#Teaching Strategies with AI

[thisisgraeme]

Transform Learning with AI in Education: Volume 1 - Insights for Educators

Kia ora! I’m excited to share Volume 1: AI in Education–Insights for Educators, a practical guide for educators and leaders in Aotearoa. Learn how to navigate AI tools, ensure ethical use, and apply culturally responsive frameworks to support all learners

Why We Wrote a Guide on AI in Education (And Why This is Just the Beginning) Kia ora! Over the past year, I’ve been working with my fellow AI enthusiast, Michael Grawe, on a project that’s been both exciting and challenging: a three-part guide series on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, tailored specifically for educators in Aotearoa New Zealand. We just released Volume 1, and I’m…

[clonerightsagenda]

Grading in the AI era is like *looks at first submission* huh that's a weird mistake *sees the same mistake in 4 other submissions* oh this is the chatGPT answer to this question isn't it

[kakief]

The Future is AI: Are We Preparing Students or Holding Them Back?

This week, a college student made national news after confronting a professor who used ChatGPT to provide grading feedback. Their frustration? “If we’re not allowed to use it, why should you?” The story quickly evolved into a broader debate—centered on cheating, fairness, and academic integrity. Commentators weighed in, warning that tools like ChatGPT would erode student accountability or replace…

[ducksido]

Maybe you can do the twst boys with a Chinese! Yuu?

Chinese!Yuu

Grim

“Hah? You eat noodles AND rice every day?! That’s too much starch, Yuu!”

“Wait, you have how many regional cuisines? That’s too many flavors for one person!”

Demands to try hotpot, but regrets it once the spice kicks in.

The NRC Student Body

“Your New Year lasts for two weeks? Lucky!”

“Your ghost stories are terrifying. I’m never sleeping again.”

“Did you just… call someone a turtle egg as an insult?”

Staff Reactions

Crowley

“Ah, the Middle Kingdom, so grand and historic! Perhaps you could teach me a thing or two about feng shui?”

Probably mispronounces xie xie (thank you) in the worst way possible.

Thinks China is “one big place with pandas.”

Crewel

“Your embroidery work is exquisite. I must say, I admire the craftsmanship in your traditional garments.”

Likes silk and is fascinated by Chinese fashion history.

Trein

“The literary history of your country is astounding. Have you read Journey to the West?”

Has deep respect for the philosophical schools of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Vargas

Absolutely loves kung fu movies.

Tries to get Yuu to teach him some real martial arts.

“Wait, so in some stories, your warriors used qi to fly?!”

Sam

“A land of trade and spice? That’s my kind of place!”

Immediately asks if Yuu can hook him up with some premium Chinese tea.

Dorm Reactions

Heartslabyul

Riddle Rosehearts

Loves how strict Chinese table manners are. “Ah, finally! Someone who understands proper etiquette!”

Fascinated by tea culture, but questions why there are so many types of tea.

Trey Clover

Tries making mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival.

Probably loves dim sum—especially egg tarts.

Cater Diamond

Obsessed with Chinese street food. “Dude, those jianbing (savory crepes) look amazing!”

Wants to take selfies with a dragon dance.

Ace Trappola

“Wait, your New Year’s money comes in little red envelopes? Where’s mine?”

Probably tries to join a lion dance troupe for fun.

Deuce Spade

Thinks martial arts are super cool and wants to learn.

“So, you celebrate New Year by setting off fireworks inside your house?! That’s crazy!”

Savanaclaw

Leona Kingscholar

“So, tigers are a big deal in your culture, huh?”

Secretly respects the idea of ancestor worship.

Ruggie Bucchi

100% relates to Chinese street vendors hustling.

Loves scallion pancakes because they’re cheap and delicious.

Jack Howl

“Kung fu training from a young age? That’s impressive.”

Lowkey wants to practice tai chi.

Octavinelle

Azul Ashengrotto

Fascinated by China’s trade history and monopolies (silk trade, anyone?).

Tries to convince Yuu to let him sell exclusive Chinese delicacies.

Jade Leech

“So your cuisine has mushrooms in almost everything? How delightful.”

Fascinated by traditional medicine and herbal remedies.

Floyd Leech

“Your New Year celebrations are loud and fun! I wanna chase the dragon next time!”

Tries Sichuan hotpot and doesn’t even flinch at the spice.

Scarabia

Kalim Al-Asim

“Your tea culture is so refined! You have whole ceremonies for it? Amazing!”

Gets along well with Yuu because both cultures love big family gatherings.

Jamil Viper

Appreciates the hard work ethic and discipline.

“Your historical architecture is so intricate… How do people even build things like that?”

Ignihyde

Idia Shroud

“So, you have legends about ghosts and demons with long black hair? No thanks.”

Secretly obsessed with Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Ortho Shroud

“Did you know China is at the forefront of AI research? Amazing!”

Loves Chinese mythology, especially about dragons.

Diasomnia

Malleus Draconia

Loves the mythological Chinese dragons and thinks they’re just as regal as fae dragons.

