Day 1529

After sharing pictures of Ranger and Hank with my son, this was his reply! I was torn between being wildly impressed and being “creeped out!” “AI” is here, whether I am ready or not!!!

Growing up in the 1950s and '60s, technology was not a real part of our lives. We had a black and white television, an FM/AM radio or two and a wall phone that had a dial with a party line to boot. We had a record player and box fans…other than our appliances, that was about the extent of our technological collection!

In education, I began my college career with a typewriter and “White Out,” progressed to one of the first Apple computers and ended teaching at the college level with Smart-boards, students note-taking on their computers and on-line classes! Whew! That’s a lot of stretching for one person.

With some of my last classes taught at the University of River Falls, the courses were online with an in-person meeting to start and end the semester. At that first gathering of one Master’s class I explained that, until their final presentations, the course would be offered online. I did tell the students that I would be at a coffee shop every week at a certain time if anyone wanted to talk to me face-to-face.

Showing up on the first Saturday morning, I didn’t really expect any students to appear. I was wrong! They ALL came! We crowded in at a large table and conversed about the week’s assignments and topic. It was amazing! They asked if we could simply meet each Saturday and turn their assignments in online. Of course, I agreed. It was one of the best classes I ever taught at the college level!

Those students needed human connection to learn thoroughly. The discussions were rich and deeply rooted in the topic, but we all dug deeper because we spurred each other on to greater understanding.

Embracing “AI” is going to stretch me to my limits, but I am ready to tackle it. As long as a human component remains in the communication process and people respectfully harness this new technology (if possible), then bring it on! After all, if I had refused to give up my typewriter, where would I be now?