Disconnecting from Perplexity
It is time to call QUIT for my Perplexity Pro account. She served me well for more than a year.
Thanking @educatefran for showing me @D2L and H5P
I should write a major testimonial to Frances O’Donnell, an Instructional Designer in County Donegal, who showed me the magic of smart imports with H5P.
Google Claude Airtable Obsidian
During part of a two hour basic introductory session on Friday 17 April in Dublin, I’m sharing how I use Claude.ai with my Google Workspace, with my Airtables, and with Obsidian. I have dozens of prompts as text and as audio snippets that I use every day when allowing Claude to complete tasks …
Talking to researchers about ethical AI
In early 2026, here are the main topics I would address when teaching researchers to effectively leverage artificial intelligence.
Planning a week with a NTS
Starting out the week recording a note to self.
Endearing power of RSS
Like many people I know, I’m easily distracted by places where I can snack on news, simply by scrolling through content. I want to be able to understand more than one side of a story so I’m looking at ways to pull information together by aggregating content. Thankfully, a lot of content …
Getting very reliant on Claude managing Google Workspace
he first part of 2026 has been a time for new connectors–not new connections (as in people) but new connectors between distinct elements of the technology that wires my life.
Researching place for best sleep
I continue searching for a place in the house that provides zero sleep stress and discovered it is in the coldest room of the house.
Using Claude with Airtable
I’ve used dozens of Bases on Airtable while teaching university students in Ireland. During the past 18 months, my Airtable usage has percolated into discussions with other researchers across Europe. I’m delighted to see how I can cross-check my Airtable through a slash command and …
Using Joe Dale’s Tips for Teachers
I appreciate Joe Dale’s Open Education Resources and his enthusiastic expertise. We use most of these tools when training Transition Year students in Ireland.
Learning About People and Pages in Books
I can use Ngrams to search the entire Google Books corpus of books captured via Google’s OCR.
Exploring my first Taschenbegleiter
I am trying to reduce the footprint I use on public transport so I’ve downsized to an iPad Mini with 190 pages in a notebook and a pen. I want to carry all those items in one hand so my attention turned to Roterfaden.de and their Taschenbegleiter.
Leaning on Whoop MG
Depending on Whoop to guide me to fitness.
Reflecting on Social Audio's Rise and Retreat
I started today thinking about a thread on Bluesky about where social audio has gone. I had a few objects in front of my at the time as I started talking out loud. My phone recorded my thoughts and after I posted the audio clip into a Bluesky thread a marvelous spontaneous threaded conversation …
Inspired by Jess Buckley's Note-Taking
I’m inspired every time I hear people describe how they capture ideas in real time. Jesse Buckley, star of the critically acclaimed Hamnet, explains to Stacey Wilson Hunt how she writes down things she hears and sees. And how when she performs, she’s able to draw on those thoughts …
Learning how to make better videos
Getting good advice from a Veed webinar about making better mobile journalism.
Impressed with Google Personal Intelligence
I teach “AI for Personal Productivity” with the Irish Innovation Skillnet where we have hands-on exercises using Google Workspace. Cue discussions about privacy, security, and frameworks.
Sharing my Vibe Journaling with @educatefran.bsky.social
I have a set of hard cover notebooks containing ideas. I call it Vibe Journaling and I want to see if I can connect pages in the books with instructional designer Frances O’Donnell.
New Beginning with Home Note
I jumped into Nick Milo’s Ideaverse and got a new look with my primary Obsidian vault as well as a new Home Note for my daily flow. The most significant result is that I’ve reduced scrolling into the land of trolls and I’ve increased the depth of my reading.
More homework with Obsidian Hub
Finally clearing my desk so I can finish 23 Obsidian Hub lessons with Nick Milo.
Back when I cut code daily
Thirty years ago, I was a simple code cutter. I had a fat HTML encyclopedia and new clients every month, some who would pay more than 500 Irish pounds for each web page. I had a poster like the image at the top of this post. Life was simple in the days before Wordpress.Today I watch programmers with …
Questioning Everything More Than Ever
It is hard to flip through my daily flow without encountering something that feels like a human didn’t produce it. Because I teach people how to ethically use artificial intelligence, I often offer these five precepts to people who want to ensure they’re consuming authentic content. I …
Empowering Learners for the Age of AI
Scrolling through the OECD Framework for AILit “Empowering Learners for the Age of AI”. The AILit Framework connects knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and highlights the importance of ethical and critical understanding of AI. Young people must understand how AI works, appreciate its …
Outing Local ICE
It is time people start outing family members, neighbors, and community friends who are drawing salaries from ICE.
Planning a Workshop on Authentic Storytelling #iceri2025
’m deep into a prep session about authentic storytelling with Brigit Kolen on the campus of Fontys University in Eindhoven. I will bring selected bits of AI into a series of workshops we’re proposing for the 18th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation.