Tag: writing

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Mastering Joplin: Tips for Faster Note-Taking

Joplin has become my default note taking app. I use it for everything whether short notes on what to pickup at the store to saving articles I inted to read later with the web clipper. I have an iPhone, a laptop and a desktop and I depending where I find myself on any given day there’s one application which helps me to record everything I want to remember for later use. That’s Joplin.

Using Joplin shortcuts can significantly improve your efficiency, workflow, and note management experience. If you are using iOS you can send weblinks directly to Joplin by selecting the ‘share’ button at the bottom of the web page you want to add to your notebook

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

After selecting the share button and then select which iOS application you want to send it to. Joplin is one of the options.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

After selecting the ‘Joplin’ app from the list of apps a new note is saved to your Joplin application. For more help consult the documentation on Joplin’s app page.

Screen picture by Don Watkins CC by SA 4.0

Much of my day is spent using a laptop or desktop where I do the majority of my writing. When using Joplin in that setting I’ve come to rely on handy keyboard shortcuts which streamline the notetaking and writing process. Here is a list of common Joplin shortcuts despending on your operating system.

Ctrl-n – new note
Ctrl-s – synchronize
Ctrl-f – find and replace
F6 – search is all notes
Ctrl-a – select all
Ctrl-b – bold (selection)
Ctrl-c – copy
Ctrl-x – cut
Ctrl-v -paste
Ctrl-shift-t – insert date
Ctrl-q – quit

For additional Joplin help be sure to check out their excellent documentation. The project also maintains a forum where you can learn and share. Joplin is an open-source project, and your donations help support its ongoing development. Creating a high-quality application not only requires time and effort but also incurs costs—such as purchasing digital certificates for app signing, covering app store fees, hosting services, and the hardware needed to build and test across multiple platforms.

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Empowering Writing with Markdown

I’ve long been a writer, but writing and publishing have been challenging. Pencil or pen and paper and then endless sheets of paper for rewrites. My writing took off when my parents sent me to college with a typewriter. Lots paper and ink were used, but the writing process became easier. Then came word processing. What a gift to be able to write, revise and rewrite without killing anymore trees or using more ink.

My journey with word processing began with FredWriter and AppleWorks. These tools allowed me to write with ease, highlight text, and cut or copy and paste. The ability to save changes to disk for later use was a game-changer. As time passed, I encountered MacWrite, MaxWrite, Microsoft Word, StarOffice Writer, Libreoffice Writer, and many more. Each new tool brought with it an evolution in the writing process, making it better yet more complex, a journey that never ceased to intrigue me.

Most of the writing I do is for the web and it’s not easy to convert from from Writer or Word to HTML. But it does not have to be that way because in 2004 John Gruber created Markdown. Finally a writing format easily accessible to all that can be created in the most inelegant text editor yet transformed into beautiful written content for the web. Markdown is easily mastered and could be taught to students as early as third grade.

In addition to providing an easily accessible word processor at minimal cost, students can also be introduced to the basics of programming. Markdown converts plain text into structured HTML, making it a simple tool for creating complex documents that can be easily shared with teachers and fellow students.

Markdown’s versatility is a game-changer, making it accessible to everyone, including students with varying technical skills. With a minimal learning curve, students can quickly start using Markdown to format text, create lists, insert links, and embed images. The fact that Markdown can be shared across various platforms, from mobile phones to PCs, regardless of the operating system, empowers students to use it for a wide range of tasks, from note-taking to essay writing and presentation creation. 

Learning Markdown also increases students digital literacy  by familiarizing them with basic concepts of markup languages and text formatting. It bridges the gap between plain text and more complex coding languages providing a foundation for further learning and web development.  Platforms like Github and Gitlab rely on Markdown for documentation. Markdown is used in scientific documentation and most of the output from ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot and other LLMs is provided in Markdown format. 

You don’t need a wordprocessor to create Markdown. You can use Wordpad on Windows, TextEdit on MacOS, gedit or vim on Linux. You will need to use the following tags and save your work with the .md file extension.

Headers:

# Header 1
## Header 2
### Header 3
#### Header 4
##### Header 5
###### Header 6

Emphasis:

*Italic* or _Italic_
**Bold** or __Bold__
***Bold and Italic*** or ___Bold and Italic___

Lists:

Unordered lists:

- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Subitem 1
  - Subitem 2

Ordered lists:

1. First item
2. Second item
   1. Subitem 1
   2. Subitem 2

Links:

[Link Text](http://url.com)

Images:

![Alt Text](http://url.com/image.jpg)

Block quotes:

> This is a blockquote.

