The holidays are upon us, and we hope everyone is enjoying this brief respite from the bustle of classes. The weather in Gainesville is unseasonably warm; sadly, no sweater required (ugly, or otherwise). Regardless, this time away is important for us all to recoup, recharge, and reflect on what we do and why we do it. 

No doubt we have all been inspired by things we've seen this year. For me, I had the opportunity to see - and almost talk to - a longtime hero, Howard Rheingold. He introduced a new concept dubbed "peeragogy" at the Sloan International Conference for Online Learning, proving that a new brand for an old idea still helps to jog the mind into new conceptions. Just a couple of weeks ago I  helped coordinate a cross-campus Faculty Development session with a keynote by Dr. Sanda Erdelez, Associate Professor and Director of the University of Missouri Information Experience Lab. The Missouri COE is doing some really exciting research into how people use and interact with technology. 

So while I'm spending time with my family, I'll be thinking. Learning. And hoping I can translate those thoughts into new and better ways to facilitate learning.

Here's hoping your holiday is beautiful and you don't feel compelled to turn on the AC so you can roast chestnuts by an open fire. We look forward to seeing you back in the new year!