What do you think this image is saying? How does it relate to or comment on society? Can you relate to it personally? What is your opinion of its message?
Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
The word mirth has appeared in 19 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Dec. 12 in “Soccer Legends, Arab Viewers and the Man in the Middle” by Tariq Panja:
Tounakti suggested an impromptu demonstration, and Schmeichel gamely agreed. The goalkeeper then spent five minutes ruminating on his native Denmark’s early exit from the World Cup while Tounakti interpreted his every word. His translation, like his work on the broadcasts, was in fusha, a version of classical Arabic that is understood across the Arab world but not spoken in any particular country.
The discussion moved to idiomatic expressions and the challenges they posed: One in particular, a phrase long used as shorthand to gauge a player’s true quality in England — “Yes, but can he do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?” — can cause mirth, and no small degree of confusion. “What do you exactly mean when you say this?” Tounakti said. Schmeichel laughed and suggested it might translate as “a hot Wednesday in Mecca.” He then departed for the studio.
Can you correctly use the word mirth in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how mirth can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.
LMS. LXP. Learning Platform. Talent Development Platform, all slide under the umbrella term of learning systems. Yet each one of them have similarities in terms of functionality they will need in 2024. Sure, TDPs may go X route, while the others go Y route, but in the general sense of it, there are capabilities that are ubiquitous to all kinds of learning systems. This creates the confusion; we all love and hate (and I include vendors who still think an LXP is only 3rd party content and a playlist).
The fact though remains that the majority of people in L&D and Training purchase a LMS. Now, you may have a Talent Development Platform, but a chunk of it, is really an LMS with additional flair that is in some cases pluses. The ditto of a learning platform, and even most of the “LXPs.” There are LXPs of course, that have minimal pieces of an LMS, but those pieces tend to be the usual standards, including the infamous assigned learning – and as I stress zillions of times, just because it is available in the system, doesn’t mean you have to use it.
For this post though, I am going to zero in on the LMS, LXP and Learning Platform side, and hold off from a TDP, albeit there are a few that based on my experience, could easily add these items – okay, not easily, but you get my drift.
That was Then..This is Now..2024 is Over There
Before diving into the functionality piece, there are two terms that need to be put to bed and replaced.
So long – Authoring tool
Hello – Content Creator
A term that is nowadays universally known, thanks to well, content creators in Tik Tok, Instagram and whatever else rumbles out where folks create content to uh, showcase and pitch products people should buy – what? Nobody else has noticed this is basically an informercial updated? Okay, well not for learning and training – that is – in the sense of well, informercial. And you get my point.
Thus, for the post I will refer to an authoring tool, as “content creator” – and will use the cc term going forward.
So Long – Saying “Analytics”
Hello to – Learning Intelligence
I thought quite a bit about this, especially as systems are either adding BI – Business Intelligence to their learning system OR as an integration or as an integral part. BI is not the same as LI, not even close. We are in the learning and training space -whether it is for your employees, customers, clients, partners, members, students and so forth. A BI tool was never designed to be used for training nor learning. That’s not it’s focus. Learning Intelligence though is all that wonderful metrics and data that you see on the back end (admin side) of your system. Through LI you should know your learning story. A BI tool can’t tell you that. KPIs works only for so many folks, and even a KPI doesn’t extract all the information you need to know to identify whether your learning for whatever audience is clearly achieving the results you expect – or ideally want.
Thus, it is of my opinion that vendors in the learning system space should use Learning Intelligence (LI) as the differentiation between BI, firstly, and secondarily, as the term of the data and metrics on the back end. As generative-AI advances, metrics and the data specifically, will be leveraged – in theory for the better – and LI only reinforces that premise. I mean learning intelligence is what drives your learning system – even without Gen-AI or machine learning, not a BI tool.
Hence, in the post for 2024, I will use learning intelligence to refer to the analytics that is used today as the general term in the industry.
Functionality 2024 – an Intro
Do you feel it? The thrill to come? The energy? It’s there, all around us. And for a LMS, LXP, LP and yes the TDP, the functionality presented below is a definite you want to add to your learning system. Some are very obvious, plenty more are not.