Lilia Vanrouge

LOVES old Chinese battle tactics. “The Art of War? Oh, I read that centuries ago!”

Knows how to use chopsticks perfectly.

Silver

“Your myths about celestial warriors are inspiring.”

Wants to try Chinese meditation techniques.

Sebek Zigvolt

“You have a rich history of military strategy? I must study it!”

Thinks guanxi (relationship networks) is a brilliant social concept.

RSA + Noble Bell

Chenya

“Wait, you have a myth about a talking cat that helps people? That’s me!”

Neige LeBlanche

Thinks hanfu and qipao outfits are gorgeous.

Rollo Flamme

“Your festivals involve fire? Unacceptable.”

Secretly respects China’s poetic traditions.

Extra Chaos & Traditions

Yuu uses Chinese insults that don’t translate well. “You dog-headed fool!”

Gives out red envelopes on Lunar New Year, causing a frenzy at NRC.

Brings hotpot to a dorm party—and no one is ready for the spice.

Superstitious about numbers, refuses to go near anything with ‘4’ (because it sounds like “death”).

Keeps carrying tea around and insists it’s healthier than NRC’s obsession with coffee.

[thestudentempanada]

Who's ready for another rage inducing post from BiCollege Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine? As you read, keep in mind that many of these people have PhDs and are employed teaching young adults at incredibly expensive institutions.

This one is from May 24, 2024:

Deep breath, we're starting off with "From the river to the sea...":

Here we have an interesting inclusion of the fact that many people associate the phrase with the PLO coupled with the convenient omission of the fact that the PLO is a US designated terrorist organization.

Next up, they admit "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is the English version of the Arabic "from the water to the water, Palestine [is/will be] Arab" :

The Fatah (which translates in English to "Conquest" btw) leader was lying, which is really easy to notice because in 1969 there were zero Jews living under Fatah rule and many Arabs living in Israel. Also, note that at this point they are arguing that the phrase "From the water to the water, Palestine will be Arab," is not actually an Arab nationalist slogan (????).

Veering even further off the rails, they will now argue that it actually is an Arab nationalist slogan, even though they just said it wasn't, but this time they'll argue that that's okay:

Filisteen represents "a spiritual connection to place" and a "culture connected to stewardship of land." Who knew the Romans were so into those things...

If we date the Zionist political project to 1897, then "Filisteen" apparently refers to the people living in what would later become British Mandatory Palestine. Confusingly, this would exclude many Arabs that identify as Palestinian today.

There were Jews living in Eretz Israel in 1896. They were not calling the land "Filisteen."

Filisteen represents "the totality of indigenous Arab existence" which is, "indeed, definitionally, Arab." Please explain how most people in the land being Arab in 1896 means that Arab culture represents the sum total of what it means to be indigenous. This doesn't even pretend to make sense.

Most people living in Pennsylvania today are white. That doesn't mean white people have a right to respond to theoretical Lenape aspirations of political independence (including any Lenape moving back to their native land from, say, New Jersey) onto land they purchase in Pennsylvania with white nationalist violence. We have lost the plot.

Fully entering AI-generated territory (although I suspect this was written by a human), they now try to claim that "Palestine will be Arab" is actually a statement of... inclusion... and people calling it out for being explicitly Arab nationalist (which it is, as they basically state in the last slide) are the real antisemites??

"Peaceful co-existance" my ass.

Aside from the obvious insanity here, we're also ignoring the presence of Jews in the land of Israel in 1896 that did not identify as Arab. If Jews have to identify with Arab culture in order to be allowed to stay, that's still wildly antisemitic.

In fact, putting Jews aside entirely, we're also ignoring Syriac Christians, Armenians, Greeks, and Circassians.

This post is so internally inconsistent it makes me suspect that it's actually part of some new strategy to kill the Zionists by giving us all strokes from trying to wrap our heads around this nonsense.

This isn't even the end of the post, but I'm cutting it here so it doesn't get too long.

[specialagentartemis]

Friend Like Me: Murderbot's Relationships With Other AIs throughout The Murderbot Diaries

It’s important to me that the thematic core of The Murderbot Diaries is not only about determining what it means to be a robot person in a human world, but about showcasing so many ways to be a robot person in a human world.  And about building relationships with other robot persons to support that self-actualization as both a robot and a person.

So often, in science fiction about robot personhood, the robot character is the only robot in the cast.  Not only that, so often the robot character is the only robot they know.*

When media thinks about AI personhood, or Ais as characters in society, the AI character is often alone.  Alone, and different.  It’s a potent allegory for what it feels like to be an outsider, to be “other,” to feel “off” from the people around you.  Whether a sympathetic friend or a scary unknowable villain, a lot of people can relate to feeling like that.

The Murderbot Diaries is doing something interesting, then, by showing us our protagonist Murderbot, the prototypical robot-among-humans, the robot as a parallel for queer and neurodivergent and outsider-cultural experiences in a world of expected norms, the robot with human friends, the one robot member of an otherwise all-human team… and it can’t live like that.  So it leaves.

