disappointed you left for USF my last year at UW and I was unable to learn more from you! Your lectures were some of my favorites and I even had a ‘silver’ tag in my blog to remember things from your classes. <BR/><BR/>Sorry this is probably late, but good luck with the tenure process. If you were still in Seattle I’d make you heart shaped cupcakes for good luck! Looking at your blog and your course syllabus almost makes me want to go back to school!<BR/><BR/>Jessie Short<BR/>UW, BA Communications, 2007Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-1591902710683751242008-09-14T21:26:00.000-07:002008-09-14T21:26:00.000-07:00Professor Silver’s freshman COM class changed my l...Professor Silver’s freshman COM class changed my life! It is the reason I added Communication as a second major and now four years later am a graduate student in Digital Media- http://mcdm.washington.edu/<BR/><BR/>For a large lecture class, it was one of the best and most memorable. Professor Silver was able to engage 500 plus students as though it was an intimate conversation or small seminar.<BR/><BR/>Three things I appreciated about Professor Silver’s teaching style:<BR/>1. Connected the past to present: able to relate history and theories to current events and topics<BR/>2. Encouraged class to speak freely: able to discuss and debate anything; share beliefs comfortably and intelligently whether or not in agreement <BR/>3. Cared about students’ futures: always made time to talk to students one on one, genuinely interested in supporting their goals in addition to sharing and advancing his own visions such as The September Project-http://theseptemberproject.wordpress.com/ <BR/><BR/>David Silver is an inspiring professor who touches the lives of all his students with positive influence; we miss you at UW!<BR/><BR/>Respectfully,<BR/><BR/>Stephanie Wilder<BR/>University of Washington<BR/>Bachelor of Arts: Communication and Political Science<BR/>Graduate student: Master of Communication in Digital MediaStephanie Wilderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11100330678669913919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-53471883811084612682008-09-13T15:21:00.000-07:002008-09-13T15:21:00.000-07:00I was glad to hear that David was applying for ten...I was glad to hear that David was applying for tenure; he is a great asset to USF and hopefully with tenure, he'll be here forever. He has an amazing enthusiasm and excitement for teaching and learning and students.<BR/><BR/>I first met David when he came to USF and asked to meet with me since I am the library's Media Studies liaison. We talked about our library collection, our mutual interests, and we created an assignment for his students to use library resources. What strikes me about David as a teacher is that he loves and embraces new media but also understands the value of things like books and printed media. As a teacher, he is able to convey to students how to use and understand both new and traditional media. I went to many of the Davies Forum sessions and was always struck by David's ability to tie together different aspects of media and raise interesting questions about them.<BR/><BR/>Non-librarians may not know this, but David is becoming a superstar among librarians. He talks frequently at library conferences and workshops. Increasingly now, when I say I'm from USF, librarians say "Oh, do you know David Silver? He did a great workshop for us." Part of his role as a teacher is bridging those worlds between faculty and librarians. He did a workshop for the USF Librarians about blogging that was excellent and encouraged us to set up a library blog.<BR/><BR/>David richly deserves tenure and I look forward to continue working with him and learning from him.<BR/><BR/>--Joe Garity<BR/>Coordinator of Library Instruction<BR/>Gleeson Library<BR/>University of San FranciscoJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02629291252455189539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-24589033560269506442008-09-13T04:48:00.000-07:002008-09-13T04:48:00.000-07:00Best teacher I have ever had! You made classes enj...Best teacher I have ever had! You made classes enjoyable and interesting. A big thanks goes out to you for that! <BR/><BR/>Kim Lynch<BR/>UW, BA Communications & Psychology, 2006Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-70910589199070019412008-09-10T13:39:00.000-07:002008-09-10T13:39:00.000-07:00David, you've been an incredible teacher/mentor/fr...David, you've been an incredible teacher/mentor/friend. In all of those roles, you have really inspired me (and still do)to think creatively and passionately. You are an energizing and supportive mentor. You always encourage me not to be afraid of following my instincts. <BR/><BR/>After a long walk and talk with you, I always feel excited about whatever it is that I am working on and I feel confident the big things are possible. Some of my favorite projects have been encouraged by you and only you. When I have a seemingly impossible idea, you never say "that's crazy and not practical," instead you say "how will you do it?" and then we talk and talk and the idea becomes more and more real. In the early years of my grad school, you were the only prof at the UW to support the murals and the Urban Archives, my most favorite projects and ones that I am most proud of. <BR/><BR/>Being the recipient of your mentoring and teaching has also taught me