The issue I always have with vendors is the client impact to what they decide to include or not include. I am a fan of listening to your customers (clients as vendors refer to them as), but the customer doesn’t know everything that is possible, nor is even aware of it. And that is where it begins. The vendor listens to a lot of use cases, the use case points here, the client says we need this for the use case; the vendor in turn, hears it, then either acts on it, or listens to a lot or selected group of clients, and goes – well, they are all asking for X, therefore it is a must need. But how much should you really listen? Yes, there are things you can add to make your system stronger, but a client may not be aware of what is taking place out in the greater learning system landscape; nor aware of the variance options of LLMs, thinking that ChatGPT is only the one to use. A client isn’t necessarily going to know what metrics are really relevant, nor understand why views isn’t a metric of any benefit.
This is why you see systems that are zigging rather than zagging. Systems that seem like a doppelgänger. The functionality presented below is based on several factors
Functionality 2024 – Details, please!
Admin Side
Bottom Line
From a vendor perspective when it comes to pricing – expect to see a lot more of “active users” per month; “monthly active users,” in your discussions with vendors and proposals. Here is the key point to remember – if they are billing you upfront – annual how do they really know how many active users per month are using the system? What they will always want to know, is total user base (active for sure, but hey, if inactive after three months, they still slide in here). There is one exception – vendors who invoice monthly for active users – they and only them, will know the usage counts, and price accordingly. Anyway, the active user model plays well.
I wish more vendors would go to the invoice per month model, especially for customer training, training organizations, and training consultants.
By doing that,
They are truly moving forward.
Not backwards.
E-Learning 24/7
Everyone wants to talk about AI, more specifically, OpenAI’s GPT, the most advanced large multi-modal model out there. Last week, we had the opportunity to chat with Ted Sanders, a Machine Learning Engineer at OpenAI, whose job it is to explore what GPT is bad at and try to improve it.
Naturally, we have lots of burning questions about AI. We talked all about how to start a career in AI, why developers still need to learn to code, and the potential of AGI. If you missed the fireside chat, you can watch the whole thing on YouTube below. (We’d love to see you at one of the upcoming community livestreams, so be sure to RSVP.)
Ted is a self-taught developer who got his start coding basic HTML/CSS in Neopets (fun fact: he also used Codecademy). He’s had an impressive career working as a Data Engineer at Netflix and a Physicist at Stanford, but he knows firsthand how daunting breaking into tech can feel. Read on to hear his top tips from the chat for folks who want to launch a career in AI, learn the most practical and applicable AI tools, and get started working with OpenAI’s API today.
A big question on a lot of learners’ minds is: If ChatGPT can essentially code for you, what are the skills worth learning now? The short answer is a little bit of everything. “Coding is only going to become more valuable,” Ted says.
Generative AI is just the latest advancement that enables us to programming computers more efficiently and at higher levels of abstraction. As language models get better, programmers might be able to program well writing fewer lines of code — but that doesn’t mean programming is dead. “In the short-to-medium, maybe even long-term, software development will just become more important and more powerful,” Ted says.
As for the specific skills, languages, and frameworks you should learn now? It depends on what you’d like to do. If you want to make apps and websites, learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you’re interested in machine learning and training models, consider Python. “In general, if you’re trying to become a well-rounded programmer, it’s good to learn a few different languages,” Ted says. “You don’t want to be monolingual, because there are a lot of concepts repeated from one to the next.”
As more organizations prioritize AI, there are more exciting job opportunities popping up. But the AI sector can feel intimidating, especially for folks who are self-taught developers, career switchers, or people who don’t have advanced degrees. So how can you stand out?
The good news is you don’t need to become the leading expert in AI to distinguish yourself. One way to make yourself valuable in your career is by focusing on getting really good at a few skills and carving out your own niche. “There’s actually a lot less competition in the intersection [of skills],” Ted says. “So if you’re good at sales and AI, now you might be the best AI salesperson in the world. And you’re not really having to compete with the best AI people or the best salespeople, you’re only competing with people at that intersection.”