So far, the series feels split into two halves: the first four books, about Murderbot learning different ways to be a robot in relationships with humans, and the next three** about Murderbot learning different ways to be a robot in relationships with other robots, and a robot in a mixed society.

In All Systems Red, Murderbot starts off painfully alone. It repeatedly sees other SecUnits as enemies, and believes that SecUnits can't trust each other because they're all under control of humans. It has a very low opinion of SecUnits, including itself.  Murderbot hates being used by humans for violence or for petty reasons, and admits that it wants to half-ass its job.

In Artificial Condition, Murderbot meets ART, a university research ship who loves its crew and loves its function.  It is also free to be a snarky asshole, as Murderbot repeatedly notes (and assigns in its very name).  This relationship to humans—genuinely caring for its crew, genuinely wanting to participate in its research and teaching function—is a very different relationship than Murderbot has had, though ART still needs to keep its intelligence and personality hidden from most humans for its own safety.  Conversely, this is the book where Murderbot meets a ComfortUnit that is blatantly being abused and misused by its human owner, and it hates her.  The contrast between ART and the ComfortUnit displays very different ways of Ais relating to their human “owners”—and what it means for them to get what they want out of life.

In Rogue Protocol, Murderbot confronts this theme most directly, with the bot Miki.  Unlike the implications of secrecy we get from ART, Miki is not hidden from anybody; unlike with the ComfortUnit, Miki is a respected and equal member of its team.  Murderbot has a very hard time believing that Miki is anything but a patronized “pet bot” to these humans, despite the evidence that the humans genuinely consider it a friend and teammate.  Miki has never been abused, and never had to hide.  Murderbot has a hard time accepting that this is a way bots and humans can relate to each other.

But Miki is still, in the classical sci-fi robot-on-a-human-team way, unique; it expresses to Murderbot, “I have human friends, but I never had a friend like me.”

This is a much better way of being a robot among humans than Murderbot has seen before, but it’s still not the ideal Murderbot wants, either.

Exit Strategy brings the theme full-circle and the quartet to a close.  Murderbot faces off against a Combat SecUnit (or CombatUnit; Wells seems to change her mind about this).  The Combat SecUnit represents everything Murderbot has rejected being, everything it has overcome on its journey of self-actualization.  During their fight, the CSU rejects Murderbot’s offers of freedom, money, a fake ID, the opportunity to get out of its situation the way Murderbot has; it ignores the offer.  Murderbot asks the CSU what it wants.  The CSU replies, “I want to kill you.”  The CSU represents the kind of SecUnit Murderbot does not want to be, the kind of robot it used to think it would inevitably be but has now seen so many other ways it can be.  Murderbot says in the same scene, “I’m not sure it [the offer of freedom] would have worked on me, before my mass murder incident.  I didn’t know what I wanted (I still didn’t know what I wanted)…”  But at the same time, the confrontation makes it clear: Murderbot knows some things it doesn’t want, and the CSU is embracing everything Murderbot doesn’t want about being a SecUnit.

If this quartet is about what it means to be a robot, and to be a robot among humans, then the next set of books (Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry, and System Collapse) is about being a robot among other robots, and a robot in a society that supports both humans and robots.

Fugitive Telemetry makes this most obvious, with its plotline about the free bot community on Preservation.  Murderbot is uncomfortable around them in a similar way that it was uncomfortable around Miki.  The Preservation bots are happy, fulfilled, responsible, mutually supportive, and have a meaningful community with both humans and each other that does not match Murderbot’s experiences of what being a bot, or being a bot among humans, means.

Network Effect brings Murderbot back into contact with ART, and introduces a new SecUnit, Three.  Murderbot navigating its relationship with ART as a free agent and after a perceived betrayal is a huge part of the book.  Murderbot’s disembodied-software-fork Murderbot 2.0, freed from much of Murderbot’s organic anxiety, shows itself much more willing to be social with other bots and constructs.  System Collapse follows, bringing further depth and complexity to Murderbot’s relationship with ART and expanding its interactions with Three, and furthers Murderbot’s integration into the casual bot-human community that is ART’s crew.  It also shows that Murderbot’s willingness to trust and even form tentative friendships with other AIs and systems, like AdaCol2, has expanded.  The way it extends the governor module hack to the opposing SecUnits is informed a lot more strongly by Murderbot 2.0’s interactions with Three than its own previous clumsy attempts to reach out to the CSU in Exit Strategy, or abrupt dumping of the hack on the ComfortUnit in Artificial Condition.  All of these plotlines emphasize Murderbot maturing into not just being a person among humans, but a person recognizing its place and obligations within society that includes both people like and unlike it.

The models of the many ways to be a robot person, and significant relationships and interactions with other robot persons, were and are crucial to Murderbot’s development, sense of self, articulation of its desires, and sense of belonging in the world.  Murderbot isn’t alone, and it’s not the only person like itself that it knows.  When offered a place in society, it is not the only person like itself in that society.  Meeting other AIs, forming relationships with them, was crucial in helping it articulate what it wants in its life.  Its human friends are incredibly important to it!  That doesn’t stop being true.  But so are its AI friends, and the other AIs it passed through the lives of.

