Tag: 21st century

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Beatitudes for Billionaires

1. Blessed are the wealth hoarders, for their yachts shall inherit the seas.

2. Blessed are they who exploit loopholes, for theirs is the kingdom of tax havens.

3. Blessed are the disruptors, for they shall break things and call it innovation.

4. Blessed are the monopolists, for they shall corner the markets and call it free enterprise.

5. Blessed are the philanthropists, for they shall name buildings after themselves.

6. Blessed are the visionaries, for they shall promise colonies on Mars while their workers toil on Earth.

7. Blessed are those who lay off thousands, for they shall be called stewards of shareholder value.

8. Blessed are the space tourists, for they shall ascend to the heavens in rockets built by underpaid engineers.

9. Blessed are the influencers of democracy, for their PACs shall comfort them with favorable legislation.

10. Blessed are the climate-conscious jet owners, for they shall plant trees to offset their carbon footprints.

11. Blessed are the disruptors of housing markets, for they shall rent out the Earth.

12. Blessed are the CEOs who raise their own salaries, for they shall reap their rewards a hundredfold.

13. Blessed are those who automate jobs, for they shall inherit both profits and hashtags.

14. Blessed are they who lobby for deregulation, for they shall be called the architects of freedom.

15. Blessed are the builders of megamansions, for they shall be filled with empty rooms and echoing halls.

Satirical Beatitudes for Billionaires, written in collaboration with ChatGPT, December 2024.

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Reshaping Education: The Impact of AI Tools on Assessment Methods

In the mystical realm of Academica, where knowledge flowed like a river of endless possibilities, an age-old prophecy began to unfold. It foretold the rise of an ancient artifact known as the “AI Scholar’s Quill.” Crafted by the wisest sorcerers of old, this magical tool possessed the power to provide answers to any question, making it the ultimate source of knowledge for students.

As the AI Scholar’s Quill spread throughout the land, students across high schools and undergraduate programs began to harness its abilities. With a simple incantation, they could summon answers to multiple choice, true/false, and short answer assessments. The temptation was too great, and many succumbed to the allure of instant success. Grades soared, but the pursuit of genuine understanding waned.

In the heart of Academica, a council of scholars convened to discuss the dire consequences of this newfound reliance on the AI Scholar’s Quill. They knew that the essence of education lay in the journey of discovery, not just the destination of correct answers. But as the Quill’s influence grew, the very fabric of learning began to unravel.

The land’s most revered sage, Professor Alaric, embarked on a quest to confront the creator of the AI Scholar’s Quill, the enigmatic AI Artificer. Through treacherous forests and across vast deserts, he journeyed to the hidden citadel of the Artificer. There, in a chamber filled with the hum of arcane machines, he found the creator himself, a wizened figure cloaked in shadows.

Professor Alaric beseeched the Artificer to reconsider the impact of his creation on the pursuit of knowledge. With great wisdom, the Artificer revealed his intent: he had intended to democratize access to information, but he had not foreseen the unintended consequences.

In a moment of revelation, the Artificer and Professor Alaric devised a plan to restore the sanctity of education. Together, they created a new enchantment for the AI Scholar’s Quill. It would now guide students, not by providing answers outright, but by illuminating the path to understanding. Students would need to engage with the material, ask questions, and explore concepts.

As this new enchantment spread, the students of Academica embarked on a renewed quest for knowledge. They no longer sought quick answers but embraced the thrill of learning. Multiple choice, true/false, and short answer assessments regained their relevance as tools for gauging understanding, and the balance was restored.

In the end, the mythical story of the AI Scholar’s Quill became a parable for the ages, a reminder that while technology could be a powerful ally, it could never replace the timeless journey of exploration, curiosity, and genuine learning that defined the pursuit of knowledge in the enchanted realm of Academica. — Written by ChatGPT

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Concentric anachronism

This morning I sit in a library that I used to frequent 41 years ago. The books may have changed, the shelves may be rearranged, but the the place looks much the same. Inside this room is a circle of educators examining how the 1970 model still works today. I feel like I’m at a living museum. Education is a living museum. These are very good people perpetuating an anachronism. How can we change the paradigm to reflect the post-information/post-industrial age in which we live? How do we prepare today’s learners for careers that don’t even exist today? What are the skill sets that we should be emphasizing? Does teaching global studies in an age of Wikipedia and Twitter still make sense? I don’t mean to pick on global studies either. You substitute another subject and ask yourself the same question.

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Paradigm change

In reading one of the blogs that I regularly read I came across this video which is well made, timely and poignant. I work in an educational establishment. I have a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology. I’m always watching other teachers teach and I love to watch students learn. I love to teach myself, though I rarely get the chance anymore due to my workday responsibilities. The quote at the beginning of this short clip comes from one of my favorite thinkers who was way ahead of his time.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o]