Code:

Inline code`code block`
Code block: 3 back ticks on the line before the code and three back ticks on the line after the code.

Horizontal rule: 

---

For more information on formatting be sure to consult this excellent guide on Github. Happy writing!

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Educators to Follow on Mastodon for Innovative Teaching Insights

I have been using Mastodon for almost six years. I continue to be amazed at the quality of discourse and the diverse community of educators and folks interested in education in the Fediverse. If you are a person who is accustomed to algorithm driven centralized social networks then Mastodon is going to seem a bit unusual at first. If you are WordPress user you can connect your blog to Mastodon with the ActivityPub plugin. You don’t need a blog to connect to Mastodon. You just need to create an account on anyone of dozens of Mastodon instances that exist around the world. One you are connected to an instance you can find other users and connect to them whether they are on your particular server instance or not.

Mastodon communications are driven by hashtags which many of you are already familiar with. Some of my favorites are #edtech

A toot on Mastodon is typically five hundred characters long. Like other microblogging platforms you may have used before brevity is prized but there’s more than enough space to get your information across and then you use hashtags to let your audience know what your toot is about.

Here’s a list of twenty-one educators currently using Mastodon.

Eric Sheninger – @esheninger@mastodon.social
Sandy Kendell – @SandyKendell@mastodon.education
Wesley Fryer – @wfryer@mastodon.cloud
Martin Dougiamas – @martin@openedtech.social
Alice Barr – @alicebarr@techhub.social
Miguel Guhlin – @mguhlin@mastodon.education
EdTech Group – @edtech@chirp.social
Clint LaLonde – @clintlalonde@mastodon.oeru.org
Doug Holton – https://mastodon.social/@dougholton
Anna Millis – @amills@mastodon.oeru.org
Open at Virginia Tech – @openatvt@fosstodon.org
SPARC – @sparc@mastodon.social
Project Gutenberg – @gutenberg_org@mastodon.social
Smithsonian Magazine – @Smithsonianmag@flipboard.com
Steven Beschloss – @StevenBeschloss@mastodon.social
Bill Fitzgerald = @funnymonkey@freeradical.zone
WikiEducation – @WikiEducation@wikis.world
CreativeCommons – @creativecommons@mastodon.social
Edutopia – @edutopia@mastodon.education
Cognitively Accessible Math – @geonz@mathstodon.xyz
NPR – @npr@mastodon.social
Open Source Science – @os-sci@mastodon.social

In conclusion, Mastodon offers a refreshing alternative to traditional, algorithm-driven social networks. Its decentralized nature and vibrant community provide an enriching environment for educators and those passionate about education. Whether you’re sharing your thoughts, discovering new ideas through hashtags, or connecting your WordPress blog with the ActivityPub plugin, Mastodon opens up a world of possibilities. Embrace the change and dive into meaningful conversations on this unique platform. Happy tooting!

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Discovering New Passions: Writing, Linux, and Sharing Open Source Stories

Our children gifted with a subscription to Storyworth for Father’s Day this year and each week a new writing prompt arrives in my email inbox. This week the prompt was what are some hobbies you have pursued or want to pursue in your retirement. It took me a while to think about that topic. I am not a guy to put together model planes and I don’t have a train set. I don’t play golf.

I walk, tinker with computers and write. I didn’t think of writing as a hobby until this week and maybe it’s not exaclty a hobby in the traditional sense but it’s a way for me to share my thoughts and journey with the wider world. I have been blogging frequently since early 2006 and have written over nineteen hundred articles for my own blog. In addition I have written hundreds of articles that have been published on a variety of sites including Both.org where I am a regular contributor. I also write for Allthingsopen.org and TechnicallyWeWrite.com.

I have created most of my content this year for Both.org, where we focus on Linux and open source. We are seeking individuals who would like to share their Linux and open source journey with our audience. Our website has been attracting more and more visitors. If you have an open source story to share, we encourage you to join us. Later this month, I’ll be traveling to Raleigh, NC to attend All Things Open. This will be my tenth ATO, and I am excited to learn from the people I will meet.

