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jdshaffer

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jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
I considered that... and in the "worst comes to worse" scenario where they decide to use an LLM and re-write everything by hand, I'm still hoping they'll learn SOMETHING during the copying process... kind of like the old time "copy books" that were once used.
jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
Yes. I've tinkered with the idea of non-graded homework, too.

Unfortunately, if I give homework that will not be graded, almost no one will do it. But I WANT them to do it for the practice it gives them.

The only reasonable answer I could find is to award them full points for simply doing the homework on time, even if it has errors.
jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
The big advantage of writing in cursive is speed and less muscle fatigue. Writing in cursive requires far less lifts of the pen and far less tiny movements... a reasonable cursive script (Spencerian, but with a little less flourish) is quite easy to write legibly and with speed, with just a little practice.

The junk that used to be taught in US schools (a type of Palmer cursive) it not fun to read or write.

BUT, the above analysis only really applies to people who want to write, and want to write a lot.

(Apologies for repeating my reply from above here as well.)
jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
Not disagreeing with your opinion, just answering your question:

The big advantage of writing in cursive is speed and less muscle fatigue. Writing in cursive requires far less lifts of the pen and far less tiny movements... a reasonable cursive script (Spencerian, but with a little less flourish) is quite easy to write legibly and with speed, with just a little practice.

The junk that used to be taught in US schools (a type of Palmer cursive) it not fun to read or write.

BUT, the above analysis only really applies to people who want to write, and want to write a lot.
jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
Is it paywalled? I honestly didn't realize that. Sorry. I'll edit the comment and change to an open URL and paste the two main ideas here:

FORCED SKILL-BUILDING GOALS

Where my original purpose of giving homework assignments was to help students build their skills through active engagement, I can no longer trust that all my students will have done it by hand. But I still want my students to feel the need to improve their skills. So, I start by considering which skills I think are most important for that class (writing, for example) and build a forced need for my students to improve that skill. For example, in my writing-focused classes, I now give students in-class hand-written exams. I let them know about the essay-based tests (mid-term and final) on the first day of class and encourage them to practice their writing each week, in-class and at home, thus giving them a very clear reason to practice — to get a good grade. Additionally, I take away the need to get a “good grade” on written homework by giving them full points if the homework is turned in on time, regardless of contents or mistakes. Thus, with the need to practice their writing skills for exams and no need to worry about making a good grade on homework assignments, students are encouraged to try the homework themselves — they cannot fail and they can only benefit by doing it themselves. In fact, using an LLM to complete an assignment will likely hurt them as other students who improved their skills will do better on the exams.

Homework once again can be used as a tool for them to improve their abilities through engagement, not just a pointless activity that an LLM can do to help them “get a good grade”.

FORCED LLM FRICTION

Another method I have found for encouraging students to complete assignments on their own is to purposely create friction to using an LLM. I try to plan assignments that it would be MORE work to use an LLM than to simply do it themselves. Humans being what we are, we often will choose the path of least resistance, especially if a grade is on the line!

For example, in one of my classes, I have students write a short story for homework (of about 250 words) about a picture I show them in class. Spelling and grammar mistakes are OK, they are guaranteed to get full marks if they turn it in on time, but the story has to be written BY HAND. To use an LLM, a student would first have to write a lengthy prompt describing the picture in detail and explain the type of output they need (a lot of work), and then they would still have to rewrite the entire story by hand (forcing them to focus on reading, spelling, and handwriting anyway). Thus, by introducing forced friction to using an LLM, especially where there is no danger (no friction) of getting a bad score because of mistakes, encourages students to take the easier path — just do it themselves.

The same idea also applies to shorter listening assignments. As long as the homework receives full marks for turning it in on time (low friction against the fear of poor ability) and the exams including a listening element (clear purpose for trying), the hassle of downloading the audio, sending it to an AI to transcribe it, then upload pictures of the homework questions just isn’t worth it. It’s just easier and more beneficial for students to do it themselves.
jdshaffer
·12 days ago·discuss
I've been trying to figure out how to avoid AI fraud in my classes, like many others. While not perfect, I've written down my thoughts and attempts in the hope it might help someone else:

https://web.hedc.shizuoka.ac.jp/msg-from-center/creating-mea...

Edit: Didn't realize the original URL was paywalled. Sorry. This newer URL is open. Apologies.
jdshaffer
·17 days ago·discuss
Thank you so very much, I'll definitely check them out!
jdshaffer
·19 days ago·discuss
I've become more and more curious about GA after bumping into it when learning a little 3D programming for fun. I'm looking to learn more, wondering if it would help my understanding of physics.

Do you have any resources (books, videos, etc.) you would recommend to someone wanting to learn?
jdshaffer
·2 months ago·discuss
Yes. I developed hay fever after living here in Japan for a couple years. Was fine the first few years, though it was amusing to watch "yellow clouds of pollen" being blown from the trees with random gusts of wind. Now it's not so amusing. My car windows are dusted with a new layer of "light yellow" every couple days now (in season).
jdshaffer
·3 months ago·discuss
Is it a problem with "cat" or a terminal problem?

If I wrote my own version of cat in C, simply reading and displaying a single TXT character at a time, wouldn't I see the same behavior?
jdshaffer
·5 months ago·discuss
I remember back in 1995 or so being in a professor's office at Indiana University and he was talking about trying to figure out how to use Neural Networks to automatically track particle trails in bubble chamber results. He was part of a project at CERN at the time. So, yeah, they've been using NNs for quite awhile. :-)
jdshaffer
·6 months ago·discuss
Why are people downvoting this? It's just a quote from the movie...
jdshaffer
·6 months ago·discuss
Hey! I've seen bonsai before. Amazing work!
jdshaffer
·6 months ago·discuss
Thanks for the detailed reply, examples, and links! Yeah, I definitely rely heavily on bash script functions, but had never thought about using git to share or sync my scripts and little programs. Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
jdshaffer
·6 months ago·discuss
Thanks for the input! :-)
jdshaffer
·6 months ago·discuss
If you don't mind, I'd like to hear more about your setup. I have a bunch of bash scripts and python programs I've used to make working in the terminal easier (and more fun). Are you saving your dotfiles are a git project and then just syncing and pulling them down from there? I'm not an expert, just a tinkerer, but I like tinkering in the terminal. :)

Thanks in advance!
jdshaffer
·8 months ago·discuss
Mine was a little 4-wheeled buggy riding along the guardrails as we drove. Really cool to see other people had similar imaginations!
jdshaffer
·9 months ago·discuss
So, in the end, I guess only the affluent can read after all...
jdshaffer
·9 months ago·discuss
Interesting article, though I wonder why they didn't mention the Fram -- Nansen's ship that WAS designed to resist the crushing ice, and DID survive a trip across the northern seas purposely trapped in the crushing ice (but just missing the north pole)... If my memory serves, Shackleton knew about Nansen, and even talk with him before his (Shackleton's) expedition. shrug
jdshaffer
·9 months ago·discuss
If I remember correctly, this sound is part of Pink Floyd's song "Money"... part of the background rhythm. I wonder how many of the "Never heard of these" crowd would recognize it if they hard it in person... smile