DL 364
Wasting Time
Welcome to Digitally Literate, issue #364. This week, I shared the following:
- The Power and Perils of Generative AI in Education: What You Need to Know
I joined a webinar organized by the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. Watch the video of this discussion here.
🔖 Key Takeaways
- AI & Human Rights: Calls for transparency and accountability in AI governance.
- Electric Vehicles: Examining the ethical and environmental challenges of EV production.
- Constructive Comments: Using data to promote meaningful online discourse.
- Time & Technology: Reflecting on how we use new tools to create or waste time.
📚 This Week’s Highlights
1. Divergent Conversations 2023
The 2023 Divergent Award Honorees interrogate the question: Do we know what we really think we know about literacy in digital spaces?
Why this matters: Divergent thinkers push boundaries, reshaping our understanding of digital literacy.
2. AI and Civil Rights
The National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC) emphasizes the need for a human rights-based approach to AI governance in its first-year report. Similarly, the White House's Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights proposes principles for protecting public rights in the age of AI.
Why this matters: Ensuring AI systems prioritize safety, equity, and accountability is critical for societal trust.
3. Classifying Constructive Comments
The Constructive Comments Corpus (C3) provides a dataset of 12,000 annotated news comments to improve online community discussions. Constructive comments are defined by relevance, specificity, clarity, supportiveness, and politeness.
Why this matters: Promoting meaningful, respectful conversations online fosters healthier discourse and democratic engagement.
4. The Ethics of EVs
Producing EVs requires six times the mineral input of conventional vehicles, with significant human and environmental costs. The five critical minerals—aluminum, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium—are mined in a few countries, raising concerns about ethical and sustainable supply chains.
Why this matters: Reducing carbon emissions from transportation must balance environmental and human rights considerations.
5. Web Scraping & Double Standards
Big Tech grants privileged access to social media data for social listening companies while restricting independent researchers. This disparity limits access to valuable insights about societal well-being.
Why this matters: Equitable access to data is crucial for understanding and improving societal health and connection.
6. Why Are Insects Drawn to Light?
New research suggests insects try to keep their backs pointed toward light, aiding navigation during the day but causing disorientation at night. The findings highlight the ecological impact of light pollution.
Why this matters: Understanding light pollution’s effects on ecosystems is essential for mitigating its impact on biodiversity.
🛠️ DO: Review and Critique PDFs with ChatPDF
ChatPDF is a virtual assistant that helps you actively read, critique, and comprehend textbooks, handouts, research papers, and more.
🌟 Closing Reflection
“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”
— Bill Watterson
Thank you for reading Digitally Literate. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions. Connect with me at hello@digitallyliterate.net or explore Newsletter Index for all past issues.