Could AI Have an Unintended Positive Impact?
That artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easy for students to plagiarize is a widespread concern. Teachers on all levels note the need to make sure the work submitted by learners isn’t an AI creation. As many see it, a technological snare—a trap that will nab offenders—is needed.
Rather than a remedy based on distrust, how about emphasizing an experiential style of teaching, during which logic, empathy and respectfulness would be practiced with here-and-now simulations. Such a style would foster trust, kindness and fairness. Specifically, students would craft and enact healthy simulations—opportunities to role-play and hone the interaction skills needed to maintain personal and communal harmony. Possibly, AI could, in time, be programmed to interact in ways that model the healthy persona needed to decrease hurtfulness and increase harmony.
Try this: Those interested in lessons that feature simulation might find it useful to check out The Niceology Instruction Guide (Teaching menu).
Some Gurus Have A Wet Nose
Pooches are more than faithful friends. They’re also remarkably resilient role models. Their steadfast companionship and loyalty provide us with daily opportunities to witness the give-and-get regard needed to shore up a sense of well-being. Along with regularly demonstrating a commitment to a pretense-free means of boosting self-esteem, dogs show us it’s possible to forgo holding a grudge. Instinctively realizing resentment brings about an undesirable loss of connecting and serenity, dogs repeatedly rise above the unhealthy hard-feelings humans often find difficult to shake. Like humans, dogs can be traumatized, but, unlike humans, dogs are usually quick to respond positively to a show of warmth. Briefly summed up, dog’s are pros at bouncing back.
We don’t need to wait for advanced ETs to show up and offer psychological guidance. Gifted teachers far ahead of us when it comes to making mental repairs are already in our presence. We merely need to muster the humility needed to see ourselves as the student rather than the master.
Try this: Occasionally remind yourself that, while not able to spout catchy adages, there are wet-nosed gurus among us—four-legged huggable marvels available for greater appreciation.
The word hate is used to express a disliking for a wrongdoing and/or a wrongdoer. It can range from feeling annoyed to feeling repulsed.
There is, however, more to hate. Claiming to have it is also a way to disown mental hurt. We prefer to say we have hate rather than hurt to avoid feeling and appearing weak. Finding hurt painful, we ignore it in an attempt to wish it away―something impossible to do. Like anger and rage, hate temporarily vents strong emotion. Because it typically brings about other losses, such as a loss of ableness, closeness, trust, safety, trust, ableness, closeness and self-worth, it results in more hurt.
Try this: Think of something or someone you claim to hate. Then, have the courage to get personal healing underway by identifying the hurtful loss prompting your hate. Healing continues when you bring about kind and fair ways to replace what you’ve lost.
Why Might ETs Do More Than Fly By Earth?
Why would extraterrestrials, who will likely see humans as primitive, contact us? An optimistic answer is they possess a higher-consciousness—an advanced morality—that compels them to find and help those in peril. Contrary to how they’re portrayed by much fiction, travelers from far beyond our solar system likely seek to promote greater kindness and fairness.
Though the ability to travel great distances doesn’t guarantee ETs possess a compassionate mindset, assuming such voyagers have the desire to spur an age of niceness on Earth isn’t preposterous. To those of us already convinced the pursuit of kindness and fairness is key to the survival of our species, such a spurring is plausible. Let’s hope the colossal state of awe we’ll display when ETs arrive will open our minds and, as a result, free us to see ourselves as stalled learners in need of enlightenment.
Try this: Imagine the arrival of magnanimous ETs—beings seeking to help humans deescalate the strife on Earth.
Niceology: The Needed Newcomer
Teaching mental health self-care education isn’t a snap of the fingers. It requires grappling with not only what’s appropriate content but also what methods of instruction are suitable. In particular, while willing to add mental health objectives to their curriculums, many schools find teachers feel ill-prepared. Understandably, while teachers may see a need to attend to the emotional well-being of students, they seek guidance.
Outpost Oops suggests curriculums include a yearly course called niceology―the study and practice of niceness. Those interested in teaching such a newcomer-course would receive specialized training and support. Learners would become acquainted with good ways to acquire their psychological needs. In particular, they would learn how to implement student-generated role-playing scenarios. Such simulation would focus on how kindness and fairness bring about a state of well-being.
Try this: Check out the Introduction To Mental Health Self-Care Education presentation and the Niceology Instruction Guide offered by Outpost Oops (TEACHING menu).