to be a better teacher. You've shown me to like and to respect my students. This sounds simple but it was a huge paradigm shift for me and changed my entire teaching experience form one of anxiety to one of pleasure. I am grateful and pleased to have had the chance to learn so much from you.Irina G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13429179128240942021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-61157490159327685842008-09-10T11:26:00.000-07:002008-09-10T11:26:00.000-07:00I met David as a student in the LGBT media studies...I met David as a student in the LGBT media studies class. It became the conclusion of my four years at university, and it was one of the first times that this type of setting felt like home to me. I am forever grateful for the direction and inspiration that Prof. Silver offered me. I remember him as being incredibly busy, but always willing and able to make me feel 100% special. He is fun, serious and smart. And he is what students like me need and what universities must have. <BR/><BR/>good luck and thank you,<BR/><BR/>Shaun Wood<BR/>Peace Corps Volunteer- Bulgaria<BR/>2007-2009shizzaunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14173797075658266800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-91357840552152207632008-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:002008-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:00My experience in Digital Journalism finally crushe...My experience in Digital Journalism finally crushed the entrenched notion of what happens when one graduates... Nightmares of a gray cubicle and an unsatisfied vampire-boss fiending for his/her caffeine fix have been laid to rest. Professor Silver introduced an entirely new and inspiring side to media creation that I will always be thankful for: Web 2.0 literacy and a desire to pursue the unusual. <BR/><BR/>Time and time again David encouraged us to push the limits of what was considered "classic reporting". He showed us how to actively poke and prod our community instead of being engulfed by it. In a matter of weeks our entire class was fully active in blogging. The stories we produced were not of whimsy and personal musings but comprised of substantial information. By the end of the semester we were fluent in the art of writing a creative, informative, accurate, and brief blog post - easier said than done. I came away from those few months with a solid blog in my possession. One that I will continue to use in the years to come.<BR/><BR/>The energy that radiates from Professor Silver is infectious. One day I ran into him on a bus, his head was bent over a new graphic novel and I’m pretty sure he was chuckling to himself. We started talking about the FCC hearings and the scandalous behavior of several internet providers. Forty minutes later, I grudgingly stepped off the bus and had to catch one going the direction from which I'd just come-I'd missed my stop by a good 15 minutes.<BR/><BR/>The most awesome attribute of USF are individuals such as Silver, who motivate students to become enthusiastic and involved. A Professor that can tactfully evoke passion in his/her students is a truly rare find- the only one worth $34,366 a year.<BR/><BR/>thanks for all Silver<BR/>EvaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-57859005591142168702008-09-09T13:23:00.000-07:002008-09-09T13:23:00.000-07:00My first contact with David came after he brought ...My first contact with David came after he brought his Digital Journalism class to Gleeson Library to write about a display we’d created that highlighted the library’s graphic novel collection. David invited me to read and comment on the class blog where students reported on the display, discussed the genre and recommended graphic novels they thought the library should have. We acquired those and the students realized they could have a direct impact on library services and collections. Through the student journalists’ blogging, everyone involved got to contribute their knowledge and opinions, learned more about an emerging genre and helped to build the library’s collection. <BR/><BR/>Soon thereafter, with David’s encouragement and advice, we started a blog that eventually replaced the news column on the library’s website. I consider it a big improvement: it’s timelier, students can comment and ask questions, and more library staff can participate in bringing our services and collections together with library users. I’m very grateful to David for inspiring and helping us to make more connections with students, and for promoting our work to his students and readers.<BR/><BR/>With the series David put together for his Davies Forum class in Digital Literacy, culture, communication, and technology converged again. And the conversations extended well beyond classroom confines as the Forum was open to the public and followed up in class and contributor blogs. It was thrilling to hear and read the diversity of viewpoints David brought in for his class, and I loved the very interactive and fun Book Fort that David and his students created in the library as a nod to National Library Week. <BR/><BR/>David inspires students and colleagues alike with his remarkable combination of intellect, curiosity, creativity, and generosity as a teacher, library advocate, and collaborator. He is a tremendous asset to the university and I feel honored that he is seeking tenure with us. <BR/><BR/>Debbie