This feels like one of the most honest and affirming depictions of what it’s like to feel “other”—that being around only majority people unlike-you, even the ones you like, even your friends, even the ones who mean the best for you and ask you what you need and do everything they can to provide it, can still be exhausting and alienating.  Meeting other people like you—even if they’re like you in unlike ways, and have different ways of moving through the world—shows you the many ways to relate to the rest of the world, to be in the world.  The many ways to relate to other people and to yourself.  The Murderbot Diaries opens up a world where that can be true of bot/construct/AI characters, when so often in sci-fi, their loneliness and alienation is where the metaphor stops.

- - -

*Lt. Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation is probably the most famous example; the only positronic android like himself in existence, barring his evil twin who mostly just needs to be stopped.  Others coming to mind include Becky Chambers's A Closed and Common Orbit, in which the AI character is trying to understand who she is in the context of being surrounded by humans; Alien, the secret android crewmate among humans is a threat, and in the sequel Aliens, the android crewmate is earnestly trying to prove he's not; Space Sweepers has a ragtag crew of several humans and a robot; most of the stories in Isaac Asimov's I, Robot are about a singular robot in a human facility.  The setup "Human crew with their ship AI" is fairly common in sci-fi, from 2001: A Space Odyssey with its tragically antagonistic HAL9000 operating on a logic that would never occur to humans, to Wolf 359 and The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet where the ship AIs are struggling to determine and articulate how they want to relate to their human friends.  Even in Ancillary Justice, Breq is alone and having to pass undercover as human cut adrift from her previous life as a ship's AI. (I know this changes later but I have not actually read the rest of the trilogy)

**as of System Collapse

[probablyasocialecologist]

Gyan Abhishek is standing in front of a giant touch screen, like Jim Cramer on Mad Money or an ESPN talking head analyzing a football play. He’s flicking through a Facebook feed of viral, AI-generated images. “The post you are seeing now is of a poor man that is being used to generate revenue,” he says in Hindi, pointing with his pen to an image of a skeletal elderly man hunched over being eaten by hundreds of bugs. “The Indian audience is very emotional. After seeing photos like this, they Like, Comment and share them. So you too should create a page like this, upload photos and make money through Performance bonus.”  He scrolls through the page, titled “Anita Kumari,” which has 112,000 followers and almost exclusively posts images of emaciated, AI-generated people, natural disasters, and starving children. He pauses on another image of a man being eaten by bugs. “They are getting so many likes,” he says. “They got 700 likes within 2-4 hours. They must have earned $100 from just this one photo. Facebook now pays you $100 for 1,000 likes … you must be wondering where you can get these images from. Don’t worry. I’ll show you how to create images with the help of AI.”

[...]

Abhishek has 115,000 YouTube subscribers, dozens of instructional videos, and is part of a community of influencers selling classes and making YouTube content about how to go viral on Facebook with AI-generated images and other types of spam. These influencers act much like financial influencers in the United States, teaching other people how to supposedly spin up a side hustle in order to make money by going viral on Facebook and other platforms. Part of the business model for these influencers is, of course, the fact that they are themselves making money by collecting ad revenue from YouTube and by selling courses and AI prompts on YouTube, WhatsApp and Telegram. Many of these influencers go on each others’ podcasts to discuss strategies, algorithm changes, and loopholes. I have found hundreds of videos about this, many of which have hundreds of thousands or millions of views.   But the videos make clear that Facebook’s AI spam problem is one that is powered and funded primarily by Facebook itself, and that most of the bizarre images we have seen over the last year are coming from Microsoft’s AI Image Creator, which is called “Bing Image Creator” in instructional videos.

[...]

The most popular way to make money spamming Facebook is by being paid directly by Facebook to do so via its Creator Bonus Program, which pays people who post viral content. This means that the viral “shrimp Jesus” AI and many of the bizarre things that have become a hallmark of Zombie Facebook have become popular because Meta is directly incentivizing people to post this content.

6 August 2024

[alexander-23]

Ambessa Medarda x Reader Imagine?

A/N: I haven’t written fanfic in like 3-4 years so I’m mega rusty, but AI is bad for the planet, so here I am. Also, I’ve become very attached to this goddess of a woman. I will be writing this out aaaaaand a part 2, just doing baby steps.

Summary: breakdown of their relationship and the horror of war

TW: angst, mild description of war, mild description of injuries, mention of torture (mild)

Masterlist

Ambessa is a very forceful and tough warlord, nothing stops her, no weaknesses. That is, except for me.

Im trained well enough in war strategy, her right hand in strategising, but not much of a fighter

She has been teaching me defense, eases her mind, builds my confidence

Unfortunately, it was not enough and enemies have captured me

That was a month ago

I am now stumbling back towards the camp Ambessa had set up for her army

I'm shivering, skinnier from the lack of food I was given when imprisoned, lacking my armor the enemies stripped from me.

