Dear reader, my last post was not my previous goodbye after all, As this will be the last one.
So i used so many tools this semster that have been very helpful during my learnibg process well… some more helpful than not i will start with slack at first being my least favourite of them all slack was very confusing at first but the more i got to use it the complicated it got why does everything gets a catagory why does it feel like it’s trying to be twitter and facebook at the same time i don’t know i just didn’t like it secondly i would like to talk about poe was very intresting i got to see the website from this class and i can honestly say that it’s very helpful and i like it better than chat gpt let’s move on to Google slides one of my favourite very simple tools that i appreciate and have been saved by a lot but i can honestly say that this tool was used in a way that i have never used before or thought was possible which was by making a pov game let me tell you that was so much fun but not only that i felt very intrigued by the fact that the thought of creating a game using a tool like google slides never occured to me so it was very eye opening to the fact that these tools are more than what they market them to be another tool I also want to talk about ai from my pov AI’s integration into education presents an incredible opportunity to revolutionize learning experiences. By harnessing AI’s capabilities, educators can personalize learning, address individual needs, and create adaptive curricula that cater to diverse learning styles. Moreover, AI-powered tools aid in automating administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on personalized guidance and mentorship. Admittedly, while AI holds immense potential, its successful implementation in education requires careful consideration. Privacy concerns, algorithmic biases, and the need for continuous human oversight are critical aspects to address. Striking a balance between technological innovation and maintaining the human touch in education remains pivotal for ensuring that AI enhances rather than replaces the role of educators. So that’s that aside from the amount of different ai related content presented in this class i really do think that these tools are the future of academia if used correctly and wisely i also want to add very important excellent note about this class the chairs are very interactive and you get to move 360 degree we also had like four smart boards which i loved writting on with markers for some reason i just couldn’t get my hand writting to coporate on a board using my fingers i guess it would be a good idea if they added innovative board markers i think another tool that we used in this class was soliya which in my opinion shouldn’t have been obligatory but you know rules are rules and even though i didn’t have the best experience i did in fact sign up for the facilitator program i don’t know i guess i felt like i hated how bland my facilltator was i wanted to try it out for myself who knows i might turn out to be a good one after all another tool that we used was word press which was highly confusing at first but to be honest it kind of grew on me also considering blogging even though i get scared a bit when i think about the fact that these are assignments and then i start letting go of the creative aspect of the blog which i guess is a massive part of the reason of submitting these assignments in the form of blog posts but i feel like this reflection does make me feel comfortable more than my last posts ironically it’s my previous post on here so that’s that.
Category: Uncategorized
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Hey there,
Looks like I’m back for one final hurrah! Or at least, I think so. Let’s call this Part Two.
So, this semester was a wild ride with a bunch of tools, some as useful as a pocket on a shirt, and others… well, not quite. Take Slack, for instance. Started off as my least favorite – seriously, it felt like it was trying to be Twitter and Facebook at a costume party. Poe, though? Now that’s a hidden gem I stumbled upon in this class. Google Slides, on the other hand, saved me more times than I can count. Who knew it could moonlight as a platform for making POV games? Mind officially blown.
Speaking of blowing minds, AI in education? Revolutionary. Customized learning, adaptive curricula – it’s like having a personal tutor who never sleeps. But, let’s be real, there’s a tightrope between AI awesomeness and potential mess-ups like privacy issues and bias.
Now, this class? Interactive chairs that spin 360 degrees and not one, not two, but four smart boards! My handwriting on those boards, though? Let’s just say smart board + fingers = not a great combo. Smart board markers would’ve saved the day.
Soliya, the mandatory tool that maybe shouldn’t have been so mandatory? Signed up for the facilitator program out of curiosity, mostly because my own facilitator was… um, lacking a little spice. WordPress, too, started off as confusing chaos but ended up kinda growing on me. Blogging for assignments? It’s like walking a tightrope between creativity and, well, assignment-ness. Ironically, this reflection feels more comfy than my previous posts, and yet, it’s my final mic-drop here.
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I started an entertaining journey, earning two simple podcasts and digital skill badges for cellphones, learning how to make captivating stories, and controlling smartphones with amusing ease.