Benrubi <BR/>Technical Services Librarian, <BR/>Gleeson Library/Geschke CenterLilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11792619828631055233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-34524344016403093042008-09-09T11:02:00.000-07:002008-09-09T11:02:00.000-07:00I came to the University of Washington in 2001 as ...I came to the University of Washington in 2001 as a the second Masters student in the Native Voices documentary film program co-hosted by the Department of Communication (COM)and American Indian Studies (AIS). While I think that everyone has had the experience of being in a class or dealing with a professor who is dismissive towards one's interests, worldview, and knowledge base it has been my experience that David is not one of those professors. While he will ask you critical question about your interests, worldview, and knowledge base he is never dismissive. David wants not only for you to get a better hold on your interests, but also, David asks because he wants to add to his own body of knowledge and worldview. In other words, he cares about what interests you and he's always looking to gain a better understanding himself. As David wrote regarding his father's concept of an institute of learning, "A college campus...is where different people from different buildings come together to make all of us a little smarter..." I think that that quote suits David well. He wants us all to become a little smarter and is courageous enough to use cutting and sometimes bleeding edge technologies to achieve that goal. Finally, I am a doctoral candidate at UW and if wasn't for David who wrote me a stellar letter of recommendation I don't know if I would have been accepted here. I owe David a debt of gratitude that I don't know if I can ever repay unless he is willing to accept my contributions to the world that help make all of us a little smarter.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05785839993359945578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-59852339880867771082008-09-08T16:27:00.000-07:002008-09-08T16:27:00.000-07:00My first class with David Silver was an internship...My first class with David Silver was an internship study where the students were asked to find an internship, discuss it in class, write about it and learn from it. Everyone in the class was able to do this and thanks to David, I truly believe every student benefited from being transformed into a professional in the real world. <BR/><BR/>A couple semesters later, I had David for a Digital Journalism class. It was single-handedly the most important class I took at USF, because it ended up guiding me into the career path I'm on today. We delved into Web 2.0 like crazy every class and the responsibility we as students learned is what I value most from David. Our Golden Gate Park map is something I'm really proud of and will use in my portfolio. He taught us to think consciously about our journalistic work and about how our work can change the way others think. <BR/><BR/>I now intern at XLR8R Magazine and write for a new start up blog about San Francisco, and I would not have made it very far without the skills I learned from David. Not only did he teach technicalities, he also gave me confidence to trust my instinct, to tell stories with Web 2.0 and to think in depth about what I was sharing with the world.Brigid Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00284501574979249657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-74840550804675503522008-09-08T12:24:00.000-07:002008-09-08T12:24:00.000-07:00I have had a hard time stringing together a cogent...I have had a hard time stringing together a cogent argument for Professor David Silver’s teaching credentials. This is unexpected, as I consider him one of two most inspirational professors at USF. I suppose the difficulty comes from proximity; I am but three months removed from Professor Silver’s class. What’s more, these past few months have found me encircled in the ideas, theories, questions and explorations begun in the Davies Forum on Digital Literacy. To be blunt, I am obsessed with this “digital literacy” we started to investigate in January. I find myself thinking about comic books and sidewalks, Swamp Thing and Seattle fashion daily. And so, maybe my difficulty articulating praise is exactly why Professor Silver is most deserving of that praise. His class didn’t end on May 16—we’re at eight months and still going strong. I haven’t spoken to Professor Silver since our last official class meeting, but the provocative subject matter, its thoughtful presentation and Professor Silver’s open-minded curiosity have stuck with me long after commencement.