Im barefoot, dirty, wounds and cuts from the interrogations and torture

Im weak, tired, and cold

I see the camp in the distance, willing my voice to reach them, but it's quiet and rough from either the screams of pain or lack of use

I keep stumbling along, willing my voice to work

“Ambes-”. “Ambessa”

My voice is weak and isn't reaching even 5 feet in front of me

A guard up far ahead at the entrance notices me and starts yelling

My vision is blurry, edges darkening, my legs weakening

I stumble down, too tired to get back up

The last thing i see is a blurred figure standing over me

[mekkthemighty]

So just came from seeing Wild Robot and a few things, SPOILERS for books and movie ahead btw

I will preface this by saying it was a fantastic film that I absolutely loved, the visuals were mindblowing and made me jealous of the practiced skill of the animation team

Anyway my biggest complaint for the movie (and I get why they did it) was the moment where the literal power of love wakes up the deactivated Roz, I really liked the book Roz that genuinely was still a robot to her core, emotionless and robotically logical but nevertheless falling into the patterns of motherhood due to her AI learning from nature

They did the power of love in the books too, it helped the animals overcome their fear and work together to pull off some epic battle tactics which weren't in the movie, like for the final fight of book one they had Nettle the bear's self sacrifice to take out the RECO only to be saved by the river fish was awesome, and all the birds raining bird poop all over the sensors of another one only to lead it blind into a muddy bog so it can be kicked to death by the moose, final battle in movie (while visually fantastic) lacked any of that strategy the animals learned from Roz

I had hoped they'd have focused more on the "helping others is a survival skill" aspect and the learning curve that took her from robot to wild robot, but the themes of motherhood were beautifully done

Oh and ROZ's camouflage skills, where was the intentional mud and moss coating of her body making her look like a cyborg treant, I mean they do the character design with moss and dirt by the end but they just accumulate over time naturally... instead of Roz just slathering herself with it and being a bush around which the animals all gossip

Also one last note, in the book Longneck is killed by a human with a rifle, Robots can't harm living creatures is a major plotpoint in the books, its a barrier Roz has to overcome and the RECOs are even subject to it which is why the animals had a shot against them in the first place, this is a plot point that the movie Brightbill even states out loud right before a robot pops out and shoots Longneck, like wtf

Other things I wish they kept from the book:

Brightbill turning Roz off and on again and temporarily thinking he committed matricide

Roz vs the bears during the learning curve

The learning curve

Roz and Brightbill bonding over the shared experience of being the only surviving "egg"

Roz being the goddamn prometheus of this islands critters literally teaching them to harness fire

Things the movie added that I liked

Brightbill acting like a robot

Fink the fox being a fully realised character (tho at the cost of some other favs)

Felling the tree to redirect the river to stop the forest fire

Vontra, just everything about it

The stickers for 10% off your next universal designs purchase

Brightbill helping build the lodge

"I am low on power, have made unsanctioned alterations to my code, and have been damaged in ways that have likely voided my warranty" "what she means is she loves you"

Pinktail Possum was great and so were her kids

"Are you here to kill us?" Whether your answer is yes or no, you're about to get yeeted by a moose

"HELLO I AM ROZZUM UNIT 7134 DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE!" While chasing down random animals

Roz "I am not a mother I am a robot, I must be recalled at once"

Pinktail "no you're a mom now"

Roz "understood I am a mom now"

Still a great movie just wish they kept Roz a robot through and through and just kept with the whole "she doesn't need to have emotions to be a good mom" thing

Definitely recommend a watch of it

[gladiusveritatis]

what would william & louis work in modern au? do u have any headcanon for them

Good question. I’ve based my ideas on their personalities in the manga, carefully considering key moments that reveal who they are. I believe these career paths suit them perfectly in a modern context. Dedication and commitment to their goals are defining traits of the brothers, so here’s my reasoning:

Despite the various discussions within the fandom about William’s potential involvement in criminology or profiling, he would most likely remain true to his original role in the work—a mathematics professor, an educator, and a man of science who teaches and researches. William’s drive to change people’s ways of thinking would still define him, leading him to conduct and participate in conferences, host seminars, and deliver lectures to students. Students, with their open and adaptable minds, are the demographic most ready to learn and understand the world they are preparing to navigate. I believe he would author numerous papers and books, not only on mathematics but also on planned economics.

As for Louis, in my view, he would be an excellent candidate for the position of head of an international banking consortium. With money, AI, and the trade market being pivotal factors in determining the stability of nations, Louis’s cool-headed, results-driven mindset makes him perfectly suited for such a role. Moreover, as someone dedicated to serving his country, he would undoubtedly establish ethical standards and excel at managing alliances, uniting divergent interests into a cohesive strategy. This role would also grant him transparency in transactions between major banks and provide him with an avenue to influence international organisations.

