Artificial Intelligence. Hmmm...

 I've been thinking a lot about AI (Artificial Intelligence) these days and will be writing about it here and in my professional blog Thoughts From The Field.  

Today I was asked a question about using AI to provide subjective feedback to students. I wrote some ideas on AI and subjective feedback at  Can AI Provide Subjective Feedback? . I've cross posted it here as AI is one of those things that makes me go hmmm...

There will be more posts on AI, general posts on what we can do with it and what we need to be aware of and specific posts about AI and education. I suspect I will post most of them to Thoughts From The Field and if I do I will cross post them here. Hmmm...

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

Now We Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Winter...

It's been a very odd winter here so far - practically no snow in December or January, then torrential rains that caused flooding (a little bit of it in our basement - all good now. Thank you ServiceMaster!!) and generally spring like conditions.

Except for last Friday and Saturday when it fell to -37C with the windchill A real shock to the system. Power went out for four hours and it was so cold that our propane-powered backup generator didn't come on. Have you ever noticed that the power always goes out at night? For us it was about four hours in the dark (literally) and in that time the temperature in the house dropped to about 14.5C.  Given what was going on outside, that was quite impressive. 

Thank you to the power crews for getting the power back on.  House warmed up nicely and the outdoor temperatures are back to a range of 3C to -5 C here. And just to continue with our fun weather, tomorrow is 11C and raining.  Plants in the yard are having a hard time figuring out what to do. Keep this up and we'll have a bumper crop of kale (the horror!!the horror!!). Or maybe it's time to plant those orange trees...

But there is no climate change. Hmmm...

The Big Things That Make Me Go Hmmm...

These days, I have a lot on my mind. These are the daily observations and vicissitudes of life and they all make me go hmmm...

Then there are the larger issue and events and it's some of those that are the focus of this post. Impossible to list them all due to time and space, but the ones that follows are certainly front of mind right now. I suspect that this will be a regular post with some issues and events staying on the list and others fading away into history or a small dark corner of my mind.

I have a lot of interests, personal and academic. This blog is mostly for those things of personal interest that make me go hmmm... For the academic interests, most of them can be found on my professional blog Thoughts from the Field on my consulting Web site Birch Hollow Consulting. But just to be contrary today, I'm going to list them all to get started. I will cross post when I want to share all of those hmmms...

So let's start with those big things that are personally making me go hmmm...

• Climate Change - as I look out my office window on to a verdant front lawn on the 19th of January, I have what we are in for weather wise and its associated impacts and costs. We're supposed to get our first real snowfall of the winter tomorrow (10-15 cm forecasted), while globally the weather over the last few months (and years) has gone wild - droughts, floods, atmospheric rivers, weather bombs - Mother Nature is isn't going to take it anymore The socioeconomic, political, infrastructure and human cost are massive and will continue to be. Grocery stores here have signs apologizing for a lack of produce due to weather and food security is an issue for many - and that's in the First World!
• Healthcare - the system isn't working the way the we want it to and fundamental change is needed. Efforts are being made but they have to be apolitical and focussed on results. The amazing frontline health workers provide incredible care in a system that sometimes seems to work against them. More to say on this too.
• U.S. Politics - Why did it take 15 rounds of voting to elect a Speaker of the House who had to sell his political soul to get the job?  Why is a congressman who seems incapable of telling any truth still holding his seat? Why are debunked conspiracy theorists holding positions of power?  Why isn't the former president (you know who I mean) not in jail? If they don't sort themselves fairly quickly and focus on their job, settle on a debt ceiling and budget that is not based on revenge, then the lights will be going out all over the World.
• War in Ukraine - geopolitics is indeed a murky place most days, but this is cut and dry - Russia has invaded a sovereign nation regardless of past history and connections.  The World has an obligation to do all it can to correct this wrong. All it takes for Evil to prosper is... 

 I don't want to write a tome today, so here are my current academic interests:

• Appreciative Inquiry - in my doctoral work focussed on organizational change and culture I used an Appreciative Inquiry approach to develop models for change. I like AI as it focuses on the positive and what it working well and stops organizations from getting bogged down in the bad. David Cooperrider is the father of AI and it is worth taking a look at his research.
• Artificial Intelligence - There's been a lot of talk about applications such as ChatGPT and how they are going to ruin education by letting students  easily cheat.  The advent of AIs like ChatGPT are an opportunity for a change in learning and assessment and really look forward to exploring the opportunities further. Plus the fact that two of my interests both have the same acronym is enough to make any one go hmmm...
• Competency- Based Learning - has been a passion of mine for years. By developing learning environments focussing on competencies and what students need and allowing them to learn and demonstrate skills and knowledge directly, is for me the best way to learn. A lot of work for educators but a better learning experience for students. I'll definitely be writing more on this and possibly even on how all three of my academic interests might come together.

So there we are. Hmmm...

Image from http://clipart-library.com/

Climate Change is Real, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

With apologies to Sergio Leone. This is a crosspost from my Facebook page:

Well here we are, 18 January 2023 and it’s almost T-shirt weather out (actually it is - I let the dogs out this morning in a t-shirt and shorts (me, not them) and it was nice and cool) - average temperatures must be close to 5-10 C above normal.

Back yard is green, devoid of snow and sodden. If it’s possible to have the water table above ground and not call it a lake, then that’s what we have here in the Valley.

There is a supposed 5cm of snow in the forecast for Friday but with the temperatures near 0C, God knows what we’ll get!!