<BR/><BR/>Why is this? Professor Silver’s proficiency as a teacher comes down to three key components. First, the provocative nature of Professor Silver’s syllabus and reading materials deserves praise. Professor Silver is skilled at finding relevant materials from far beyond the beaten path. When conceiving of a class, especially something as abstract as Digital Literacy, Professor Silver leaves no stone unturned. He provides breadth of perspective and philosophy, thus allowing for a broader, more open-ended student experience. Professor Silver’s classes are about options and potential. The second component of Professor Silver’s expertise is presentation. Professor Silver does not just assemble varied sourced of information—he relays that information in creative and stimulating ways, with innovative method and medium. His attitude is open-minded and inclusive. His assignments are original and meaningful. I remember setting out to buy/build/barter my own special journal, taking pictures to represent the California primary, building a fort in the university library and chopping wood (with an axe!). I remember twittering, blogging, flickring, google mapping, photographing, drawing and blogging some more. He realizes that broad topics require broad assignments. Professor Silver also acknowledges that not every method suits every student. Here, then, comes his empathy as a teacher; if a medium doesn’t work for you, try your best, and move on. There were no failures in Professor Silver’s class, only constructive criticism and a desire to try something new. There is no busy work with Professor Silver; each assignment is carefully designed and structured to provide the most bang for one’s academic buck. And, they’re fun to do. Fun, thoughtful assignments lead to more student participation, which means more students are learning. Finally, Professor Silver is unafraid to leave questions unanswered. He does not bombard students with doctrines and definitives; we are allowed to explore the subject matter, and so is he. This has been the most lasting and effective skill of Professor Silver’s teaching arsenal. Try as I might, I can’t stop thinking about the questions he asked that semester. What does digital literacy even mean? I am still pondering the most basic of questions, and I think that is a most effective teaching strategy. Nothing is taken for granted with Professor Silver; a modern-day Descartes, he allows his students to question everything. I can say, with echoes from classmates I’m sure, that I will never look at reading (literally, to read) again.<BR/><BR/>On a personal level, Professor Silver has encouraged me outside of class to pursue aspects of the class that caught on most with me. He makes incredible connections in the “real” world (testament to his personable demeanor) and doesn’t hesitate to share those connections with students. He is invaluable as an educator of the academic world and an educator of the murky land that is post-grad. That is a rare skill, indeed.<BR/><BR/>I wish Professor Silver nothing but luck and success on his journey towards (well-deserved) tenure. He is a highly skilled educator who is most generous with his knowledge. Any institution should be honored to count him among faculty.<BR/><BR/>Kelly Pretzer<BR/>USF BA, History 2008Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16623540641248167500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-30589231864606478832008-09-07T22:12:00.000-07:002008-09-07T22:12:00.000-07:00I still remember in Intro to Media Studies how you...I still remember in Intro to Media Studies how you predicted Facebook's sudden jump into individualized advertising (ex. Simon Yugler just rented City of God from Blockbuster).<BR/><BR/>Your teachings continue to stay ahead of the trend and I look forward to the day when more professors have become equally proficient at utilizing internet technologies. <BR/><BR/>www.KevinKunze.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-41907657597459541132008-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:002008-09-07T21:02:00.000-07:00I am not quite sure where to start. During my seni...I am not quite sure where to start. During my senior year at UW, I took a New Media class taught by David Silver before blogging was the phenomenon it is now and the term "cyberculture" had just been coined. He was a tremendous presence in the classroom and by far the most inspiring, dedicated, smart and cutting-edge professor I had during my time there.<BR/><BR/>He encouraged me to explore my interests and because of his enthusiasm not only for teaching, but also my learning ... I have been able to pursue a career in new media and Web 2.0 with passion and joy. I think back to the time when I left his class and college and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to learn from him.<BR/><BR/>I feel privileged to share what a tremendous influence David Silver has had on my life, my career and my appreciation of the simple pleasure of discovery.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Shelley Risk<BR/>UW Class of '02Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-47955733481369644492008-09-07T14:25:00.000-07:002008-09-07T14:25:00.000-07:00Wow, after reading all the comments here, I think ...Wow, after reading all the comments here, I think my comment would be a tiny drop in the ocean of praises. But, it is possibly my best chance of writing a word of thanks to one of my greatest professors, my most inspiring mentor and a wonderful friend. <BR/><BR/>I started writing this “little” message almost a week ago. I wanted it to be a perfect letter of support but when I got to it I just kept writing and writing until I had almost two pages about detailed references to our meetings and the enormous amount of help and support Professor Silver has graciously granted to me over the past 3 and half years. I am just one of the many students who have been touched by Professor Silver’s considerate presence and thoughtful guidance. Even though I have very long story to tell about my various experiences with him, I will keep it short only to mention what comes to my mind when I think of