Chasing Life Podcast Season 6: The Science of How Tech Is Impacting Our Brains

I've mentioned a time or two that I'm a big fan of podcasts. One of my favorites the last few years has been Dr. Sanjay Gupta's "Chasing Life." I love his intelligence, sense of humor, and demeanor, and I think he'd be one of the 5 famous people I'd love to sit down with at a dinner party if I could. I always learn something from every listen with him.

His sixth season of the show started this past February and I'm definitely drawn in. He calls this season "a personal journey" for him, and he has this as his introduction to the season:

"If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking at a phone or a computer screen. These days we spend most of our lives looking at screens – whether it’s for work, school, or fun – but how is it shaping us? On season six of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us on his most personal journey yet, while he dives into the science behind how technology is impacting our brains. As a dad of three teenage girls, he explores how worried we should be about the effect screen time is having on kids’ health. Join us each Tuesday as we bring everyone to the table – from members of the Gupta family to content creators and medical professionals – and look for guidance on how to navigate a world surrounded by screens."

As a Lower School Technology teacher, a parent of teens, a person who has read a lot of books over the years on this subject, and someone who lives a lot of life on her phone...and who is living in a world where ChatGPT and AI are all in the news these days, this season's theme has really struck me as well. I often say I have a love-hate relationship with technology... but the deeper enmeshed we become in this "techified" world, the deeper we all get into ALL of it! Not to mention, more and more, the trickle down gets younger and younger and we are seeing the effects on more and more kids, in more and more ways: digital drama, mental health issues at all time highs, and new social and ethical dilemmas all the time.

I recently saw author Tom Friedman speak, and this image of him spoke to me, especially since I had read his book Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations. In it he speaks of the speed of life and technology, globalization and the environment, and how people are resistant to change. This picture (and the slide is a visual in the book too) totally sums up where we are...and where Sanjay Gupta seems to be too with this season.

New episodes of Chasing Life come out every Tuesday. These are the topics Sanjay Gupta has tackled so far in season 6. Obviously, more are to come. In each episode he had several experts, authors, and digital influencers on that he interviews. I particularly liked the idea of "mediatrician" that he mentions in episode 3 when he speaks with Dr. Michael Rich, co-director of the Clinic for Interactive Media Disorders at Boston's Chidlren's Hospital. It all gives fascinating food for thought in this tech age in which we live. Definitely feel like this is a must-listen for all of us--parents, educators, and consumers of digital media.

Season Six, Episode 1: A Personal Journey for Sanjay - Feb. 7th, 2023

Episode 2: How to Raise Kids in the Digital Age - Feb. 14th, 2023

Episode 3: How Much Screen Time is Too Much? - Feb. 21th, 2023

Episode 4: Breaking Up (and Making Up) with Your Phone - Feb. 28th, 2023

Episode 5: Hank Green on the Future of the Internet - Mar. 7th, 2023

Episode 6: The Selfie Effect on Your Brain - Mar. 14th, 2023

Episode 7: Will Banning TikTok Help Kids? - Mar. 21st, 2023


Podcast cover image from https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/chasing-life, Tom Friedman picture taken by me on March 21, 2023 at the Baltimore Speaker Series.

Earth Hour: March 25, 2023 ~ Lights Out 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm

As the perfect follow up to Wednesday's World Water day... tonight is Earth Hour. 

As a global wave rolling over the planet, spend the hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm (during your local time) by flipping off your lights and doing something positive for the planet. 

From its inception in 2007, Earth Hour continues to grow and inspire others to learn about, care for, and take action for our planet. Much like I mentioned in my World Water Day post, we are falling off course the planned 2030 trajectory of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Earth Hour's focus is on Goal Number 13: "Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts" and Goal Number 15: "Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss." Seeing it as such, the Earth Hour organization is stepping up their campaign and the sense of urgency to reach the 2030 goals. 

When 190 countries have traditionally been involved in Earth Hour, that is a lot of power for the positive if that hour is spent doing something for our planet! Global unity at its finest...which is important when we all share the same planet! Not to mention, it is a great way to celebrate the power of people.

Not sure what to do for Earth Hour.... check out a variety of resources on their website:

• Give an hour for earth--inspiration is here for you for the categories of "learn more about our planet," "reconnect with our planet," "restore our planet," and "inspire others to care about our planet"... and ideas that you can do for each in under an hour, exactly an hour, or over an hour.

