Paper and Pencil in a Digital World

My Experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Through the Years The first experience I remember with AI was Microsoft Office's Clippit , commonly known as Clippy. This semi-useful, comical, and regularly frustrating virtual assistant would definitely have been helped by the progression in computing, machine learning, and other AI progress of the past two decades.    Image Credit: Microsoft Developer, recovered from  https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-life-death-microsoft-clippy-paper-clip-loved-hate   Outside of Clippy, most of my experience with AI was masked inside of the functionality of their programming. Until watching this video  I never considered that Google Maps utilized AI processing, which after it being pointed out seems like a no-brainer. The real time data and machine learning that Maps uses are key aspects of AI. Other AI aspects that I remember pre-dating ChatGPT and the current AI revolution are chat windows on websites, autoc...

Changing Views on Technology  Image Credit - Ministry of Education Saint Lucia This course has come at a great time professionally, we are currently writing professional goals at school and I am focusing on revamping some classroom practices and how these can affect content pacing. One of the practices I am focusing on is the purposeful inclusion of technology. This class visited many topics that have led to deeper reflections on the ways and types of technology to include in the learning process. Overall, I am more hopeful and re-energized about looking at this integration.  I still struggle with allowing students to use their iPads during class because we have very limited control over them. This was the topic of a recent lunchtime conversation with colleagues from different departments; we want to use more tech while also limiting the distractions for the students and making our job more facilitating the learning instead of babysitting the technological use. Once this hurdl...

Let's see what Google Says The phrase "Google it" has become so common place today, rarely does a noun become a verb, but it has here. Googling for an answer has become second nature to most people with an internet capable device. Google can be used to search for more than just answers to questions, including searching for people. Searching for Myself, Not for Answers The first time I Googled my name was in college when we talked about digital footprints in one of my education classes. At that time the top results were for various doctors and a maritime historian. When I google searched myself again recently, those were still some of the top independent hits, however the third result was an article published by the school I work at, Fenwick, where I was mentioned and tagged on the article.  Image Credit: Author - Screenshot of Google Search I was actually pleased to see that I had not made a larger presence on the first page of results for my name, without adding addition...

Personality tests, Learning about yourself, and New insight; how these affect engagement in Professional Learning Networks.  I have always been intrigued by personality tests. I find it fascinating which questions are used and how the algorithm works to then generate information about personality. At times I feel like these questions have nothing to do the type of personality information given in the results, but the results always seem to be near what I would expect. I took three personality tests and will share the results and then connect these results to professional learning network engagement.  16 Personalities Test  According to this test I am an INTP Logician. Image Credit - Screenshot of Logician Explanation from 16 Personalities Test Image Credit - Screenshot of Results from 16 Personalities Test I think that the Logician fits me pretty well. For example, while I am very unlikely to start a conversation with someone I do not know (an introverted characteristic),...

As technology has become ubiquitous in many classrooms around the country accessibility has become a concern. In this instance, I am not taking about the digital divide  and physically being able to get to a device, which is in its own right a major issue that got highlighted during pandemic shut downs and hybrid learning requirements. Instead, the accessibility we are discussing is the ability of all individuals to find success in using the same device. Can the device adjust to the needs of the user?  The first accessibility feature I remember coming across was the ability to change font size on iPhones. We had just gotten my grandmother a new cell phone when she moved away from the flip phone and I was surprised when we could alter the font size to help her function better with the phone. As the phone was largely only for phone calls and texts the increase font size reduced a lot of potential frustration.   This year we have a new edition of the biology textbook w...