Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Elevator Pitch: Social Issues Surrounding Computer Networks
https://hackscience.education/2024/12/29/social-issues-surrounding-computer-networks/

“Knowledge of mass destruction” may be a real thing.

Some CLI for Cybersecurity
https://hackscience.education/2024/12/27/some-cli-for-cybersecurity/

"New technologies alter the structure of our interests: the things we think about. They alter the nature of our symbols: the things we think with. And they alter the nature of community: the arena in which thoughts develop." - Neil Postman

Formal education systems are soft technologies designed to prepare individuals for participation in society. The goals, curriculum, and methods of education evolve over time, influenced by changing social, economic, and political conditions.

Education is a complex system, best understood as a "wicked technology," characterized by interconnectedness, ambiguity, and the lack of definitive solutions.

Technologies are not neutral because they shape how we think, act, and interact with the world. They influence our values, beliefs, and social structures. For example, digital technologies have profoundly impacted communication, information access, and learning processes.

Wicked Technologies: What AI Says
https://buff.ly/3ZQPfUB

There is a reason scientist define "things" with such precision; nature does not care for them.

Just as soon as we think we know what we are talking about, variation gets in the way,

Here is your regular reminder: Personal incredulity is not data.

Social Engineering Threats
https://buff.ly/4gV9QhH

Flashcards and similar tools are great... unless the definitions aren't what nature needs.

There is a reason AI can customize documents... this is an easy skill and lacks most understanding of a text.

NIH syndrome... the not invented here syndrome... does prevent you from finding other solutions, but it can also cause you to ignore important aspects of your local situation.

God Object: Creating a single class or object that handles too many responsibilities, leading to a lack of modularity and increased coupling.

We often do this to ourselves.

Antipatterns are based on solutions that seem logical but are fundamentally flawed.

I work in education. I have seen so many ot these!

Lysenko's life and work serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political interference in scientific research.

Lysenkoism's adoption in China contributed to the Great Chinese Famine, highlighting the disastrous impact of pseudoscience on agriculture.

Lysenko promoted vernalization, a process of treating seeds with cold to increase crop yields, despite its lack of scientific basis.

Lysenko's influence led to the suppression and imprisonment of many geneticists who opposed his views, including the renowned botanist Nikolai Vavilov.