Professor Silver as a teacher and as a mentor. <BR/><BR/>As a teacher – Into to COM, my first class in the department of Communications was taught by Professor Silver. This class was one of the best classes I have taken in my life. It was educational, it was relevant, it was entertaining and it made me want to learn more. The class’s enormous impact on me was because of the Professor teaching it. He loved the matter he was teaching and he was not only teaching us but also learning from us at the same time. His curiosity in the matter made us want to learn. His care and concern about the different issues and subjects discussed during the course made us want to care about them too. His creative and entertaining touch to lectures made the class setting a non-stressful environment where we were not forced to learn but it was a gradual process. In a class of over 400 students it is very, very hard to get participation. But, he was able to do so as easily as he was able to effectively teach us. Needless to say, like many others, this class was what sparked my interest in the field of Communications. It was quite a change for me being a science student who had never imagined getting a BA. That shows his immense power to deliver the matter and be such an inspiring teacher. <BR/><BR/>As a mentor – One of the greatest qualities of Professor Silver is his humility and kindness which makes him incredibly approachable. I am so glad that I approached him about his project outside class. After the class was over, I started helping him on The September Project. Our meetings were very casual but I always took something out of it. I contantly learned about the project and looked deeper into my work when he made me see it under a different light. I learned a lot about communication through the project. Specifically I learned about global communication and communication through digital media. I learned how to question and approach challenges from different angles and solve the problems effectively. Not only did this help me in my studies in Communications, it helped me in my achieving my degree in Biology and continues to help me in my life. <BR/><BR/>I strongly support his request for tenure as he really deserves it. From my experience with him, I know Professor Silver loves his work and is passionately dedicated to his profession. He is committed to passing his knowledge to others and constantly strives for superior creative innovative change in his work. I look up to such a great teacher and an inspiring mentor and strive to be as strongly and passionately committed and dedicated to my work as he. <BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/>KP<BR/>UW – Class of 2008.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-59110762898676585222008-09-05T11:54:00.000-07:002008-09-05T11:54:00.000-07:00I remember taking intro to media studies with you,...I remember taking intro to media studies with you, that was a really fun class. It's rather uncommon that one learns so much from a class that is so fun, but that's exactly what happened. Don't ever change!<BR/>- ZackAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-7653304663172169682008-09-04T10:51:00.000-07:002008-09-04T10:51:00.000-07:00As yet another fan of David Silver, I thought I'd ...As yet another fan of David Silver, I thought I'd add my comments to the outpouring of positive testimony concerning his amazing teaching record.<BR/><BR/>In the fall of 2000, I took "Cultures of Cyberspace" with David in the Communicatios, Culture and Technology masters program at Georgetown University. I am really not exaggerating when I say that this class not only changed the way I thought about cyberspace, it also changed my future. The fall of 2000, of course, was when we were all starting to realize that the dot-com boom really was over. And what a great moment to be studying cyberculture. While plenty of other classes that I was taking at the time were very invested in all things New Economy, David's approach was grounded, historical, and critical. I wrote a paper that semester about web design communities which opened a whole new avenue of research interest. I went back to work after graduating from Georgetown, but really felt that some of the questions I first started asking in David's class were worth pursuing more. I'm now finishing my dissertation, a project that links the social context of the dot-com boom period and the "New Economy" discourse to an historical understanding of web style, production practices and new media organizational structures. I can vividly trace my interest in this subject to David's enthusiasm and encouragement. <BR/><BR/>One of his greatest contributions to our grad seminar was the way he was able to intuitively navigate a balance that is not an easy one in grad courses. He was able to keep us focused by providing context for the readings, while giving us space to mull it over develop our own critical practices. It was one of the best grad classes I've taken-- that it was his first grad-level teaching experience just floors me!<BR/><BR/>He has a unique combination of strengths which are clearly demonstrated in many of these comments. I'll summarize them anyway: his enthusiasm in the classroom is absolutely contagious; his mentoring and devotion has helped me to be a better scholar; his greater contribution to the scholarly community with projects like the Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies (among others) is positively Herculean; his individual scholarship is original, critical, and thought-provoking; and his use of new media to constantly engage students in new ways is creative, innovative, and effective. What more can I say? This guy deserves tenure.