Write for us! We have a style sheet with guidelines and we’d love for you to share your open source journey with us.

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Using Ollama to write an evaluation rubric

In my previous article, I discussed using Ollama and the Llama3.1 model to assess my writing. Since I’m new to teaching writing, I was curious to see if Ollama could generate an evaluation rubric for grading student writing and then use that rubric to evaluate a sample of student writing.

I am going to assume that you have already installed Ollama on your computer and downloaded the Llama3.1 model. If not, be sure to follow the directions provided in the previous article. Start Ollama and run the model:

$ ollama run llama3.1:latest

>>>Develop a assesment rubric for the evaluation of undergraduate student writing

Here is the assessment rubric that was created by Ollama and Llama3.1:

Content (40 points)

  • Thesis Statement: Does the thesis statement clearly and concisely present the main argument or claim? (5 points)
    • 4: The thesis statement is clear, concise, and well-supported by evide evidence.
    • 3: The thesis statement is mostly clear and concise, but may lack some supporting evidence.
    • 2: The thesis statement is somewhat unclear or lacking in concision, but has some supporting evidence.
    • 1: The thesis statement is unclear, vague, or lacks supporting evidence.
  • Argumentation: Are the arguments presented well-supported by evidence? (10 points)
    • 9-10: Strong arguments are presented with ample and relevant evidence to support them.
    • 7-8: Good arguments are presented, but may lack some relevant evidence.
    • 5-6: Fair arguments are presented, but may be lacking in supporting ev evidence.
    • 0-4: Poor or absent argumentation.
  • Analysis: Is the analysis of the topic thorough and insightful? (10 points)
    • 9-10: The analysis is thorough, well-supported, and offers new insights into the topic.
    • 7-8: Good analysis is presented, but may lack some depth or insight.
    • 5-6: Fair analysis is presented, but may be lacking in detail or insig insight.
    • 0-4: Poor or absent analysis.
  • Counterarguments: Are counterarguments addressed and refuted effectively? (5 points)
    • 4: Effective counterarguments are presented and refuted with strong ev evidence.
    • 3: Some counterarguments are acknowledged, but not fully refuted.
    • 2: Few counterarguments are mentioned or refuted poorly.
    • 1: No counterarguments are addressed.

Organization (20 points)

  • Introduction: Is the introduction engaging and effective in setting up the rest of the paper? (5 points)
    • 4: The introduction is clear, concise, and effectively sets up the rest of the paper.
    • 3: The introduction is mostly clear and concise, but may lack some eng engagement or clarity.
    • 2: The introduction is somewhat unclear or lacking in concision.
    • 1: The introduction is weak or absent.
  • Body Paragraphs: Are the body paragraphs well-organized and logically connected? (10 points)
    • 9-10: Strong organization and logical connections between paragraphs are evident.
    • 7-8: Good organization and some logical connections, but may be lacking in coherence.
    • 5-6: Fair organization and some attempts at connecting paragraphs.
    • 0-4: Poor or absent organization.
  • Conclusion: Is the conclusion effective in summarizing the main points and reiterating the thesis? (5 points)
    • 4: The conclusion is clear, concise, and effectively summarizes the main points.
    • 3: The conclusion is mostly clear and concise, but may lack some summary or repetition of the thesis.
    • 2: The conclusion is somewhat unclear or lacking in concision.
    • 1: The conclusion is weak or absent.

Style (20 points)

  • Writing Style: Is the writing style clear, concise, and engaging? (10 points)
    • 9-10: Strong writing style is evident, with clear, concise language and engaging tone.
    • 7-8: Good writing style is present, but may lack some clarity or conci concision.
    • 5-6: Fair writing style is present, but may be lacking in clarity or e engagement.
    • 0-4: Poor or absent writing style.
  • Mechanics: Are grammar, spelling, and punctuation accurate? (5 points)
    • 4: Strong attention to detail and accuracy in mechanics.
    • 3: Good attention to detail and some accuracy, but may be lacking in o others.
    • 2: Fair attention to detail, with some errors in mechanics.
    • 1: Poor or absent attention to detail.

