Artificial Intelligence and then some...

Technology use leads us to lose some and gain some. In between there are constants. In the flurry of all the technological changes, one question surfaces: what makes us human?

Here's a story - back in the 90s, our grad professors from the Institute of Library Science made us read Toffler - nakakaloka at nakakaiyak. The assignment was given for us to understand the rise and fall of humanity's affair with technology. We were grappling with two things back then, one is the trend of computerizing and automating library operations and functions and two, the development of e-books, blogs, wikis and digital commons. We were afraid. Many librarians were insecure of being supplanted by machines and technology.

Three decades on, the LIS (library and information science) community realized three things: 1) upskilling and learning is lifelong and with tech, it can be complicated, risky but fun; 2) collaboration and community building are tools or systems of survival; 3) no machine or technology can ever replace the human touch and voice.

AI will change how we create but it is still too early to say it will supplant humans. The fear and the insecurity is valid. I am still asking myself how an AI can be cited as reference and source in a research paper.

I remember, one project we had for finals was to create a website for our libraries using HTML. That was in 1997. A lot of things have changed since then but one of the many take aways we took from the learning experience is that, we create the tech and the tech can, to some extent, create in us new ways and pathways of thinking.

Oh, and we love our prof who gave us that activity. She became our professional mentor and to this day, we still touch base on each other's personal and professional lives.

The Lighthouse Diary Entry 11: The Three Enduring Truths

A colleague from school sent me a link to McCann Truth Central's global study on young people age 16 and 30. This is a follow up on an earlier study made in 2011 in which information about the lifestyle, behavior, attitude and culture of young people were collected to understand them for marketing and branding purposes. Using quantitative interviews and focus group discussions as methods to collect and gather data from eighteen countries including the Philippines, the 2017 report shows interesting findings and not so new information about millennials and the generation Z.

It turns out that millennials and the generation Z are concerned with three things, namely, finding the self, finding people (friends and a community to belong to), and finding one's place or niche in the world. Sounds familiar? We have heard these before and is considered by thinkers and philosophers, past and present as the enduring truths of human existence. Technology, especially social media, play a relevant role in their lives but the quest for these enduring truths remain the same in all age groups, demographics, even. What is remarkable in the study is that, the way young people of this age seek these truths is very much different from their predecessors.

This prompts marketers and branding agents to ask different questions to fully sell or promote an idea. McCann identifies four questions that revolve around the three enduring truths.

1. What is the truth at the heart of a brand (Finding the self)
2. Who are our people (Finding people)
3. What is your meaningful role in the lives of young people (Finding your place in the world)
4. How and where do we earn that role?

How can I use this information in my work in the high school library? I ask my own questions too, as response.

1. What is my role in the lives of young people who seek these truths?
2. As they seek their truths, how can the library and my expertise assist or help them find their truths?
3. How do library services and programs aid them in their search for identity, belongingness, acceptance and accomplishments?

Technology is a game changer, indeed. But let us not forget that there are things in this world that never really change.

PPT: Read and Take Flight Reading as Survival Skill

Read and Take Flight: Reading as Survival Skill from Zarah Gagatiga

On Blogging and Getting Income From It

I am sharing another email convo between myself, Tarie Sabido and Neni Sta. Romana Cruz on blogging. The context of the conversation came from Ms. Neni's Author Visit in a school where a middle grades student asked her these questions: How does one start blogging? How does one get income from blogging?

My replies:

How does one start from blogging?

There are easy to learn blogging web apps, no fees to pay, like Blogger and Wordpress. I learned by doing :). With new stuff cropping up online every now and then, I am still learning. Along the way, I met a group of Pinoy bloggers: Dean and Nikki Alfar; Von Totanes; Connie Veneracion who became my "role models". But what makes blogging fulfilling for me is the articulation of my purpose and goal. It gives me direction as well, on thinking, of themes and concepts to blog about. From there, I can organize and set my content for writing blog entries for a week or a month.

How does one earn from blogging?

Yes. There is such a thing as problogging, professional+blogging. I know some bloggers who attended workshops before they plunged into the money/entrepreneurial aspect of blogging. I also know many writers, PR officers, communication arts people, academicians, even librarians  who sideline as probloggers. But they know better to understand the rules of the game before going professional. Probloggers need to monitor their blog traffic regularly.

When I did freelance work for two years, I earn through blogging via adds and link exchanges. Nothing big. Just enough to pay my internet subscription at the time. I stopped when I was offered full time work. I think I earn from blogging but not through monetary gain. I get invited to library workshops and literacy talks by different organizations and they say they "discovered" me online.

I think blogging credibility and integrity is built over time. Maybe that student can be successful in her age group or demographic. My kids subscribe to blogs of online celebrities and you tube sensations. I do not know who these people are but my horizon expands when my kids tell me about them: a young Swedish you tube comedian specializing in black comedy and satire; Mikey Bustos' Pinoy tutorials; musicians from Korea... Ang dami!

I suppose blogs, and other online media are things we need to take a closer look at since our kids are engaged in them. Their thinking are also shaped in this environment. It is a good thing that, that student asked a question from a responsible adult. I respect my kids' and students' online experiences but I also want to be part of that world.

Online Readings: Technology and Pedagogy

Here's a smorgasbord of web links I gathered online. These links are curated in my Scoop it! page. I'm posting it here in the blog for the rest of the world to see. As if Twitter and Facebook won't suffice.

Kids in Ethiopia are using tablets to learn how to read. 

What is the difference between feedback and advice? How can feedback help teachers, newbie or seasoned educator?

How do I teach thee, introvert? Let me count the ways?

Khan Academy is getting some criticism from educators

Here's an infographic on teaching paradigms and practices.

A Humorous Take on the Techwars

The Flipped Classroom

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

CDR King's e-Reader

I just need to blog this -- a cheap e-reader for only Php 4,000 (rounded off)! Read more about it in Arnold Zafra's blog.

Now this does not mean I will run to the nearest CDR King outlet. The cheapskate that I am! I'll write Santa Claus a letter!

The Future of Reading 2

The New York Times has a series of articles on reading in the digital age. Its journalists has written about the changing face and phase of reading in a digital environment. These articles could not have arrived at a better time than today.

On it's third run, The New York Times features a school librarian who went the extra mile to help young readers understand their way in the growing thicket of the Internet. Read part 1 and part 2.

The first article on online reading is interesting too. Research tells us that readers use the same comprehension and metacognitive skills involved in reading print resources when reading online materials. Then there's the story of a writer who extended his novel's conceit through video games online on the belief that, readers today do not only depend on print for pleasure, enjoyment and recreation.

Borders and barriers are breaking through our use of technology.