Curious how you can use AI to distinguish yourself? Read this article to learn how to round out your skill set with AI in a variety of tech careers, and be sure to explore our catalog of AI courses on ChatGPT and generative AI.
AI is the hottest topic in tech right now, so you should absolutely be well-versed in emerging AI technologies and take courses on AI techniques and topics (BTW, we have a ton of new free AI courses). That said, nobody can really predict the full extent of AI’s impact on developers’ careers. For developers who want to have lasting careers in AI, it’s important to cast a wide net and continue to diversify your skill set.
In many cases, what matters is actually skills complementary to AI, in addition to the skill of using the AI.
Ted Sanders
Machine Learning Engineer at OpenAI
It can be a mistake to throw all your energy into just learning AI, Ted says. Building something cool and useful requires a blend of AI expertise and the ability to create applications and solutions that leverage AI effectively. “In many cases, what matters is actually skills complementary to AI, in addition to the skill of using the AI,” he says.
ChatGPT can boost your productivity as a developer, whether you’re using the tool to debug code or quickly look up a function. And it’s not just the seasoned devs who should take advantage of AI tools; using ChatGPT is clutch for less experienced developers who don’t have “a vast repository of knowledge,” Ted says. “It’s super helpful for just learning the basics, getting up to speed, and asking questions that you might feel embarrassed asking in public or to more experienced coworkers,” he says.
Obviously, there are limits that newbies and professional developers have to keep in mind. For example, ChatGPT isn’t trained on any data past 2021, and the AI chatbot will make stuff up or lie through its (proverbial) teeth. AI can supplement learning to code, but it can’t be a stand-in for hands-on coding.
“I think the best way to teach is with interactivity,” Ted says. “It’s very expensive to have a teacher do it. But if you can have things like Codecademy, things like ChatGPT that can sort of take you along step by step and give you customized feedback, I think it’s super, super useful.”
Part of OpenAI’s mission is to foster open access to its technology. “We want people to build with our technology, we don’t want to keep it to ourselves,” Ted says. With an OpenAI account, you can easily get a developer key to access OpenAI’s API, and “actually build your own applications using ChatGPT’s intelligence to do all sort of different things,” he says. (In fact, our engineers at Codecademy just created a ChatGPT plugin, which you can read about here.)
Before you jump in, Ted recommends reading the documentation on the OpenAI website. Also check out the OpenAI Cookbook repository on GitHub, which he used to run. There, you can find lots of code examples and snippets, plus solves for common pain points like counting tokens, and handling rate limits. The Cookbook also has some inspiring examples of how you can use the API for things like vector databases and information lookup. We also have a free course Intro to OpenAI GPT API, which will help you examine the API and create more reliable outputs from large language models.
Feeling empowered to start learning about ChatGPT, AI, and programming? Explore our catalog of AI courses and case studies, brush up on coding basics, and discover new ways of thinking.
Do you watch stand-up comedy? Who are your favorite comedians? What do you like about them?
Have you ever wondered how much of the stories those comics tell are true? If you found out their jokes were based on fictional situations, would that change how you viewed the comedian and their comedy? Why or why not?
In “Lying in Comedy Isn’t Always Wrong, but Hasan Minhaj Crossed a Line,” Jason Zinoman, The Times’s comedy critic, writes about recent revelations that Minhaj stretched the truth in his last two specials:
When I first heard that The New Yorker had published an exposé on the veracity of the stand-up comedy of Hasan Minhaj, I rolled my eyes.
We’re fact-checking jokes now? Come on. Comedy is an art, not an op-ed. And honesty has always struck me as the most overrated virtue in comedy. But Clare Malone’s reporting in the piece is scrupulous and fair, if a little prosecutorial in its focus. It presents more questions than answers and should inspire some rethinking of the muddy relationship between comedy and truth.
