Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI

Cheery Friday Greetings to our Learning How to Learners!

Book of the Month

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, by Ethan Mollick. We think Ethan Mollick is one of the best writers about generative AI around—we never miss his Substack postings.  Not surprisingly then, Mollick’s Co-Intelligence is a fascinating exploration of the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. One of the book’s greatest strengths, besides its easy-to-understand style, is its focus on practical applications of AI. Mollick provides a wealth of fresh use cases, illustrating how generative AI can be integrated into our daily lives to enhance productivity and creativity. Throughout the book, Mollick emphasizes the importance of engaging with AI models to gain a deeper understanding of their capabilities. He shares his own experiences in dialogues with AI, offering unique (and sometimes a bit spooky) insights that broaden the reader’s perspective on the technology.

While the concepts introduced in the book may not be entirely novel to those well-versed in AI, Mollick’s work shines as an accessible and engaging introduction for newcomers. Overall, Co-Intelligence is a brilliant and timely work that captures the essence of the AI revolution. Ethan Mollick’s expertise and enthusiasm shine through on every page, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking to navigate the exciting and transformative world of generative AI.

Join the McGraw Prize winner discussion with Barb, May 1st

Join the webinar featuring the 2023 McGraw Prize winner Dr. Barbara Oakley, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Oakland University. For more than three decades, the McGraw Prize in Education has recognized outstanding individuals deeply committed to harnessing innovation in education to improve the lives of learners worldwide. This webinar — moderated by Dr. Bodong Chen, Penn GSE Associate Professor, is one in a series presented by Catalyst @ Penn GSE featuring winners of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize for Education. Together, Catalyst and the McGraw Prize are advancing innovation in education through a growing array of programming. This live virtual event will be recorded. Register here (and bring your questions!)

Everest Memory Masterclass

Do you struggle with remembering important details? If so, you’re not alone. Don’t worry, our friend and world-renowned memory expert, Nelson Dellis (five-time USA Memory Champion), has a solution for you. His highly anticipated Everest Memory Masterclass is opening its doors for registration in just a couple of days! This course is designed to teach you effective memory techniques with personalized instruction from Nelson himself, so you can remember everything that matters to you!
Nelson’s story is truly inspiring. He started training his memory after losing his grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease in 2009, and went on to win multiple USA Memory Championships. He’s now dedicated to helping others achieve the same level of success with their own memory.
Registration for this year’s cohort opens on April 22nd, 2024, but if you join Nelson’s email waitlist today, you’ll be able to join and register one day early before spots fill up. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your memory and transform your life! Sign up for the waitlist here!

Barb in Saudi Arabia, keynoting at the inaugural Coursera Women’s Leadership Summit, April 30, 2024 

Join Barb and her Coursera collagues for the inaugural Coursera Women’s Leadership Summit 2024 on April 30th, celebrating female empowerment, ambition, and success. We are delighted to run the first edition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aligning with the goals of Saudi’s Vision to enable Saudi women to play a pivotal role in shaping the Kingdom’s future success. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with inspiring leaders, exchange knowledge, and build valuable networks. Register now and be part of this empowering event.

Barb’s Mongolian Milestone

Barb received an Honorary Doctorate from the Mongolian National University of Education last week for her work in helping this aspiring nation to further advance their online teaching. Three cheers!
Benefits of Forgetting: How It Helps Us Learn, Think, and Thrive

Until recently, most memory scientists believed that forgetting served no purpose. But new research tells a different story: Forgetting is not a failure of our minds. It is good for us – and, alongside memory, it is a required function for our minds to work best. How exactly does forgetting help our cognitive, creative, and decision making abilities? And how do we identify and deal with undesirable forgetting?

Join Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe on May 13th as they explore this intriguing topic in a conversation with Scott A. Small – and pose your own questions directly to Dr. Small as well. (Incidentally, Dr. Small’s book, Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering, is one of Barb’s all time favorite books.)

Scott A. Small is a physician specializing in aging and dementia and a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City, where he is the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. He has co-authored over 120 articles and his neuroimaging and molecular work has led to 7 patents. Dr. Small is also the recipient of numerous research awards and his research has been covered by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time. Register here!

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in Learning How to Learn!

Barb, Terry, and the entire Learning How to Learn team

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!

• Mindshift—the book and MOOC

• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC

• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers
• For kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!