Book, papers, presentations, and selected articles. This page is intentionally curated.
Featured publication
Book
The Four Girders Framework
Becoming a Successful Learner in the AI Era
An Open Educational Resource that provides practical insights on academic success organized around four interconnected foundations: self-regulation, life balance, learning strategies, and effective use of resources.
Papers and Presentations
Soto-Cabán, S., & Avila-Medina, F. (2025, June). Design and implementation of an industry mentorship program in a first-year bachelor of science in engineering technology course. In Proceedings of the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2–56222
Hensley, L., Avila-Medina, F., Gillespie, T., Lee, H. W., Masonheimer, A., Nagpal, M., Perry, A., Varzeas, K., & You, Y. (2020). Compassionate teaching during COVID-19: Key approaches in a college success course. The Learning Assistance Review, 25, pp. 349-359.
Avila-Medina, Ferdinand (2019). A Four Girders Framework for Academic Success. 3rd Annual Conference of the Ohio College Learning Centers Association, Marietta, Ohio.
Soto-Cabán, S., Selvi, E., and Avila-Medina, F. (2011). “Improving Communication Skills: Using PECHAKUCHA Style in Engineering Courses,” Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, June 2011, Vancouver, BC, CA.
Articles
Selected blog posts and articles on higher education issues and related professional topics. Personal writing remains available through Laconismos.
The leadership institute that never needed an AI session
Thirteen years ago, EDUCAUSE trained me for leadership in the technology field without ever teaching a single technology. Reading its 2026 case for AI urgency against that old curriculum, and against a 2001 book on why management fads keep fooling higher ed, the same pattern shows up wearing new vocabulary.
Bad Interview, Worse Argument
Ten scholars from Vanderbilt and Washington University in St. Louis published a report this summer on the state of humanities scholarship. Anthropology got the worst part. I’m adding some thoughts on the debate.
Reframing Reorganizations
Universities, hospitals, government agencies, entire industries are undergoing re-organizations. Some decades after Bolman and Deal’s seminal book, Reframing Organizations, the symbolic frame is still missing in action.
A Bridge Doesn’t Work In Pieces
When talking about the Four Girders framework, people ask me, which of the four girders matters most. They want a ranking, something to put their energy into first. The question itself is the problem.
DEI not the enemy of fairness
An opinion piece arguing why purely merit-based policies are not as fair as they sound.