Mechanics (20 points)

  • Grammar: Is grammar accurate and effective? (5 points)
    • 4: Strong grammar is present throughout the paper.
    • 3: Good grammar is mostly present, but may be lacking in some areas.
    • 2: Fair grammar is present, with some errors.
    • 1: Poor or absent grammar.
  • Spelling: Is spelling accurate and effective? (5 points)
    • 4: Strong spelling is evident throughout the paper.
    • 3: Good spelling is mostly present, but may be lacking in some areas.
    • 2: Fair spelling is present, with some errors.
    • 1: Poor or absent spelling.
  • Punctuation: Is punctuation accurate and effective? (5 points)
    • 4: Strong punctuation is evident throughout the paper.
    • 3: Good punctuation is mostly present, but may be lacking in some areas.
    • 2: Fair punctuation is present, with some errors.
    • 1: Poor or absent punctuation.

Total: The total score will range from 0 to 100 points.

I copied and pasted the text from the article I wrote in 2022 about 12 Essential Linux Commands for Beginners and asked Ollama to evaluate that article using the rubric it had just created. Here is the result:

Content

  • The article provides a comprehensive list of 12 essential Linux commands, along with explanations, examples, and usage tips.
  • The topics covered are relevant to both beginners and experienced users.
  • The tone is conversational and easy to understand.

Organization

  • The article is well-structured, with each command introduced as a separate section.
  • The sections are concise and to the point, making it easy for readers to quickly grasp the key concepts.
  • The use of headings and subheadings helps to break up the content and make it more readable.

Writing Style

  • The writing style is clear, concise, and engaging.
  • The author uses everyday language, avoiding technical jargon whenever possible.
  • The text includes humorous anecdotes and personal experiences, making it more relatable and entertaining.

Structure and Pacing

  • The article flows smoothly from one command to the next, with each section building on the previous one.
  • The pacing is well-balanced, with sufficient information provided for readers to understand the concepts without feeling overwhelmed.
  • The use of examples and exercises helps to reinforce learning and keep readers engaged.

Technical Quality

  • The technical accuracy of the article appears to be high, with correct usage examples and syntax.
  • The author provides sufficient context and explanations for each command, making it easy for readers to understand their functionality.
  • The inclusion of links to external resources (e.g., trashy and trash-cli) adds value and helps readers explore further.

Originality and Depth

  • While the article covers familiar topics, it offers a fresh perspective and new insights into each command.
  • The author provides additional context and explanations that go beyond mere listing of commands.
  • The inclusion of personal anecdotes and experiences adds depth and relatability to the content.

Conclusion and Future Work

  • The article concludes with an open-ended question, encouraging readers to share their favorite Linux commands.
  • This approach fosters engagement and encourages further discussion, which can be beneficial for building a community around Linux and its usage.

Overall, I would give this article a score of 4.5 out of 5 in content, organization, writing style, structure and pacing, technical quality, originality and depth, and conclusion and future work. The only area where it could improve is by providing more advanced or specialized topics for experienced users..

What are your thoughts on using open source LLMs to evaluate student writing? What are the ethical considerations? Have you used a large language model to evaluate student writing?

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Five Open Source Writing Apps

AbiWord: AbiWord is a free and open-source word processor software. It is written in C++, and since version 3, it is based on GTK+ 3. The name “AbiWord” is derived from the root of the Spanish word “abierto,” meaning “open.” AbiWord is openly licensed. It is available on Windows and Linux.

Joplin: Joplin is an open-source note-taking and to-do app that allows you to organize your thoughts and ideas efficiently. It supports markdown and syncing across devices and offers various features like tagging, searching, and encryption. Joplin is available on Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can take notes on your mobile platform and edit them when you get home on your laptop or desktop using Joplin Cloud or OneDrive. Joplin has a AGPL license.

Calligra Words: Calligra Words is a free and open-source word processor part of the Calligra Suite of office productivity software. It is available for Linux and Windows. Calligra Words uses the Open Document Format (ODF) as its default file format. Many different office suites support ODF, a vendor-neutral format. Calligra Words has a GPL v2 license.

Etherpad: Etherpad is a real-time collaborative document editor that runs in your browser. With Etherpad, you can write articles, press releases, to-do lists, and more with your friends, fellow students, or colleagues. Everyone can work on the same document simultaneously, and your changes will be reflected instantly. Learn more about Etherpad. Etherpad is open source with an Apache 2.0 license.

LibreOffice Writer: is a full-featured open-source word processor that offers a wide range of tools and features for writing documents. It supports various file formats, provides a familiar interface, and includes features like spell-checking, formatting, and document collaboration. LibreOffice has a Mozilla License.

