DL 386

Between Uncertainty and Well-being

Welcome to Digitally Literate, issue #386. This week, we reflect on uncertainty's role in resilience, the ethical dilemmas posed by AI, and the importance of knowledge systems.

🔖 Key Takeaways

• Uncertainty: Viewing ambiguity as an opportunity for growth and resilience rather than as a weakness.
• AI and Ethics: Navigating the potential impact of AI on human identity and empathy.
• Knowledge Systems: Learning from Martin Luther King Jr.'s organizational habits and leveraging archival tools for equitable access.

📚 Recent Work

• Educational Frontiers: Unraveling AI's Impact on Learning - Discussing the need for open dialogue around controversial instructional tools like AI. Watch the recording here.
• Language and Literacy Course Syllabus - Working toward having this course count as both a GenEd (Social Sciences) and an REI (Race, Equity, Inclusion) course.

🌱 Embracing Uncertainty

Viewing uncertainty as a strength rather than a weakness fosters resilience and adaptability. Recent studies highlight how our response to uncertainty affects mental health:

• Embracing Ambiguity: Greater ease with uncertainty correlates with improved mental well-being. Read more.
• Pandemic Lessons: A pandemic study showed that tolerance of uncertainty helped individuals cope more effectively. Examine.
• High-Stress Costs: Those intolerant of uncertainty faced increased anxiety during challenging times. Explore.

🤖 If There Were Gods

AI challenges human exceptionalism, forcing us to confront ethical questions about intelligence and empathy:

• Meghan O’Gieblyn in God, Human, Animal, Machine explores how humans define moral worth based on subjective experience. Investigate.
• O’Gieblyn delves into how rising AI capabilities blur lines between machine and human traits. Watch her discuss.

📖 In the Quiet Recesses

Martin Luther King Jr.'s meticulous note-taking and knowledge systems highlight the power of organized thought:

• King’s use of annotated margins and notecards shows his commitment to critical thinking and retaining insights. Roam through his methods.
• "Human beings were never designed for the poorly nourished, sedentary, socially-isolated pace of modern life." — Stephen Ilardi in The Depression Cure. Discover more.

🧰 Use Archive Websites to Bypass Paywalls

For those unable to access subscription content, archival tools like the Wayback Machine or Archive Today can provide alternate paths:

• Insert the URL into these tools to retrieve older versions of articles.
• These tools preserve web pages, often bypassing paywalls for older content.

Reflect and Engage

• How do you personally navigate uncertainty in your professional and personal life? Reflect in Mental Resilience in Uncertain Times.
• What ethical considerations do you think AI challenges most? Discuss in AI and Ethical Boundaries.
• What note-taking systems inspire you for critical thinking and learning? Share in Archival Tools and Knowledge Access.

🌟 Closing Reflection

Be a good steward of your gifts. Protect your time. Feed your inner life. Avoid too much noise. — Jane Kenyon

Thank you for being part of Digitally Literate. Reach out at hello@digitallyliterate.net or explore the Newsletter Index for more insights.