Time to break our our new winter wear - raincoats and rubber boots. Have a great day, think cold, frozen ground thoughts and snow until April. Now if that isn’t a sign of climate change, I don’t know what is…

And from a later post:

Look at me!! Outdoor Christmas lights are down and put away and it’s not June!! Maybe there’s something to this climate change thing after all? Hmmm...

If there were any doubt that climate change is real, today should dispel it - high of 7C here in the Valley, a nice Spring Day on the 18th of January.As you can see from the crossposts above, a great day to be outside - dogs are loving it and the grass in the backyard has never looked greener in January. Question is, when will Winter start and when it does what will it be - looks like one with no skating on lakes, no snowmobiling and for those folks who plow snow, they're off to a great start.

The big issues are economic and social - growing season changes, too much water, too little water, things growing when they shouldn't in microclimates that aren't natural, invasive species moving North, the change of employment, particularly for seasonal folks, many more and an overall impact on ways of life today and into the future

We're past the point of not doing anything - the ugly of climate change is with us now and it appears to be just one more new normal to adapt to.

Interesting times...

My Recent Great Healthcare Experience At the Valley Regional

 There has been a lot written and said about the healthcare system in Nova Scotia, most not good and many would say well deserved. The Premier has promised to fix it, but it remains in a state that no one could call good. Two recent tragic deaths while waiting for ER care, for which there can be no excuses, have again brought the issues to the forefront. There are systemic, administrative and bureaucratic issues that must be resolved

I recently had a health issue (I'm better and on the mend) that resulted in me being transported to the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville via ambulance. I then spent most of 4.5 days in the hospital. This post is about my experience with our healthcare system from the perspective of the wonderful people I interacted with. I'll have more to say about the system itself in a future post

It was an amazing experience. From the arrival of the paramedics (one even checked in with me a day later to see how I was), to being cared for on arrival at the hospital and to my stay in the hospital, I received nothing but the best care from an amazing team of professional, engaged and carrying paramedics, nurses, technicians, doctors, volunteers and support staff who focus was solely on getting me well. Thank you to each and everyone of you, you are true heroes.

It was obvious though that they are all beyond busy and working in an environment that must be beyond stressful - ER rooms set up to hold patients, the need to always be in PPE and working with a full facility. I can only imagine the stresses of the past three years and I commend our healthcare workers for their dedication, passion and perseverance. It could not have been easy.

There may be many things not right with our healthcare system, but there is nothing wrong with the frontline individuals responsible for the great care we receive. They do amazing work every day and I cannot thank them enough...

Image by DilokaStudio on Freepik

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Here we are a few years into Year 4 of the Virus 20s (The Roaring Covids?) and time to look back at the past year and forward to this one.

The pandemic is still with us, with XBB. 1.5.5 the latest variant to be concerned about. This lovely genetic marvel apparently evades current vaccines so it's life as new normal - boosters, masks, social distancing and being just plain careful. For the anti-vaxxers and Covid deniers, good luck!

Looking Back:

• We lost the Queen, a profound loss for millions. As someone who holds the Queen's Commission, I will miss her dearly. Her passing is the end of an age.
• Covid continued doing its thing, I am so used to wearing a mask now when out, I feel incomplete without it.
• Completed my first full year as a senior citizen and am really liking all those discounts - shopping is planned around Seniors' Days now...
• I became one of tens of thousands of Nova Scotians without a family physician when mine tragically passed away. Dr. Marsh, you are missed.
• Started my consultancy, Birch Hollow Consulting, hoping to be able to help folks and pass on my many years of experience in leadership, change, teaching and learning and education. Check out my professional Blog - Thoughts From the Field.
• Blue Jays didn't win the World Series, again but always next year. We won't mention the Leafs...
• We may have seen the end of Trumpism - the fall midterm elections didn't really go the GOPs way and there are even some Republicans distancing themselves from him - even his announcement of another presidential run landed with a meh.

Looking Forward

• We're all going to have to get used to saying King Charles and remembering that is now "God Save the King".
• As this year begins and we see the mess that is the start of the 118th Congress, I am wondering if we are seeing the end of the Republican Party? 
• Sometime this year there will be a Speaker of the House
• I hope to get a family physician in 2023, in the meantime, it's walk-in clinics and emergency departments - not the best way to run a health care system, but what we have is still better than most.
• I remain eternally optimistic that the Blue Jays will again make the playoffs and this year go farther. As for the Leafs...
• Climate Change continues to be a headline. It's four days into the New Year and we have yet to see below 0C temperatures (there is a promise of messy weather tomorrow). This keeps up and I may think of planting palm trees in the back yard.
• Nothing will change for me on the Covid front - I will continue to be boostered, will wear a mask most everywhere and keep my distance from folks, even those I like.

Whatever happens in 2023 here's hoping the good outweighs the bad and that joy and happiness outweighs woe and sorrow in our lives. Have a great one!

Climate Change - In Case There Was Any Doubt...

Seeing the aftermath of the storms that went through the US yesterday and here in Atlantic Canada, I hope that any doubt about climate change is long gone. Heavy snow, rains, lightning and tornados in the US and snow rain and winds here, including some dramatic shots of the Canso Causeway being swamped while drivers crossed (much braver than me). I'm sure if you looked closely there may have been a locust or two in there somewhere...

Winters here are now more sleet, rain, freezing rain and slushfests than the heavy snowfalls of my younger days. A White Christmas here is no longer a guarantee. Waterproof clothing is a must, and layers too as you never know just how cold, warm or wet it might be.

And summers - well, one look at Lake Mead or anywhere else there has been drought for many years says enough. The way things are going the next big pipeline from Canada won't be carrying Alberta oil, it'll be water. If there was ever something to go to war over...