Digging into his last two specials, Malone reveals Hasan Minhaj as a comic who leans on fictions to make real-world arguments, putting himself closer to the center of news stories to make him seem more brave or wronged or in danger. To take one example, Minhaj says in “The King’s Jester” (2022) that after the government passed the Patriot Act in the wake of Sept. 11, an undercover F.B.I. informant named Brother Eric had infiltrated his childhood mosque and had dinner at his house. Minhaj recalls how he sniffed him out and, in a prank, asked about getting a pilot’s license, which led to a police officer throwing him against a car.
The New Yorker found that there was such a man working in counterterrorism but that Minhaj never met him. Minhaj defended his fabrications as fibs in service to “emotional truth.” For someone in the running to be the next host of “The Daily Show,” that term sounds a little too much like Kellyanne Conway’s euphemism “alternative facts.”
While stand-up comedy was never expected to be factually accurate, Mr. Zinoman argues, Minhaj’s lying crossed a line:
Lying in comedy isn’t necessarily wrong. But how you lie matters. Minhaj has told a story about his prom date reneging on the day of the dance because her parents didn’t want her seen in photos with a “brown boy.” He now admits to some untruths in this story, but not all, and left her perspective out. (The woman has said she and her family faced online threats for years.) This genre of fiction is a shortcut to sympathy, an unearned tug at the heartstrings. It’s not a capital crime, but it’s an unnecessary and risky one.
Lies involving real people should add a new sense of obligation. The problem with only considering the standard of emotional truth is that it can blind you to the impact on the actual world outside your emotions. You could say that the emotional truth behind the Patriot Act was that the terrorism of Sept. 11 required extreme tactics to feel safe, but that doesn’t make the legislation right. The truth is usually more complex than the way you feel about it.
Watching “The King’s Jester” now hits differently. In some ways, it’s more interesting than the first time I saw it, when it seemed mawkish. Some jokes, like his desperation for social media clout, seem like clues. And others come across as the work of a guilty conscience, like the moment when Minhaj faces the audience and says: “Everything here is built on trust.”
This is the truth. Every comic has an unspoken pact with the audience. The one Seinfeld has is different from Minhaj’s, and part of the reason has nothing to do with their intentions. Whether or not critics like me think authenticity is important, it does matter to the audience. So does honesty. And comics understand that. It’s no accident that many of the political comedians working today, especially on television, employ researchers from traditional news sources. Getting facts right matters, especially when the comedy is about grave social issues.
That’s not just because a comic’s credibility can take a hit. When stories told about racism, religious profiling or transgender identity are exposed as inventions, that can lead to doubt about the experiences of real people.
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
Are you a fan of Hasan Minhaj? Were you surprised to learn that some of the stories he has shared in his stand-up aren’t true? Does this information change how you think about him and his comedy at all?
Mr. Zinoman said that Minhaj’s fabrications went too far. Do you agree with his argument? Why or why not?
Mr. Zinoman writes, “Whether or not critics like me think authenticity is important, it does matter to the audience. So does honesty.” How much does authenticity and honesty matter to you when it comes to comedy?
As Mr. Zinoman writes, many comedians make up stories for their stand-up. When, if ever, do you think lying in comedy crosses a line? When it involves a real person? When it presents news and facts as a journalist would, like in “The Daily Show”? When it is about “grave social issues” such as racism, religious profiling or transgender identity? What matters and why?
The fact that Minhaj made up stories in his last two specials has now made headlines in at least two major news sources. How much should we care whether comedians lie? Why?
Have you ever stretched the truth, or even told an outright lie, to get a laugh? Given what you’ve reflected on today — about when lying in comedy crosses a line — do you think what you did was OK? Why or why not?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
The word littoral has appeared in 11 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 2 in “A California Beach Town Is Desperate to Save Its Vanishing Sand” by Jill Cowan:
Over time, beach sand gets swept out into the water. Some of it migrates toward other beaches in part of a complex phenomenon known as littoral drift.
If the shoreline were allowed to evolve and recede without human intervention, beaches could continue to exist as we know them. But in California, development in many places along the coast has created a hard barrier, stopping that natural ebb.
