TAA member Dr. Nicole Dillard, an Emerging Technology Fellow at the University of Minnesota, was recently interviewed as part of the Extra Points Blog series where she shared insights into her work with Generative AI (GAI) and how it’s shaping the future of education and workforce development. Congratulations, Nicole!
2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Neoclassical Physics’
Neoclassical Physics by Mark A Cunningham is an introductory text in which physics concepts are introduced as a means of understanding experimental observations, not as a sequential list of facts to be memorized. The book is structured around the key scientific discoveries that led to much of our current understanding of the universe. Numerous exercises are provided that utilize Mathematica software to help students explore how the language of mathematics is used to describe physical phenomena. Published by Springer.
2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book, ‘Business and Professional Communication Playbook’
Business and Professional Communication Playbook, by Michelle T. Violanti and Stephanie Kelly, teaches students the essentials of business communication and necessary skillset that employers look for today. The authors use engaging examples, provide tips on how to carry yourself professionally, and incorporate real-life experiences from recent graduates to teach students how to communicate like a professional through focused, bite-sized chapters. Published by SAGE.
Busy TAA People: Steven Barkan Publishes Updated Edition of Sociology Textbook
TAA member Steven Barkan, a retired professor of sociology at the University of Maine, recently published an updated edition of his textbook, Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Brief Edition Version 4.0 (FlatWorld, 2025). This update includes a new “Critical Thinking About the Media” feature that discusses contemporary news or social media to stimulate analysis and class discussion and incorporates over 30 embedded hyperlinks to streaming videos to enrich online and hybrid courses. Congratulations, Steven!
2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book, ‘The ‘Getting to Yes’ Guide for ESL Students and Professionals’
The “Getting to Yes” Guide for ESL Students and Professionals, by Barrie J. Roberts, guides non-native English speakers though Getting to Yes, the international bestseller on “win-win” negotiation. Each chapter provides a lesson plan and activities along with page-by-page explanations of words, idioms and concepts. Use this book to help non-native English speakers negotiate on an equal footing with fluent English speakers. Published by the University of Michigan Press.
What Authors Need to Know About Cengage Class Action Lawsuit Settlement
On November 24, 2024, the federal district court in New York granted preliminary approval to a $20,990,000 settlement of claims of royalty underpayment by Cengage Learning, Inc., in a long-running lawsuit brought on behalf of Cengage textbook authors by the class action law firm Susman Godfrey. There is a January 22, 2025 deadline for any authors wish to opt out of the class or to object to the settlement.
Cengage authors have asked us various questions about the settlement. Zick Rubin, attorney at the Archstone Law Group and long-time TAA member (zrubin@archstonelaw.com), has provided some answers.