Generative AI can be overwhelming and complex to those who may not be familiar with it. I want to help others begin to think about this emerging technology and determine whether they should consider exploring it in more detail. I have been working hard over the past few months to familiarize myself with large language models and explore how I might leverage them in my professional life and personal life. My idea emerged as the topic: The 3 E’s of Generative AI. So, what is the first “E” as we begin to think about this technology and its potential?

Educate. Learn about generative AI. What is it? How does it work? What are the possibilities? There are many ways to do this. You might simply ask a large language model to familiarize you with its potential. Alternatively, you could take an online course, read a blog, and/or search the Internet. Information abounds on the subject. One of the best ways to educate yourself is to jump right in and have conversations with one or more of the large language models (LLMs). So, what are these LLMs that I speak of?

A large language model (e.g. Open AI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, or Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard)) is specialized artificial intelligence that has been trained on vast amounts of text and data to understand the existing content and when prompted, to generate original content. The LLMs can respond in a matter of seconds with highly convincing and intelligent output, but the accuracy of that output is sometimes questionable. While LLMs can save tremendous amounts of time, those who use the large language models should perform due diligence to ensure the validity and originality of the generated output. If that output is not original, then it should be cited appropriately. 

The LLMs can’t actually “think” in the way that a human does. Nor do they have empathy. They look at patterns in the content in which they have been trained and predict what the next word should be. If you have used one or more of the LLMs that are available, you are probably aware that they can seem almost magical in the way that they respond to prompts very quickly, eloquently, and convincingly. Suffice it to say, the world of large language models is filled with great potential. Educate yourself to learn how great that potential is. After you educate yourself, what’s the next step?

Evaluate. Once you become aware of the potential and the risks of using large language models, evaluate how you might leverage them in your work life and your personal life. How might you use them ethically and in ways that will save you time and money while also improving your work?

Think about the implications of using generative AI. If you introduce generative AI to your company in an effort to increase employee efficiency, what is the potential impact on employee morale? Will the use of generative AI impede creativity and possibly unknowingly introduce bias? What if you choose not to leverage generative AI? Will your employees decide to use the technology regardless of your stance? And what about your competitors? If they choose to leverage generative AI and you do not, who has the competitive advantage? Once you have educated yourself on LLMs and evaluated the potential and risks both professionally and personally, then what?

Embrace. The genie is out of the bottle and regardless of how we feel about it, generative AI is here to stay. We can either embrace it or evade it. We must decide whether we will use it and also understand that choosing to do nothing is making a decision. 

Generative AI will become as integral to our daily lives as the light bulb did with the invention of electricity. Those who embrace it and adopt it will choose a different path than those who do not. The degree to which we harness its capabilities will determine what influence it will have on our lives.

Generative AI is not a panacea that will solve the world's problems, and in fact, it may create many unexpected ones. We can passively observe and let others determine how they and the world will use this technology; or we can educate ourselves, evaluate the possibilities, and determine to what extent, if any, we should embrace this evolving technology and shape the world to come.

“3 E’s” title created using Adobe Firefly

Images created using Bing and DALL-E

In the air…

I’m in the air again with another three hours to reflect on the past several days which I have chosen to label as ones of “serendipitous human connections.” I’ve been to conferences in the past. Often, they are back-to-back information-filled sessions that leave one excited, inspired yet tired, and usually a full email inbox to tackle upon returning to work. This conference was really no different in that respect, but it was unique with regard to the quality of connections that I made.

On Day 1, I overheard a conversation at a poster session between the presenter and an attendee (whom I’ll call Tracy) which lead me to approach Tracy afterward and admit that I had heard that she worked in the School of Education at their particular university and was interested in faculty development for online adjuncts. I told Tracy I was also interested in the subject and that I had just defended my dissertation on the topic of Student Interactions, Connectedness and Retention in an Online MBA Program: An Exploratory Study. We realized immediately that we had common interests and planned to meet for breakfast the following morning to learn more about each other. I don’t believe in coincidences, so I don’t think it was a coincidence that I was privy to Tracy’s conversation and was inspired to introduce myself to a complete stranger.

In the evening of Day 2, I was standing in line to purchase some water when someone (whom I’ll call Courtney) glanced at my lanyard and asked if I worked with anyone at VIMS. Of course, anyone who would ask that question knows that the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is part of William & Mary. We began to chat about William & Mary, the Wren Building (where I had just defended), and its gorgeous chapel. Almost immediately, I felt a connection to Courtney and knew that there was something that I needed to learn from the conversation.

“So, tell me your story,” Courtney said. We exchanged details of our meandering journeys through academia which had brought each of us as first-generation college graduates to where we are today: careers in higher education. For the second time in as many days, I felt comfortable being honest with a complete stranger about how I had decided to return for my bachelor’s degree later than most (in my 30’s), followed by my MBA and most recently, my PhD. I shared a particularly difficult personal struggle that I had experienced in my PhD program which left me wounded and questioning, “Why did this happen to me?” As a result, I became more determined. I worked hard. I persisted. I persevered. I shared with Courtney that I later realized that I needed to experience that struggle so that as an educator, I could better empathize with my future students who may also struggle. As I finished my story, culminating with my successful defense, Courtney listened intently, paused and then said confidently, “My students need to hear your story.” I knew in that moment that was the reason for our serendipitous human connection.

I write this story not only share with you but to also remind myself that knowledge nuggets can present themselves in the most unexpected ways and at the most unpredictable times. We simply need to be receptive to the opportunities as they arise. I gave Courtney permission to share my story. Why? Because we as humans are all connected, whether we are students in an online or face-to-face classroom, or just random people standing in line to purchase something. Recognizing that we each have nuggets to share that might positively impact another’s life is reason enough to be open to those moments of serendipitous human connection.   