[thisisgraeme]

🚨 Assessment is evolving — are we keeping up? Generative AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t going away. So instead of banning them, what if we redesigned how we assess learning? 👉 I just published a new piece on how Aotearoa’s tertiary sector can shift from policing AI use to purposeful integration. We’re talking critical thinking, process-over-product, and future-ready assessment strategies. 💬 Educators, designers, disruptors — what’s your take? How are YOU adapting? 🔗 Read it here: [insert blog URL] 📘 And if you want the deep dive → Education is Over. Adapt or Die #AIinEducation #AssessmentDesign #EdTech #HigherEd #FutureOfLearning #EducationIsOver

[thesoftreindeer]

i realised i'm learning so much while writing my first ever cherik fanfic and it's making me so nostalgic cause like

half of my dad's family is jewish descendant, but not practicant cause of inquisition and some other factors that are way too grim to bring up to strangers on a website, but really the christian guilt is so so huge that nobody follows the jewish tradition except for me, my dad and my grandma (and still super secular at that)

and my dad has always been interested in strategy, especially chess, and he really did teach me the basics when i was a kid

so to get to write a fanfiction, as silly as it may sound, is really making me connect to things in my life that happened and are still happening rn. erik is jewish so i can pour into him some of my own family's stories, struggles and traditions, as well as the feelings we have on the matter, even though we're not directly involved with the shoah. i'm writing a distance chess game between charles and erik in an exchange of letters with a chess simulator + my dad's advice back in the day

idk everything about this feels really dear to me and i think it's really sad when i see people saying shit like "ai can do it for you" and "why don't you ask chatgpt about it" because this is a way that i can physically connect those characters that are so dear to me to my own history, and nothing could ever substitute that, as much as it is for the sake of "development" and "future"

so yeah i'm not sure what the bottom line here is but i sure know that i am doing things that really make me happy and i wouldn't change any of it for something that feels more simple just because

[hypelens]

California Fires: The Pacific Palisades Blaze and the Ongoing Battle Against Wildfires

California is once again in the grip of devastating wildfires, with the Pacific Palisades Fire taking center stage as it threatens communities, disrupts lives, and underscores the ongoing challenges posed by climate change. With gusty winds, dry conditions, and rising temperatures fueling the flames, residents and first responders are facing a dire situation.

Overview of the Pacific Palisades Fire

The Pacific Palisades Fire, which erupted earlier this week, has rapidly spread across the densely populated region. According to KTLA, strong winds and bone-dry vegetation have exacerbated the blaze, making it challenging for firefighters to establish control. As of Wednesday evening, evacuation orders remain in effect for several neighborhoods, with over 1,200 acres burned and containment efforts ongoing.

Residents have shared harrowing accounts of the fire’s swift advance. James Woods, the renowned actor, shared his own close call with the flames, describing the moment he had to flee his home as a "race against time," as reported by CNN. His experience highlights the unpredictable and dangerous nature of these wildfires.

The Human Impact

For many residents, the Pacific Palisades Fire is more than just a headline—it's a life-altering event. Evacuees have described the chaos of leaving their homes, unsure of what they might return to. Emergency shelters have been set up across Los Angeles, offering temporary refuge for those displaced.

Local businesses have also felt the effects, with closures and supply chain disruptions adding to the economic strain. The fire has prompted community members to band together, offering support through donations, volunteer efforts, and emotional encouragement.

The Role of Climate Change

California’s wildfire seasons have grown longer and more severe in recent years, with experts pointing to climate change as a significant contributing factor. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and erratic weather patterns create the perfect storm for wildfires to ignite and spread.

The Los Angeles Times notes that the Pacific Palisades Fire is part of a troubling trend: an increase in "urban wildfires" where natural landscapes collide with densely populated areas. These fires pose unique challenges, not only in terms of firefighting but also in ensuring public safety in urbanized regions.

The First Responders' Heroic Efforts

Firefighters and emergency personnel have been working tirelessly to combat the Pacific Palisades Fire. Helicopters and air tankers have been deployed to drop water and fire retardant, while ground crews battle flames in challenging terrain.

The efforts of first responders have drawn widespread praise, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass calling them "true heroes" in a recent press conference. She also urged residents to follow evacuation orders and remain vigilant, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation during emergencies.

Preparing for the Future

As California faces increasingly destructive wildfire seasons, officials and experts are exploring ways to mitigate risks and improve preparedness. Key strategies include:

Enhanced fire prevention measures: Controlled burns, vegetation management, and firebreaks can help reduce fuel for fires.

Investments in technology: Drones, satellites, and AI-powered tools are being used to detect and monitor fires more effectively.

Public education campaigns: Teaching residents how to create defensible spaces around their homes and prepare for evacuations is crucial.

How to Help

The Pacific Palisades Fire has sparked an outpouring of support from across the country. If you’re looking to make a difference, here are some ways to help:

Donate to relief organizations: Groups like the Red Cross and local charities are providing food, shelter, and resources to those affected.

Volunteer: Whether it’s helping at evacuation centers or assisting with cleanup efforts, your time can make a meaningful impact.

Raise awareness: Share accurate information about the fire and its effects to help others understand the gravity of the situation.