Can you correctly use the word littoral in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how littoral can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.
1. After looking closely at the image above (or at the full-size image), think about these three questions:
2. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)
3. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.
Each Monday, our collaborator, Visual Thinking Strategies, will facilitate a discussion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time by paraphrasing comments and linking to responses to help students’ understanding go deeper. You might use their responses as models for your own.
4. On Thursday afternoons, we will reveal at the bottom of this post more information about the photo. How does reading the caption and learning its back story help you see the image differently?
We’ll post more information here on Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned!
More?
• See all images in this series or slide shows of 40 of our favorite images — or 40 more.
• Learn more about this feature in this video, and discover how and why other teachers are using it in their classrooms in our on-demand webinar.
• Find out how teachers can be trained in the Visual Thinking Strategies facilitation method.
Students 13 and older in the United States and the Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
South Africa is a country known for its history, rich cultural diversity, and heritage. It’s a melting pot of cultures and where the social and cultural interactions among its various ethnic groups make South Africa a unique and vibrant mosaic of traditions and customs. In this article, we’ll look at why Heritage Day is important and
Every year on September 24th, South Africans unite to celebrate Heritage Day. It was initially known as Shaka Day, commemorating the legendary Zulu King, Shaka Zulu, who played a significant role in shaping the Zulu nation in the early 19th century. However, in 1996, the South African government officially changed the name to Heritage Day to make it more inclusive and reflective of the nation’s diverse cultural heritage.
It serves as a powerful reminder of this diversity and the importance of embracing and preserving South Africa’s cultural heritage. This day, also called ‘Braai Day’ (an ode to the nation’s love for braaing) by some, is an occasion where South Africans embrace and honour the diverse cultures and traditions that make it a “rainbow nation”.
Heritage and culture are closely intertwined concepts, yet they possess distinct differences. Culture includes the broader aspects of a group’s shared identity, including language, beliefs, values, customs, and social practices. It represents the ever-evolving way of life of a community and reflects its collective consciousness. While culture is fluid and adaptive, heritage often embodies elements that are preserved and cherished as a means of preserving a cultural legacy.
On the other hand, heritage is a subset of culture, focusing on the tangible and intangible elements that are passed down through generations. Heritage includes artefacts, historical sites, traditions, and oral histories that serve as a direct link to the past and carry cultural significance.
In essence, culture defines the broader context of a community’s identity, while heritage encapsulates the specific, enduring elements that define its historical and cultural uniqueness.
Heritage holds a profound significance in our lives. It serves as a link between our past and present and provides invaluable insights into the cultures, traditions, and legacies that have shaped us. It’s a place where our stories, struggles, victories, and a source of inspiration for the future. Our heritage reminds us of where we come from and helps foster a sense of belonging and identity. It teaches us lessons from history and offers guidance on how to navigate the challenges of the present and build a better future. Additionally, heritage can serve as a tourism drawcard and thus contribute to the economic growth of a country. Heritage is a cultural exchange that bridges the gaps between different communities and nurtures mutual understanding.
Heritage Day is a day to celebrate the multitude of cultures, traditions, and languages that coexist within South Africa. The rainbow nation, a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, symbolises the nation’s unity in diversity. On this day, South Africans come together to embrace their roots and honour their unique cultural backgrounds.
One of the most popular and widely practised traditions associated with Heritage Day is the South African “braai.” A braai is a barbecue, and South Africans of all backgrounds gather to grill meat, share traditional dishes, and enjoy each other’s company. It is a unique South African experience, reflecting the nation’s love for food, community “ubuntu”, and the outdoors.
Heritage Day also provides an excellent opportunity for communities to showcase their distinct cultural practices. Across the country, people participate in parades, dances, music performances, and exhibitions that highlight their heritage. These events serve as a reminder of the vibrant tapestry of cultures that contribute to the country’s identity.
Another captivating aspect of Heritage Day is the display of traditional attire. South Africa has over 10 national languages, which represent the different cultures. On Heritage Day, people from all backgrounds proudly wear their ethnic clothing, reflecting their unique cultural heritage. This not only preserves traditional dress but also educates others about the significance of these garments.
