Issue #173 - The Spaces in Between
Summer Micro Edition #9 - Pond life
This is the final micro issue of the summer, we’re almost back, just one week to left to prepare, and it doesn’t feel too bad, in fact I’m rather looking forward to teaching, and meeting the group.
I missed an issue, last Friday we went up to Erie and had a day at Waldameer Waterworld and Theme Park. It was great fun, felt like a kid again on the roller coasters and rides, and splashing in the wave pool.
This week, because the opportunity is closing, I met up with a few people, enjoyed some lovely conversations, good for the soul, food for thought, and just great company. I’m so grateful for the generosity, the sharing of ideas, and thinking aloud. That, and people always know good places to eat!
This is the last of the shorter issues than would normally drop into your inbox. I hope that you enjoy this selection of links and pics, feel free to get in touch, and look forward to catching up later in the summer.
It’s been a week of terrible news that our colleagues at West Virginia University, including those working world languages and cultures, will see their departments closed down. After spending stupid amounts of money on consultants, to help identify ways to recover their deficit, the president and board have recommended closing down programs, putting people out of work, and depriving students of a rounded education. We’ve been signing a petition, and I’m hoping there’s an open letter that we can send, condemning this action.
Earlier in the summer I reported that The Nib had closed, you can still buy a few comics, and free .pdf issues are available to download.
I find myself feeling somewhat disheartened by the negative portrayals of students when discussing AI, it seems they all want to cheat, or use Ai to shortcut their learning, and professors are on a war footing. What makes me anxious is that the negativity will lead to less transparency or willingness to talk about the use of Ai in class. It’s a given that everyone who writes will test out things in Ai, that we’ll be copying and pasting, adapting responses to serve various purposes. We need to talk about this, openly with our students and learn together. It feels defeatist to impose rules about its use, and pretty much impossible to enforce them anyway.
There are a few more alternative views, including this clip from NPR about ways to incorporate Ai into teaching and learning.
At the start of summer I attended CALICO which is the annual conference for people working in computer-assisted language learning, it was great and I’m still thinking about all I learned during a great week in Minneapolis. Just to let you know that there’s a call for next year’s conference, which is taking place right here in Pittsburgh, hosted by our department.
I can’t remember if I posted this before, but I noticed that my friends at Commonwealth Press are selling parking chairs, and if you want to know more about the history of this particular Pittsburgh tradition, here’s a good article and photos for you.
The record library at WRCT - photo by Stephan I did my second round of training at WRCT 88.3, CMU’s college radio station. Last time the pandemic got in the way of doing the test, which is hard, but I’m hopeful this second chance will get me in there.
Thank You
I’ve been watching the news and learning about the aftermath of the fires that destroyed the town of Lahaina, on the Island of Maui. There are videos of people trying to drive to safety, seeing no way through, and leaving their cars to walk into the sea, as smoke fills the air. These stories have exposed the terrible inequality on the islands, the water shortages, low wages of those who support the tourist industry, and the lack of investment in safe infrastructure, the lack of affordable housing, and access to health care. I donated to Work Central Kitchen, who are providing meals to internally-displaced people, and those working in disaster relief.
There’s overwhelming evidence of a climate emergency, and it’s hard to talk to my kids about it, and reassure them somehow this will be okay. I only hope that each generation will do more, and that we start voting for people who are going to make the changes necessary to at least stop the continued destruction of our planet.
I haven’t been out on the bike much this week, I really want to head out this weekend, I’d love a long ride, maybe lunch somewhere, who knows. It will need a bit of planning. Sunday morning though, I’ll be tuned in to see if England’s Lionesses can win a World Cup! I’m so excited, it has been a terrific tournament and will be cheering what will surely be a great match against worthy opponents Spain. I can’t wait.
No other news for now, we’re all good. Sorry for missing a week, I’ll be back into routine soon. Take care.