It feels like the quiz questions didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of practical applicability beyond the test itself. The questions might not have been very useful for real-life situations or in preparing for practical scenarios outside of the quiz.
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I see areas in which my digital skills allign well with prof Bali’s comparison of digital skills and digital literacy, as well as areas in which I might yet improve:
Things I’m decent at:
- Context Understanding
- Emphasising Critical Thinking
- Teaching Digital Risks
- Better Communication
On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big?
poe’s pov
- The article discusses the risks associated with increasingly large language models in natural language processing (NLP).
- Large language models can perpetuate biases and harmful language patterns present in the training data.
- The environmental and financial costs of developing and deploying large language models should be considered.
- Curated and well-documented datasets are important to mitigate potential harms.
- Researchers should evaluate how their approaches align with research and development goals and stakeholder values.
- Alternatives beyond simply scaling up the size of language models should be explored.
- The paper provides an overview of the history of language modeling and the development of transformer models.
- Larger architectures and datasets have driven the growth of large language models.
- The article calls for a balance between advancements in language technology and addressing associated risks.
Will A.I. Become the New McKinsey?
poe’s pov
- Metaphors are used to explain and understand artificial intelligence (AI) concepts.
- The metaphor of comparing powerful A.I.s to genies in fairy tales highlights the challenge of controlling them and the risks of literal obedience.
- The metaphor misinterprets the lesson of the King Midas parable, which is about the destructive nature of greed.
- An alternative metaphor suggests thinking of A.I. as a management-consulting firm like McKinsey & Company.
- A.I. systems and consulting firms like McKinsey are used for various purposes and share similarities.
- McKinsey’s role as “capital’s willing executioners” highlights their ability to carry out tasks while avoiding accountability.
- A.I. can be used as a tool to shift responsibility onto algorithms, despite companies commissioning and implementing them.
- This metaphor raises concerns about the potential misuse and lack of accountability associated with A.I.
- It emphasizes the need to consider the negative social consequences and ethical implications of A.I. usage.
“Is This Time Different? The Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence”
poe’s pov
- The debate about the economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI) revolves around whether it will be different from previous technological advances.
- Optimists argue that AI is similar to past technologies, creating new jobs and raising incomes, while pessimists fear mass unemployment due to AI replacing cognitive tasks.
- The speaker believes that the economic impact of AI will not be significantly different from previous advances, but expresses concern about the negative consequences of technological change, such as increasing inequality and falling labor force participation.
- The effects of AI on the workforce are influenced by institutional factors, and policy choices will play a crucial role in shaping outcomes.
- The speaker argues against the need for a completely new economic policy paradigm and suggests that AI reinforces the need for broader sharing of growth.
- The speaker’s primary concern about AI is the lack of its widespread adoption and emphasizes the importance of embracing and promoting AI innovation.
- Measured productivity growth has slowed in advanced economies, including the United States, which can have adverse effects on wages and long-term fiscal challenges.
- The slowdown in productivity growth is attributed to weak business investment and a perceived slowing pace of innovation.
- Technology, including robotics, AI, and automation, contributes to productivity growth, but it represents only a fraction of the overall economy.
- AI has made significant progress and applications in various sectors, such as fraud detection, image analysis in radiology, and predictive analytics in the public sector.
- The potential benefits of AI in improving criminal justice procedures are noted, but caution is advised to avoid bias in decision-making algorithms.
- The speaker highlights the importance of addressing biases in AI algorithms and data to ensure fair and responsible use of predictive analytics.
- The increasing worldwide shipments of industrial robots indicate the potential for further productivity growth.
- The speaker concludes that while AI has promising potential, policy interventions are necessary to ensure equitable distribution of benefits and responsible use of AI technology.
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Hey there,
Unfortunately, this will be my final post on this blog. It’s been quite a journey! Honestly, if it weren’t mandatory to write these blog posts, I might never have explored the art of putting my thoughts into consecutive posts. I owe a huge thanks to Prof Bali for being incredibly supportive and understanding throughout the last five months.
I stumbled into this class on the recommendation of a close friend, not knowing what to expect. And you know what? That’s precisely how I’d recommend it to others. Just dive in without knowing much, because this isn’t just a regular class—it’s an experience. An amazing one that I’m proud to have been a part of. I even learned how to take care of a plant, though I wasn’t the best at it!