• Go beyond the hour--here are 10 ways you can continue to "go green" and impact our planet in a positive way.

• Attend an event--see if there's one near you or a virtual one you can attend.

• Check out their timeline of milestones over the years.

• Read more about their mission & values.

• Learn about the issues of nature loss & biodiversity, climate change, and solutions/how to help.

• Grab hold of some of their marketing materials to use on social media.

How can you use the positive power of your hour to make a difference and be part of something bigger than you?

Screenshot of https://www.earthhour.org/, video from https://youtu.be/niZ54wV6QdE, logo from their media packets available at https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/engage-your-community/marketing-materials?hsCtaTracking=042ea7f8-544b-44ef-895a-c4b7b89ccb97%7C07a8a455-6bb7-470e-ac98-53e5acb3747c

World Water Day Is Today: March 22

As detailed in my last post, World Water Day (and its importance) is today. If you missed it, make sure to scroll back for a revisit to learn about why water is so important...and why we have the need for a World Water Day.

While knowledge is power, action leads to traction. From the UN World Water Day site, here is a list of things you can do today, even if you didn't plan ahead. Easy actions you can take to show a personal commitment to making this world a little better place. How many can you do? Even better: How many people can you inspire to join you to conserve water and take part in making a global difference?

And sneak preview....Earth Hour 2023 is this Saturday, March 25th from 8:30 pm -9:30 pm in your time zone. Not sure what Earth Hour is all about, check out some of my past posts. More coming this Saturday!

Image from https://www.worldwaterday.org/

World Water Day Is On the Way: March 22, 2023

I've said it before (and I'm not the only one): water makes the world go round. We all need it, in a variety of ways to maintain our health and wellness!

That is the basis for World Water Day. Since 1993, the United Nations has centered on March 22nd as World Water Day as a day to raise awareness to the global water and sanitation issues that challenge our planet. Not only a day for learning, but a day for inspiring action, World Water Day highlights that all are not equal when it comes to clean water. In fact, here are some sobering facts taken straight from their website: 

• "1.4 million people die annually and 74 million will have their lives shortened by diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene. (WHO 2022)"
• "Today, 1 in 4 people – 2 billion people worldwide – lack safe drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)"
• "Almost half of the global population – 3.6 billion people – lack safe sanitation. (WHO/UNICEF 2021)"
• "Globally, 44 per cent of household wastewater is not safely treated. (UN-Water 2021)"
• "Global water demand (in water withdrawals) is projected to increase by 55 per cent by 2050. (OECD 2012)"

Additionally, from charity: water (an organization I have monthly contributed to for several years), there are these statistics: 

• "Diseases from dirty water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.43% of those deaths are children under five years old. Access to clean water and basic sanitation can save around 16,000 lives every week"
• "Women are responsible for 72% of the water collected in Sub-Saharan Africa."
• "Each day, women in Sub-Saharan Africa spend a total of 16 million hours collecting water."
• "Clean water helps keep kids in school, especially girls. Less time collecting water means more time in class. Clean water and proper toilets at school means teenage girls don’t have to stay home for a week out of every month."

This year's World Water Day theme is "Accelerating Change." Eight years ago, in 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals were established as ways to address 17 major global issues by 2030. Goal number 6: "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all." Given that 2030 is a mere 7 years away, we are behind given the statistics above. What started as a theme of "Be the Change" shifted to "Accelerating Change." We all need to take part given we all consume water. How we manage the water we use can make a difference. For this reason, it's not a government issue, it is a global and individual issue.

Purposely overlapping World Water Day is the UN 2023 Water Conference, taking place March 22-24, 2023 in New York City. It is slated as the first event of its kind in almost 50 years. Individuals are inspired and encouraged to make personal commitments, which will then be added to those of nations, companies, organizations, and other collectives. The combined commitments will build the Water Action Agenda and serve as their main outcome.

In this 2 minute, animated video, you can get an overview of World Water Day 2023 and its theme of "Accelerating Change."

World Water Day--What Can You Do? What will you do?

On an individual level:

• Download the Activation Kit to promote World Water Day digitally or in print.
• Check out The Lazy Person's Guide to Saving Water.
• Create your own social media image tied to Sustainable Development Goal 6.
• Follow the following on Social Media: #WorldWaterDay
• Download the Be The Change Tool Kit.
• Check out the World Water Day website.
• Donate to charity:water to help buy back 70 minutes of time for women who spend time walking each day to get clean water. 