When considering a writing application, it’s essential to think about how you will use it. Joplin, a Markdown editor designed for note-taking, is available on multiple platforms and has many features that make it well-suited. Joplin also has a built-in web clipper and a sync feature that allows you to sync your notes between multiple devices.

No matter what your decision, all of these applications are open source, and all support open document formats that ensure that your created work is in a format accessible to you and those you share with.

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Will ChatGPT replace journalists?

I asked ChatGPT if it would replace journalists. I think the answer is instructive.

“It is unlikely that ChatGPT or any other language model will completely replace journalists in the near future. While ChatGPT and other language models are capable of generating text that can be used for a wide range of applications, such as news articles, they are not currently able to fully replicate the research, analysis, and critical thinking skills that journalists bring to their work.

Journalists are trained professionals who have developed the ability to gather, verify and present information in an accurate and unbiased manner. They also have the ability to provide context, analysis and in-depth reporting on a subject, which is something that a language model like ChatGPT can’t do.

Additionally, ChatGPT and other language models rely on data to learn and generate text, so their understanding of the world is limited by the data they have been trained on. Therefore, they may not be able to provide accurate information or report on certain topics, especially when it comes to complex and nuanced issues.

That being said, ChatGPT and other language models can be used to assist journalists in their work, by helping them generate text quickly and efficiently. They can also be used to generate news articles, summaries, and other types of content in areas where there is a shortage of human journalists, such as rural or remote areas.

In summary, ChatGPT is a powerful tool, but it does not replace the expertise, critical thinking and analysis skills that journalists bring to their work.”

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What is an AI Writer?

An AI writer is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can generate written content. AI writers are powered by natural language processing (NLP) and natural language generation (NLG) algorithms that enable them to understand and generate written content. AI writers can be used to create content for a variety of applications, including content creation, automated news reports, and automated social media posts.

Natural Language Generation (NLG): NLG is a type of AI technology that enables machines to generate written content from structured data. NLG algorithms are used to analyze data and generate written content that is both accurate and engaging.

Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP is a type of AI technology that enables machines to understand written content. NLP algorithms are used to analyze written content and extract meaning from it.

AI writers learn by analyzing large amounts of data. They use machine learning algorithms to identify patterns in the data and generate written content that is both accurate and engaging.

AI writers use machine learning algorithms to generate written content. Machine learning algorithms enable AI writers to identify patterns in data and generate written content that is both accurate and engaging.

AI writers can be used to create content for a variety of applications, including website content, blog posts, and articles. AI writers can generate content that is both accurate and engaging, making them a valuable tool for content creators.

AI writers can analyze data and generate written content that is both accurate and engaging, making them a valuable tool for news organizations.

AI writers can be used to generate automated social media posts. AI writers can analyze data and generate written content that is both accurate and engaging, making them a valuable tool for social media marketers.

AI writers can be prone to bias if they are not trained properly. AI writers can learn from the data they are given, so it is important to ensure that the data is unbiased and representative of the population.

AI writers are limited by the data they are given. AI writers can only generate content that is based on the data they are given, so it is important to ensure that the data is accurate and representative of the population.

AI writers are a powerful tool for content creation, automated news reports, and automated social media posts. However, there are some challenges with AI writers, including bias and limitations. It is important to ensure that AI writers are trained properly and given accurate data in order to ensure that the content they generate is both accurate and engaging. Despite these challenges, AI writers have the potential to revolutionize the way we create content and communicate with each other.

This blog post was created by HyperwriterAI.

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A need to write

I started this journey thirteen years ago. I started blogging and enjoyed it but in the past half dozen years I have moved away from it and towards social media. I’ve felt something within me calling me to write more and that’s what I’m going to try to do. I write regularly for Opensource.com. I’m a community moderator and regularly write about Linux and all things open source. I enjoy that a great deal. It has helped me to continue to learn and grow.

In the past five years I’ve moved from teaching in a public school to volunteering in a variety of places including a food pantry, a soup kitchen, public libraries, teaching digital literacy, Python, Scratch and other open source software. I love open source and continue to write about it and promote it anywhere that I go. I’ve found that there is a great deal more to open source than merely free software. I’ve become a member of a growing community of writers and developers and that’s been very energizing.