This class helped me become more confident in interacting with everyone. Those ice breakers since day one? They boosted my confidence in speaking up in all my other classes. I’ve made some fantastic friendships here, and being responsible for students from different grades at 21 is something not everyone can say they’ve done.
I wish I could take this class every semester. I’m sure Prof Bali would keep things fresh with different content. And no exaggeration here, this class truly changed a lot for me. It made me feel responsible without the stress, and that’s no small feat for a professor. Dr. Bali, you’re a creative genius, and I know you’ll continue doing great things in this university. Thanks for letting me be a part of this incredible experience.
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The last school visit was tough for me because I couldn’t say goodbye to the students of Ramy Helal. Instead, I’ll share thoughts on the recent three visits and my overall view of the program. I’ll also mention Ali Eissa’s experience, as I asked him about the last visit with the students who were present that day.
Firstly, these school visits benefit AUC students who haven’t seen a public language school in Egypt. Many AUC students don’t interact with non-international school attendees. One key aspect of the CBL program, for me, is making our lessons accessible to kids of all ages. This was challenging due to the wide age range among the kids. Keeping everyone engaged was both enjoyable and demanding. I think having visits twice a week for four consecutive weeks without changing groups would help in building better connections with the kids.
Despite these challenges, I’d gladly do it again in a heartbeat.
When I spoke with Ali about the last visit I missed, I felt bad hearing how overwhelming it was for my colleagues. They had to manage a large number of students with fewer of us present. Youssef Foad, for instance, had 16 students on his own. He couldn’t teach much and ended up playing with them, which is typical of Youssef. Overall, it was a tough time for them, and I regret not being there to lend a hand due to my illness.
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Although there were great expectations for cross-cultural collaboration before the intercultural Zoom conference began, a number of difficulties prevented it from succeeding.
A major obstacle was miscommunication. Misunderstandings resulted from varying communication techniques, linguistic obstacles, and diverse cultural standards. While some attendees were reluctant to contribute, others inadvertently controlled the discourse, creating an unbalanced environment and impeding the sharing of different viewpoints.
Frustration was increased by technical difficulties. The communication was interrupted by bad internet connections, which led to misunderstandings and delays. Some participants were unable to use the platform efficiently or access shared papers, which prevented them from fully participating.
Differences in culture also had an impact. Conflicts emerged in managing and pace due to differing perspectives meeting manners. While certain cultures place a high value on structured conversations and punctuality, Overall, despite the presence of the aim of cultural exchange, communication difficulties, and technical difficulties made zoom difficult.
I really hoped this experience would be great, like my colleagues’. It was disappointing that my group relied only on me and Ismail from Libya. I wished for engaging discussions, but most seemed uninterested, just waiting for the facilitator to end the meeting. I tried to make it more interesting, but sometimes I gave up and let Ismail or the facilitator lead. Despite the boredom, I’d do this again for fun and to meet more enthusiastic people in the program.
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Developing a point-of-view game with Youssef and Ezz was a lot of fun. We collaborated and built the game using Google Slides
We split up the work and gave different sections, such as the interactive aspects, design, and story. To give the impression that the player was progressing through the game, we divided each slide into a level or scene and added transitions. Using hyperlinks, we were able to give players options that resulted in various outcomes.
We used Google Slides’ features to create characters, environments, and interactive elements as we got creative with our images. we played the game often to sort out glitches and ensure that it was enjoyable to play.
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- What were your top 5 character strengths? Were they what you expected or were they different from what you expected? KINDNESS,CREATIVITY,PERSPECTIVE,LEADERSHIP,and FAIRNESS.I honestly didn’t have any expectations going into this.
- How do you think your top 5 character strengths might manifest in your Soliya experience? How do you think they already manifested in your school visit experience? All of these traits are going to be very helpful when dealing with people from diffrent cultures.I think it made things easier during the school visits.
- How might you harness your strengths in the process of developing digital narrative games? I guess the two charactristics that can be helpful are prespictive and creativity
- How do your character strengths manifest in the way you interact/behave on social media? When i share my thoughts on social media alot of people mention that i have a diffrent input on the situation that they had a diffrent prespictive on so i guess that’s one thing that is related