Illustrated Montana mountain range at dusk, with a faint network of connected nodes woven through the sky
Portrait of William J. Fassbender

William J. Fassbender

Philosopher of digital practices; thoughts shared multi-modally.

Associate Professor of English Education, Montana State University

I study how digital technologies — from generative AI to social media — reshape literacy, teacher identity, and the classrooms secondary English teachers navigate every day. More about my work →

Current & Recent Work

A running log of published research and projects in progress, newest first. Full list on the Research page.

In progress
Current Project

AI, Literacy, and Composition

Ongoing research into how generative AI is reshaping literacy and composition instruction in secondary English classrooms.

In progress
Current Project

Teaching in a Complex Media Landscape

Examining the challenges English teachers face navigating an increasingly complex and fractured media environment with students.

2025
Journal Article

Birds Aren't Real: Vigilante Civic Literacies for Classroom Counterpublics

With B. Robinson. Research in the Teaching of English, 60(2), 189–212.

2025
Journal Article

Of Teachers and Centaurs: Exploring the Interactions and Intra-actions of Educators on AI Education Platforms

Learning, Media and Technology, 50(3), 352–364.

2025
Position Statement

ELATE Position Statement: Exploring, Incorporating, and Questioning Generative Artificial Intelligence in English Teacher Education

With B. L. Nash, M. Garcia, C. A. Young, K. H. Turner, M. Rice, A. Piotrowski, et al. English Education, 57(2), 158–165.

2024
Journal Article

"I can almost recognize its voice": AI and Its Impact on Ethical Teacher-Centaur Labor

English Teaching: Practice & Critique, 23(1), 104–117.