<BR/><BR/>Megan Sapnar<BR/>PhD Candidate<BR/>Media and Cultural Studies<BR/>Department of Communication Arts<BR/>University of Wisconsin-MadisonMegan Sapnarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17505161976901438125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-80787155331067678982008-09-04T09:26:00.000-07:002008-09-04T09:26:00.000-07:00When I started at the University of Washington in ...When I started at the University of Washington in 2003, I had been out of school for seven years working in the technology industry. I was nervous about my ability to jump back into an academic environment and feeling disconnected from "Communication Studies" as a discipline. I was immediately assigned to work with David as a Research Assistant and he became my MA advisor and supervised my thesis. Later, I was a Teaching Assistant in his Intro to Communication class. Now I am a PhD student at NYU, working on my dissertation as a visiting scholar at USF, and still working with David, five years later. He has been an integral part of my academic career due to his dedication to students, integrity, and creative approach to "the academy." I have learned an enormous amount from him. <BR/><BR/>First I want to talk about David's skill with undergraduate classes. He taught an enormous, required intro class - something like 400 students, with 7 or 8 TAs, at 9:30 in the morning - and the students were rapt. They never fell asleep. They never skipped class. It was a complete pleasure to TA for the class as the students were engaged and inspired by the lectures. David got up on stage twice a week with only a small index card in his hand and made somewhat dry material (the history of radio, First Amendment law) come alive. Now I am an instructor myself, and I can say with confidence that I am awed by this ability- I always have 20 pages of notes and a PowerPoint and my students are rarely as interested. I have "borrowed" ideas, readings, and lecture topics from him. He is truly an exceptional teacher.<BR/><BR/>I experienced this personally working with David as a RA and MA thesis advisee. David encouraged me to dig deeply into whatever I was researching: he bounced ideas off me, pushed me to look in disparate directions, and was always incredibly supportive. We co-wrote a chapter for a book which became my first academic publication, and I learned how to transform research into a finished piece of writing. My (overly ambitious, 200 page) MA thesis benefited greatly from his expertise, advise, and enthusiasm.<BR/><BR/>David is one of the most interesting and creative people working in the academy today. He is an inspiration to me as I seek an academic career myself. I fully support his bid for tenure and believe he would be an asset to any institution. <BR/><BR/>Alice Marwick<BR/>BA, Wellesley College, Women's Studies, 1998<BR/>MA, University of Washington, Communication, 2005<BR/>PhD, New York University, Media, Culture, and Communication, expected 2010Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26643528.post-4646225457893000082008-09-03T09:57:00.000-07:002008-09-03T09:57:00.000-07:00The first assignment I ever handed in to David Sil...The first assignment I ever handed in to David Silver was riddled with spelling errors. And he gave me an "A." <BR/>You see, David was never the type of guy to sweat the small stuff. His only concern was whether or not you were thinking smartly and deeply. He didn't just teach a subject, he taught his students how to think, how to learn and how imagine. In this instance, I guess he liked the way I thought.<BR/>I took exactly one class with David, and it was during the first semester of my freshman year at the University of Maryland. That was 11 years ago. He's still my favorite teacher. <BR/>My first project--the one I reference above--was an online essay in which we were encouraged to use hyperlinks and photos to help make it more interesting. We could write about pretty much anything related to American life. I chose to write about the concept of a "comeback" in sports and popular culture. I wrote about Courtney Love, who had just been nominated for an Oscar. I wrote about Dwight Gooden's no-hitter. I thought it was a good essay. David loved it too and said he would have given me an A+ if I could spell. <BR/>Over the next four years, David and I became great friends. I pursued a degree in Journalism, (I learned to spell) and he got his Phd, went to Georgetown and then to the West Coast where he belonged. I stayed East and got a job writing about business and sports for right-leaning newspaper. And he was totally happy for me.<BR/>I look back on my interactions with David all the time. His energy and passion were so affecting that I think of him anytime I need a dose of motivation. And because of him, I know how to examine the world around me in a critical way, constantly asking questions and taking nothing at face value. The world needs more people like David Silver. <BR/><BR/>Tim Lemke<BR/>University of Maryland<BR/>BA Journalism and American Studies '01Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708498441069544612noreply@blogger.com