ChatGPT was launched on Nov. 30, 2022, ushering in what many have called artificial intelligence’s breakout year. Within days of its release, ChatGPT went viral. Screenshots of conversations snowballed across social media, and the use of ChatGPT skyrocketed to an extent that seems to have surprised even its maker, OpenAI. By January, ChatGPT was seeing 13 […] … learn more→
Monthly Archives: November 2023
ChatGPT turns 1: AI chatbot’s success says as much about humans as technology
A participatory strategy to fight digital inequality
Amal has met with her friends in the neighborhood square, next to the social center. They know that during the day they have Wi-Fi open and they let them use it without problems. She recently ran out of data and at home the connection is not very good. While with her friends, she takes the opportunity to look […] … learn more→
Australian uni students are warming to ChatGPT. But they want more clarity on how to use it
ChatGPT is one year old today. Depending on who you ask, this technology either spells great doom or great opportunity for education. With ChatGPT capable of passing graduate-level exams, there have been calls for universities to drastically change assessments, amid concerns it will lead to cheating and students disengaging with their studies. Some academics and students have also expressed enthusiasm at the potential […] … learn more→
Gentle parenting can be really hard on parents, new research suggests
Are you a gentle parent? If so, chances are good that, just like your children, you may need a nap. The idea of gentle parenting has been around since the 1930s but received increased attention over the past few years on social media and blogs, as well as in popular books, magazines and newspapers. Despite its growing popularity, what remains unclear is what, exactly, […] … learn more→
Girls less likely to be diagnosed with special educational needs – new research
The point when a child with special educational needs (SEN) is diagnosed is an important moment in their lives. It allows schools to provide them with access to additional resources, such as assistive technology, specialised teaching programs or the services of professionals such as educational psychologists. These resources help to meet children’s academic, emotional or social needs. […] … learn more→
Writing instructors are less afraid of students cheating with ChatGPT than you might think
When ChatGPT launched a year ago, headlines flooded the internet about fears of student cheating. A pair of essays in The Atlantic decried “the end of high-school English” and the death of the college essay.“ NPR informed readers that ”everybody is cheating.“ Meanwhile, Teen Vogue ventured that the moral panic ”may be overblown.“ The more measured […] … learn more→
What should I give my child’s teacher at the end of the year?
As we approach the end of the school year, many families are thinking about what might be an appropriate gift to thank teachers. Meanwhile, teachers are preparing for an inundation of scented candles, boxes of chocolates and pot plants as they head into a well-deserved summer break. As a former high school teacher, I remember […] … learn more→
Get feedback on your draft application
For many funding agencies, your readers will usually fit into one of two categories: The reviewer is usually a subject specialist. They are being asked to comment on the substance of your proposed research. The panellist usually has a significant profile in the field. They won’t necessarily have a knowledge of your area. Your proposal, […] … learn more→
How your money is helping subsidise sexism in academia – and what you can do about it
It’s frightening to imagine where the world would be right now without mRNA vaccines. The COVID-busting technology revolutionised vaccine development at an internationally critical moment – with massive implications for people’s health, wellbeing and the global economy. Yet imagine we must – because some of the research most crucial to the development of mRNA vaccines almost didn’t […] … learn more→
What are bush kinders? And what makes a good one?
In Australia we have a long history of taking children outdoors to learn about the natural environment. But thanks to computer games, tablets and busy lifestyles, children aren’t getting as much exposure to nature as they used to. “Bush kinders” are one way to counter this. In a bush kinder, children in preschool years are regularly taken […] … learn more→