Conclusion

The Pacific Palisades Fire is a stark reminder of the challenges posed by California’s worsening wildfire seasons. As communities come together to support one another, the need for long-term solutions to address climate change and improve wildfire management has never been more apparent.

Stay updated on this developing story and join the efforts to support those impacted by the Pacific Palisades Fire. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, every action counts in the fight against these devastating blazes.

[zylentrix]

Transform Your Tomorrow with Zylentrix: Sustainable Innovation for Businesses, Careers, and Global Growth

🌐 Zylentrix: Redefining Success Through People-Centric Solutions

At Zylentrix, we’re on a mission to empower individuals, businesses, and communities through innovation, integrity, and sustainability. Our vision? To lead the world in integrated consultancy services, transforming challenges into stepping stones for growth. Whether you’re scaling a business, launching a career, or pursuing education, we’re here to equip you with the tools to thrive. Let’s unpack how our mission, values, and culture make us the partner you can trust.

🎯 Our Mission & Vision: The North Star of Zylentrix

Mission: “To empower individuals, businesses, and communities by delivering innovative and customised solutions across education, technology, recruitment, and business consulting. With a commitment to excellence, integrity, and sustainability, we strive to create opportunities, bridge gaps, drive transformation, and foster long-term success.”

Vision: “To be the global leader in integrated consultancy services, transforming lives and businesses through innovative, sustainable, and forward-thinking solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive and succeed.”

We’re not just consultants—we’re architects of progress, designing futures where everyone has the chance to excel.

💎 Core Values: The Pillars of Everything We Do

Our values are the blueprint for how we serve clients, collaborate with partners, and grow as a team:

Integrity: “Building Trust Through Transparency” Every decision is guided by ethics. No shortcuts, no compromises.

Innovation: “Driving Future-Ready Solutions” From AI-driven recruitment tools to sustainable business frameworks, we pioneer what’s next.

Excellence: “Delivering Impact & Measurable Growth” We set—and smash—high standards, ensuring clients see real results.

Customer-Centricity: “Putting Clients at the Centre of Everything” Your goals shape our strategies. We listen, adapt, and deliver.

Diversity, Inclusion & Collaboration: “Creating Equal Opportunities for All” Diverse teams = smarter solutions. We champion equity in every project.

Sustainability: “Responsible Business for a Better Future” Green tech, eco-friendly practices, and ethical growth are non-negotiables.

Empowerment: “Enabling People & Businesses to Thrive” We don’t just hand you tools—we teach you how to master them.

🤝 Our Commitment: Tailored Support for Every Journey

Zylentrix is your partner in growth, no matter your starting point:

For Businesses:

Tech Solutions: Streamline operations with scalable AI, cybersecurity, and cloud systems.

Strategic Recruitment: Access global talent pools curated for cultural and technical fit.

Consulting Excellence: Turn insights into action with market research and digital transformation plans.

For Job Seekers:

Career Mastery: Revamp resumes, ace interviews, and unlock roles in booming industries like fintech and clean energy.

Global Mobility: Navigate international job markets with visa support and relocation guidance.

For Students:

Education Pathways: Secure admissions and scholarships at top universities worldwide.

Future-Proof Skills: Gain certifications in AI, sustainability, and more through our partnerships.

For Startups & SMEs:

Scale Smart: Leverage data analytics and ESG frameworks to grow responsibly.

Funding Ready: Craft investor pitches that stand out in crowded markets.

🌱 Our Culture: Fueling Innovation from Within

At Zylentrix, our workplace is a launchpad for creativity and collaboration. Here’s what defines us:

Lifelong Learning: Monthly workshops, innovation challenges, and tuition reimbursements keep our team ahead of trends.

Agility in Action: When the world changes, we pivot faster—like shifting to virtual career fairs during the pandemic.

Collaborative Spirit: Cross-departmental “sprint teams” solve client challenges, blending tech experts, educators, and recruiters.

Ownership & Impact: Every employee, from interns to executives, contributes to client success stories.

Work-Life Harmony: Flexible hours, mental health resources, and sustainability days ensure our team thrives inside and out.

Join the Zylentrix Movement

Ready to transform your business, career, or community? Let’s build a future where innovation and integrity go hand in hand.

📩 Connect Today 👉 Explore our services: Zylentrix 👉 Follow us on Social Media for tips on tech, careers, and sustainability. LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok X Pinterest YouTube Quora Medium 👉 Email consult@zylentrix.net to schedule a free consultation.

