Through a concise but wide-ranging exploration of the American public education system, Teach: Introduction to Education by Janice Koch, asks readers to imagine themselves in the classroom and develop their own ideas of what it means to be a teacher. Combining historical and contemporary perspectives, along with real-life classroom stories, Koch helps future teachers examine the ways in which society and culture shape schools. Published by SAGE.
2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Beyond Classical Physics’
Beyond Classical Physics by Mark A. Cunningham provides an introduction to modern physics. It discusses the nature of the microscopic universe from a modern perspective, based on Einstein’s notions of relativity and Noether’s proof of the emergence of conservation laws from symmetries of the equations of motion. The second half of the book explores various aspects of many-body physics, ranging from chemical systems to plasmas to black holes. Published by Springer.
Busy TAA People: Nicole Dillard Interviewed About GAI Insights Regarding Future of Education, Workforce Development
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!