On a class or organization level:

• Create an origami "bouquet" of hummingbirds then send a photo and your World Water Day commitments to the United Nations
• Play the Test Your Water Knowledge Kahoot or check out other resources from the UN Department for Economic & Social Affairs.

video from https://youtu.be/pUkj3uwCPSE, Logo from https://www.worldwaterday.org/, water & globe image from https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023, infographic from https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/water2023/about

Evaluating Digital Tasks with Bloom's Taxonomy

This is an oldie but goodie that's been around for a few years. As we become more and more enmeshed in the digital world at home, work, and school, it's good to remember!

Image from https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/blooms-digital-taxonomy/

Environmental Stewardship: Board-Game Style

Years ago when my kids were younger, I ran across the game Earthopoly. Of course I just HAD to get it! As the name suggests, it's the eco-friendly version of Monopoly. We even played it in my classroom one Earth Day, many years ago.

We all know board games are a great way to have some fun. But they also serve as a good opportunity to learn along the way.... and for some, maybe even save the planet. Many of the environmentally-slanted games that are out thereare cooperative games, showcasing the importance of how we all need to work together to solve the planetary problems. We either all win...or we don't. 

 

Additionally, by working together to build a better future, games such as these promote an element of proactiveness and hope, which counter the bleakness and apathy that climatory concerns can bring. Not to mention, many of these games insert a little scientific information along the way, making environmental education even more accessible. While you play, you build your strategic thinking skills as well as creativity and empathy. All of these skills are important for helping to solve real world dilemmas. 

Some of the popular eco games that are out there (listed alphabetically):

• 
  Arboretum
• Cascadia
• Daybreak
• Keep Cool
• Kyoto
• Nunami
• Oceans
• Pacific Climate Adventures
• Pandemic
• Photosynthesis
• Planet-E
• Renature
• Rising Waters (based on the Great Mississippi flood of 1927)
• Tipping Point
• Wingspan

Need to read more? Here are some great articles on the subject:

• Popular Science's article by Zoe Dutton's 1-23-2023: How Climate Change Board Games Could Turn Play Into Action

• The Guardian's article: Can Board Games Teach Us About the Climate Crisis? Game creators say yes

• Columbia Climate School's article by Sarah Fecht 11-18-2022: Columbia Student Presents Climate Change Board Games at COP27

• Happy Eco New's article by James D'Souza's 2-21-2023: Climate Change Board Games Inspire Hope

• Forbes' article by James Morris, 10-28-2022: Can We Play Ourselves Out Of The Climate Crisis? With The Daybreak Boardgame, Maybe

Image created at canva.com

Endangered Animals: Where A Pixel Is Worth 1000 Words

In the category of "a picture says 1000 words"... How much does a pixel say? 

Here, I think both the pictures and pixels say a lot. 

 

University of Maryland student Josh Smith (whose Imgur screen name is JJSmooth44), used the 2008 WWF project Population by Pixel as inspiration to his own photo/design series. Using a computer generated design program, he used the number of pixels per picture of an endangered animal to show the equivalent number of animals left per species. What this means is that the more undistinguishable and pixilated the picture is, the more endangered or close to extinction the animal is. 

 

 

Josh Smith's series went viral nearly 4 years ago in our pre-pandemic world in September 2019, yet it has started circulating once again with views nearing 150,000.  This level of art-meets-environmentalism visualization can certainly pack a punch--especially when comparing those images that are sharply in focus (meaning the species is flourishing) versus those poorly-pixilated animal pictures.

 

In one article I read, it discussed that now that our human population has surpassed 8 billion people, the level of high resolution of that picture would have shown the most minute details, including being alert to zoom in to see individual facial pores.

Every Pixels is one animal. The more pixelated the image, the closer it is to extinction.

Images from https://yupthatexists.com/photographer-takes-photos-of-endangered-species-using-the-same-number-of-pixels-as-there-is-animals-left-in-existence/ and https://petapixel.com/2019/10/01/photos-of-endangered-species-where-every-pixel-represents-one-animal/

 

Is Sharing Our Stuff The Answer to Our Planetary Problems?

