The number of kids who don’t know how to operate a mouse and keyboard is wild. Things like double clicking are quite difficult for some. It’s quite interesting honestly.

I will sometimes write a lesson and have an LLM generate a quiz and give me feedback on my content search for mistakes or unclear content.

I have also used it to help me structure a document. I give it requirements it makes a general outline that I then just fill in with my own words.

I’m still not sure how to approach my students’ uses of an LLM. I am loath to make a hard and fast rule of no LLMs because that’s ridiculous. I want to encourage appropriate use. I don’t know what is appropriate use in the context of a student.

An LLM can be a great learning tool but it also can be a crutch.

There are also a lot of geniuses who might barely know how to read but can do incredible work and figure out some really difficult problems.

I consider myself blue collar even though I am a school teacher currently. It’s in my blood. I don’t especially like the work but I can do it and I am skilled at it.

My advice to anyone moving in to the blue collar world is to be respectful. If you are educated Don’t ever let on that your education makes you superior somehow. You will make a lot of enemies by being that person.

You will likely run in to people who really are quite unintelligent just be considerate and don’t get into debates with them. A lot of people come from poverty or really tough backgrounds and many are quite sensitive about it so don’t make a big deal about it.

On the other side there are many people who are quite intelligent and have the skills and knowledge of engineers even though they do not have any formal training or education.

On Thursday’s I would spend time with my friend who’s in his 60s. I might help him fix some shelves or his furnace or whatever in exchange for a meal with him and his wife. We would play a few rounds of pickle ball or go for a bike ride in the evening and then we would sit around and talk.

I had a few other friendships like this. One family where I would spend a lot of time. The children where in their teens and I was friends with them and the parents they treated me as a bit of a son. It was good. I have since moved to a different community and have a very social job now so it’s not as crucial that I make such deliberate efforts to spend time with others.

So my advice is this make deliberate effort to spend time with people. Find people to spend time with involve yourself in their lives. Humans are social we all need some interaction and you can be an asset to others while helping yourself.

Too much time alone will absolutely destroy your mental state. Well it did mine. I have my friends to thank for taking care of me.

I should note many people rely on family for this sort of stuff. I don’t have family close geographically.