This is a book for educators who are ready to celebrate the messiness of teaching. Through 18 real-life stories from higher education classrooms, the book explores many unpredictable moments that inform better teaching. Each chapter presents a case study of what went wrong and provides a research-backed analysis to explain why the solution worked. From small mishaps to full-blown crises, these stories highlight that learning moments as educators are not just inevitable but essential for growth. Filled with humor, honesty, and practical insights, this book invites instructors to learn from the experiences of their colleagues while considering their own journeys of reflective practice.
Dr Stephanie Kelly is a Professor of Data and Communication at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University, USA, specializing in the study of presence variables as they mediate communication experiences. Her research delves into how these variables, such as perceived immediacy, social presence, solidarity, and credibility, play a key role in organizational, classroom, and technology-mediated environments. Dr Kelly's publication record includes more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, numerous book chapters, three edited books, and two textbooks. Her coauthored textbook The Business and Professional Communication Playbook was recently named most innovative new textbook in communication from the Textbook Author Publishing Authority. She currently serves as the editor for the Review of Communication, a National Communication Association publication.Dr Suzy Prentiss is a Lecturer in Communication at the University of Central Florida, USA. Experienced as a Basic Course Coordinator and Communication Center Director, her research explores speech anxiety, culturally relevant pedagogy, IDEA, storytelling, and student wellness across all modalities. Her work has appeared in Basic Communication Course Annual, Communication Center Journal, Communication Teacher, and the Journal of Communication Pedagogy. She has also contributed to multiple edited volumes and handbooks. She holds a PhD in Human Ecology and Communication from The University of Tennessee, an MA in Communication Studies from Emerson College, and a BA in Speech Communication from the University of Maine, all USA.