[nautilusopus]

jokes aside gascoigne is honestly one of the best first bosses in like any game ever, it's just that what he's there to teach you differs pretty drastically from nearly every other game, including the previous two soulsbornes before it

he's got a gun and a whackin' stick just like the player, and you immediately see how incredibly effective it is when he just fucking comes after you, and hey maybe you could try that. and how nearly every attack in this game has momentum, so dodging backwards (which was generally the smart option in a lot of situations in ds1 and 2) is an invitation to get your shit pushed in. he's there to force you into the only path to victory, which is to get in his face and go to town.

it's pretty deep in the game but one particular boss, amygdala (one of the first "big" bosses you find), is even there to fuck with players that have gotten used to the "bury your face in its ass" strategy of big bosses where its ass cuts all damage down to like a tenth and will easily instakill you, and the safest option is to actually hang out in front of it and dodge and attack rather than trying to hunker down in a safe spot. (its AI is actually incredibly passive btw in order to facilitate this teaching strategy of "staying in front of a boss for once" and sometimes it'll just sit there and puke multiple turns in a row, but when you're new to a boss that does this kind of thing and you're there in the moment you don't really realise that's what's going on.)

it's put the game in a weird spot where people that wanted it to be a dark souls either complained it was either way too easy ("the game shouldn't reward you for being that aggressive! souls games are about slowly and carefully trading blows and waiting for openings and being patient! healing from attacking just encourages button mashing! there's not even any boulder traps that kill you with no warning or platforming with controls that aren't built for platforming anymore! ugh game for noobs!") or way too hard ("there's not a SINGLE chance to recover your stamina or heal in this game and your dodges have almost NO i-frames because the animation is too fast and you can't even block anymore and you have zero Poise period no matter what while enemies can have it and everything has WAY too much range so there's nowhere even to dodge in the first place! and your health bar is so small even if you invest in it and everything does so so much damage it's completely unreasonable!") and somehow you still spot this shit in the wild even though it's been almost ten years.

i'm still not over that one liveblog where someone was bitching the gun does almost no damage so CLEARLY no one playtested it, why even have a gun, ugh they removed shields so you can't even parry anymore

[politicalprof]

The Banality of AI and the destruction of actual thought:

In my continuing exploration of the many ways AI is going to make it ever easier to say bland and innocuous things without having to think about it, I present the following prompt and response from Google Gemini for anyone interested.

For context, universities have for decades now been layering on new requirements intended to provide an "objective" basis for assessing why one candidate deserves tenure or not, or why one applicant deserves a grant or a job, etc. However, while these layers may be well-intended, in time they devolve into rote exercises that prove little beyond the fact that you know how to write certain types of statements "the right way." One such statement that is commonly required these days is a "teaching statement." It is ubiquitous for job applications, tenure and promotion files, and even some grant applications. Enjoy!

Prompt:

write a teaching statement for a tenure application that emphasizes my use of student-centered, active learning with the goal of developing my students' critical thinking skills

Response:

Teaching Statement

My approach to teaching is rooted in the belief that students learn best by actively engaging with course material and constructing their own understanding. I strive to create dynamic, student-centered learning environments that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity. My goal is not simply to transmit knowledge, but to empower students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners.

Student-Centered Learning: I prioritize student engagement and agency in the learning process. I design my courses with a variety of active learning strategies, including:

Inquiry-based learning: I pose open-ended questions and present real-world problems that encourage students to explore concepts, formulate hypotheses, and develop solutions collaboratively.

Collaborative projects: I incorporate group work and peer learning activities that promote teamwork, communication, and the exchange of diverse perspectives.

Case studies and simulations: I use case studies and simulations to provide students with opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, analyze complex scenarios, and make informed decisions.

Reflective writing and discussions: I encourage students to reflect on their learning through journals, online forums, and class discussions, promoting metacognition and deeper understanding.

Developing Critical Thinking: A central focus of my teaching is to cultivate students' critical thinking skills. I explicitly teach and model these skills through:

Analyzing and evaluating information: I guide students in assessing the credibility, relevance, and bias of information sources, encouraging them to question assumptions and challenge conventional wisdom.

Constructing arguments and supporting claims: I provide opportunities for students to develop well-reasoned arguments, supported by evidence and logical reasoning.

Problem-solving and decision-making: I present complex problems that require students to analyze information, identify potential solutions, and evaluate their consequences.

Debates and discussions: I facilitate respectful and intellectually stimulating debates and discussions that encourage students to consider multiple perspectives and refine their own viewpoints.

Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment: I am committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive classroom where all students feel valued, respected, and supported in their learning. I strive to:

Establish clear expectations and learning goals.

Provide timely and constructive feedback.

Offer individualized support and guidance.

Promote a culture of respect and open communication.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement: I use a variety of assessment methods to measure student learning and inform my teaching practice, including:

Formative assessments: I use ongoing assessments, such as quizzes, in-class activities, and online discussions, to monitor student progress and provide timely feedback.

Summative assessments: I use exams, projects, and presentations to evaluate student learning outcomes and mastery of course content.

Student feedback: I actively solicit student feedback through course evaluations and informal surveys to identify areas for improvement and refine my teaching strategies.

Conclusion: I am passionate about teaching and dedicated to creating engaging and effective learning experiences for my students. I believe that my student-centered, active learning approach, with its emphasis on critical thinking, prepares students not only for success in their academic pursuits but also for meaningful engagement in their future careers and communities. I am committed to continuous growth as an educator and look forward to further developing my teaching practice at [Institution Name].