I’m in the air, 34 days past successfully defending my dissertation and am on my way to an educational conference. Confined to a seat for four hours allows time for reflection and reminiscing about where the past seven years have brought me. When I started my PhD journey, I had more than 20 years of my career behind me. At times, I was older than most everyone in my class, including my professor. Some may have thought that I was too old to embark on such a venture. How silly. Age has never prevented me from doing something that I felt was important. Graduate school was no exception.

When I first met my advisor whom I later chose as my chair, I recall that he said my time in the program would go by fast. He was right. While there were occasions when minutes seemed like hours; more often than not, time marched on as birthdays came and went just as quickly as ever.

The last seven years have been some of the most challenging yet most rewarding of my life. As I look back, I have made deep connections with those in the program and have grown in ways that I could never have imagined. It’s hard to explain the overwhelming emotions that intensified as time drew near for me to defend. I was a mess the week before. I was stressed and anxious, wondering if I would be properly prepared.

Sir Christopher Wren Building

I will never forget that day in William & Mary’s Sir Christopher Wren Building. Purposefully chosen by me as my defense venue, it required extra effort just to share my presentation with the audience. I was focused and in full work mode as we prepared the room for my defense. Having no technology in one of the oldest academic buildings in the country, I, my husband, and a faithful colleague carried equipment up the stairs to the Blue Room as there was no elevator. It was worth the effort.

As I stood and defended my dissertation with a portrait of George Washington behind me and one of Margaret Thatcher before me, I shared what I had learned through research of my impassioned topic: Student Interactions, Connections and Retention in an Online MBA Program: An Exploratory Study. The dark-paneled room was full of people. Only one small bench against the wall had available seating.  

I was confident as my committee sought clarification in their queries about my research. The audience was attentive and asked thoughtful and engaging questions. Upon completion of the questions, my committee asked me and others to leave the room while they deliberated. Outside in the hallway, I chatted with my colleagues and friends until my committee chair opened the door and called for Dr. Conner to return to the room. I had passed.

Ringing the bell…

In the tradition of those who had gone before me, I then rang the iconic Wren bell three times: once for the past, once for the present, and once for the future. I can’t recall a happier moment. While my past is a bit longer than most graduate students, my present is equally as joyful, and my future is just as bright. In 39 days, I will again follow in the steps of others and make the ceremonious walk across the historic campus as I graduate. If you are considering graduate school but are concerned that you have waited too long, don’t be. If we are lucky, we will all grow old. We might as well grow old with the benefits of the degree. I am proud of what I have accomplished at William & Mary and look forward with hope and anticipation of what is to come.

For 16 years, our family has enjoyed the traditional white lights of our Christmas tree. What can I say? We like Christmas traditions. However, this year, we wanted to explore something new and decided to try colored lights instead. Yes, 16 years of tradition were about to go out the window. My husband and I thought we selected the perfect colored LED lights for our tree. Not only will they save energy, the lights should have a very long life. We can use them over and over each year without worrying about cracking, unlike our traditional lights which damage easily. LED lights come in a variety of styles, so we chose a style that we felt was just right for us.

Everything was going great until we put the lights on the tree and turned them on. I expected to see a warm, inviting tree, reminiscent of Christmas past. Instead it was a dark (albeit colorful), boring, gloomy, wretched tree. The familiar warmth of our Christmas was lost. The tree with LED lights was a travesty.

For a week, we watched as the colored lights struggled in vain to illuminate our tree, and our hearts continued to sink. Our tree was dark and depressing. We had to do something. So we carefully added the familiar white lights, leaving the LED lights. I couldn’t wait to rescue our Christmas. Once the tree was trimmed for the second time, we turned on the elegantly simple, white lights. Ahhh…  a tragedy was averted! We had warmth, familiarity, tradition–all things Christmas. Then, just to check everything out, we turned on both the LED and the white lights, and… voila! I was amazed! Our Christmas tree came to life! It exceeded my expectations. It was the perfect blend of traditional and contemporary. The familiar glow of the white lights warmed my heart. The color from the LED lights added a unique quality that wasn’t part of our Christmas past. It was the best of both worlds.

Our Christmas tree lights remind me of blended learning. In addition to the benefits of traditional face-to-face learning, quality blended learning offers online activities designed specifically to meet the needs of the student and to enhance learning. Students have the best of both worlds! They enjoy the warmth and familiarity of the traditional (like the warmth we feel from our traditional white lights) while gaining knowledge and experience in the contemporary world (like our experience with the colored LED lights that ultimately enhanced our tree). Perhaps it’s time to consider something new. Let’s blend the traditional with a bit of the contemporary and see what happens. It might surprise you.

 (Reposted from DigitalTools.blogs.wm.edu, December, 2011)

Welcome!
I'm delighted that you have joined me in my journey to PhD. I'm a PhD candidate in the School of Education at the College of William & Mary majoring in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership in Higher Education. I'm about to complete my coursework and am looking forward (I think) to writing my dissertation. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I have truly enjoyed the coursework in the program and have made some incredible friends along the way. I feel wonderfully supported by my fellow students, professors, family members, and my colleagues. On the other hand, I'm grateful to be at this juncture in the program with the bulk of the coursework behind me. I'm not quite sure what to expect. No one can really be prepared for what is involved in pursing one's doctorate. It's a journey that must be experienced as no one can tell you what it will be like for you. I knew that it would be a lot of work, but I had no idea quite how much. I resisted applying to the doctoral program until I could no longer suppress the voice inside my head that was screaming at me to go for it. A very wise person once told me that I shouldn't pursue my PhD until I could no longer bear not to. If you don't understand that last sentence, then you're not ready. It's a journey like no other. Thank you for joining me!