Heritage Day serves as a powerful tool to promote unity and tolerance in a country whose history is marred by cultural divisions. It encourages open dialogue and respect for different traditions, fostering a sense of national pride and togetherness among South Africans of all backgrounds.
Celebrating one’s heritage and culture is a beautiful journey of self-discovery and connection with one’s roots. It’s a way of honouring the traditions, values, and customs passed down through generations. From the food we enjoy to the stories we tell, the celebrations we host, and the rituals we maintain, there are many ways to embrace and share in the Heritage Day festivities:
In essence, heritage is a treasure trove of knowledge, a source of pride, and a connection between generations, making its preservation and appreciation a vital aspect of our cultural heritage.
Heritage Day in South Africa is not just a celebration of the past; it is a celebration of the nation’s resilience, unity, and commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage. It’s a day when the people of South Africa come together, despite their differences, to appreciate and embrace the diverse tapestry of cultures that make their country unique. In doing so, Heritage Day plays a vital role in building a more inclusive and harmonious South Africa, one that can serve as a model for the world in celebrating cultural diversity.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission defines an e-bike as a two- or three-wheel vehicle that has pedals and an electric motor. Have you ever seen one? Ridden one? If so, what was it like? Where did you ride it? Did you feel safe on it?
With e-bikes soaring in popularity, regulators have been unable to keep up with the quickly evolving market. Safety and law enforcement officials note that many models marketed to children and teenagers exceed legal speed limits and more closely resemble motor vehicles, which require a license and registration to operate.
For the moment, the power to decide what teenagers may or may not ride falls to a nongovernmental authority: parents. Across the country, they are expressing a mix of enthusiasm, contrition and uncertainty about the trendy mode of transportation.
Some parents who initially embraced e-bikes now say their enthusiasm has waned with news of recent crashes involving teenagers.
“Initially, it was a godsend,” said Julie Wood, whose daughter Sawyer, 14, got an e-bike this past spring. “She’s a teen — she wants to go everywhere.”
For Ms. Wood of Boulder, Colo., that meant less time carting Sawyer in the car. But she had a firm rule that Sawyer wear a helmet.
In early August, Sawyer crashed while riding her e-bike without a helmet. She did not tell her mother, fearing disciplinary repercussions, even though she was experiencing headaches and nausea and did not want to get out of bed. Several days after the crash, she had a seizure and underwent emergency brain surgery for a skull fracture and a brain bleed; she is expected to recover.
Her mother is now rethinking how society should handle the technology. “These kids don’t have driver’s licenses,” Ms. Wood said. “As much as you want to believe they are riding a bike, it’s just different. They go really fast.”
After news of Sawyer’s accident spread around town, Scott Weiss, a Boulder resident and parent of two teenagers, decided to sell the family’s two e-bikes. “I want to keep you alive as long as possible,” he told his 14-year-old daughter. He said he would sell the e-bikes only to someone “college-age” or older: “I don’t want to sell it to someone who is not prepared to make the mental judgments you have to make.”
The questions around e-bikes fit squarely into a modern theme in which powerful technologies, like mobile phones and vape pens, enter the market and are sold directly to consumers, without much research available on the impact on behavior and safety.
In the case of e-bikes, some models can be reprogrammed to exceed the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit permitted for riders under 16; they therefore fall into the category of motor vehicles. The federal government has not yet figured out how best to regulate them.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Last week, Apple unveiled the iPhone 15. The Times reports:
Every September for the past decade, Apple has convened media from around the world for a marketing event that celebrates the creative feats behind its newest iPhone. It has hyped the shine of the phone’s exterior, the sculpting around its cameras and the power of its processors.
Do you have an iPhone? If not, have you ever wanted one? How excited are you about the iPhone 15 — and do you appreciate the hype? Are you someone who always wants — or gets — the latest phone or technology? Why, or why not?
Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more about the latest iPhone and its newest features.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
