Late Night Zooms!

I have been working on a paper evaluating the future of higher education in a shifting and unstable work environment.  I came down pretty hard on academic decision makers for focusing so much attention on Generative AI in the classroom while ignoring deeper concerns regarding their consistent and enduring promotion of the “Learn More/Earn More” model.  It is of course true that Generative AI in the classroom is extremely disruptive to the traditional education paradigm.  The disruption goes beyond academic dishonesty, but ultimately, that is the chief concern.  It’s a trepidation that should be taken very seriously in the age of AI, but from my point of view, focusing primarily on Generative AI is like focusing on a boiling pot of water while the rest of the kitchen is on fire.

In this paper I exhort academic leaders to look beyond the status quo; to look beyond education as a means by which students might be able to attain gainful employment and focus on what education has to offer outside of the “Learn More/Earn More” refrain. 

Although my paper wasn’t embraced with kind regard by the administration at my own institution, it was accepted at an international conference regarding the future of education.  A conference I have presented at in the past and a conference I am happy to have attended again.

Unfortunately, I have used up my allotted travel funds for the time being and so I was unable to attend this conference (Thailand) in person.  Despite my critique on the overuse of technology in the classroom, I am no Luddite, and so, I was pleased by the opportunity to present remotely over Zoom.

The conference was welcoming, inclusive, and engaging to its long-distance participants.  The session “room” I was assigned to included five other presenters, a moderator, a conference organizer, and an engaging audience.  My only complaint is that there is a 12-hour time difference between CST and ICT (Bangkok time zone).

This is a problem because I am not a night owl.  I am barely even an evening owl.  It is a rare night that I am not in bed by 9PM.  My timeslot to present was from midnight CST until 12:15AM.  I don’t remember the last time I celebrated a New Year, let alone stayed up that late to present a paper.  Nonetheless, I was engaged.  I was dressed for the occasion, I had plenty of tea, I even treated myself to a late dinner of Pad Thai in order to make the experience feel more authentic.  I was tired. Honestly, at around 9:30 I didn’t think I was going to make it.  The talks were interesting, but in a battle between Rip Van Winkle and attentiveness, my man Winkie is undefeated!  Luckily, attentiveness had an ally.  At around 11PM my sleepiness was overcome with nervous energy and a half-hour later adrenaline kicked in.

Things were running a little behind, but when my number was called, I came up the plate and smacked a Sepak Cungkil. (A cool move in the Thai dominated game of Sepak Takraw. A game I know almost nothing about for a metaphor that probably makes no sense.)  I think I did pretty well!  I received thoughtful questions and genuine encouragement.  My presentation had me riding high right through the final presentation of the session.

During that final presentation, I decided that I could save some time and multitask.  As my session colleague was speaking, I went to brush my teeth, hop in my pajamas, and watch the final minutes from the comfort of my bed.

As I pulled up the covers to my chin, the organizer had a few closing thoughts before announcing that we would take a “group” photo.  We were all instructed to turn out cameras back on.

OH SHIT!  

With the lights out I jumped out of bed holding my computer in one had while grabbing my presentation shirt with the other, I dashed to the kitchen, turned a light on and began buttoning up.  I missed the first photo.  Luckily, they were taking a second one, with the final button buttoned, I turned on the camera just in time to give a thumbs up.  *click* Photo taken!  I look down and notice that the shirt I grabbed was a completely different shirt than the one I presented in.

I’m not sure if I was just overtired or if that 30 second calamity was legitimately funny, but that experience had me laughing right up to the moment I fell asleep.  The conference media group hasn’t posted the backlit disheveled Carrot photo anywhere on the website, but if they do, I’m sure it will give me another good laugh!