It's always an endearing moment on a made-for-TV movie when the 8 year old girl shares their half sandwich with an 8 year old boy (or vice versa). The reality in classrooms, however, is that we teachers really don't allow sharing of food because of "all the reasons": potential of food allergies, "your parent packed that lunch for you and wants you to eat it," "other kids could get jealous," and more.

But I was fascinated when listening to the February 23rd TED Talk Daily entitled "The Surprising Climate Benefits Of Sharing Your Stuff" from Tessa Clark. The concept of saving our planet could indeed lie in the idea of not only food sharing, but other things as well. (You can find this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.)

When Tessa Clark started in with the idea of food sharing, at first it struck me as an automatic "nope, not doing it." Get your food from someone you don't know versus from a grocery store?!? Feels blasphemous! Feels like there's a potential to be poisoned! (Which led to the immediate secondary thought of "Why am I so jaded and why did I automatically go there?") 

But, the more she spoke about it, it does make sense to share. For instance, if I have the lawn mower and my neighbor has the leaf blower, we both save money and we can just borrow from each other. Saves on space in my garage too. So, why can't that hold true when it comes to my refrigerator? Especially given the overwhelming problem of food waste in the United States, which amounts to 30-40% of our national food supply. Minimalists will agree: we have an over-shopping problem on top of a waste mentality!

Thinking about the option to share our "stuff" definitely is an interesting thought exercise. With the growing number of "share" apps that are out there, maybe Tessa Clark is on to something.

Take a listen for yourself and see what you think. I do agree that it is going to take thinking in a different way from our current way of thinking (and have been thinking for decades). Nothing will change unless something changes...and we do indeed need to come up with a way to bring about positive, lasting changes to help our planetary problems, environmental issues, and global climate concerns.

Sandwich image from https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2022/08/food-safety-packing-school-lunches.html, Sharing economy image from https://medium.com/nomobo/the-sharing-economy-is-good-for-the-environment-heres-why-db37214215f7, TED Talk Daily audio from https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RMta72fSsZilhao7Io0eX?si=oewsdVXhTp2IJsInrkfMOw

Checking Out ChatGPT

Unless you have been living under a rock or have banished daily news of all forms, you have heard about the latest platform in Artificial Intelligence: ChatGPT. ChatGPT is all over the news and has been almost daily for the last 3-4 months. 

ChatGPT was created by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research lab in SanFrancisco created in 2015 with the goal of creating "friendly AI." There's a whole history lesson there, where you can learn all about it at Taskade's article "What is OpenAI?—Its History and How ChatGPT Is Changing the World."

 

ChatGPT launched November 30th, 2022, and it had over a million users in a matter of 5 days.

 

As educators, the buzz about it and what to do about it started almost instantly. Will it lead kids to cheat? Is the college essay dead? Should schools block this or embrace it? I will share a later post that will discuss some of the merits in the classroom that teachers can take advantage of AI & ChatGPT as a timesaver for busy teachers. 

 

When it first came to my attention (probably about the start of the new year), I tried repeatedly to get on to see it in action and I kept getting messages that the system was at capacity and they'd get back to me if I left an email address. I did, but they never did. 

 

I finally got a chance to play with ChatGPT mid-February, when they opened it up if you create an account. For now, it is free. Here's what you see when you login:

 

One of the first things I did was look into their FAQs. See if there wee any tips, tho the biggest one I knew: the more specific you are in what you ask, the better ChatGPT's response will be. 

 

One of the pieces that did strike me, however, was their general question of "Can I trust that AI is telling me the truth." This information is a good beacon to continually come back to:

"ChatGPT is not connected to the internet, and it can occasionally produce incorrect answers. It has limited knowledge of world and events after 2021 and may also occasionally produce harmful instructions or biased content. We'd recommend checking whether responses from the model are accurate or not. If you find an answer is incorrect, please provide that feedback by using the "Thumbs Down" button."

Okay, so now that I was in, I start posing questions. My first question on February 19th was the following, just to see what it would post:

 

"Write an environmental education blog post for teachers 

about the 5 top eco win of the past year."

 

It was crazy quick how fast the information spit out!!! Full disclosure: this is verbatim what ChatGPT spit out in less than 2 minutes.

 

"As educators, it's important for us to stay up-to-date with the latest environmental news and progress. This past year, there have been some exciting wins in the fight against climate change and for environmental conservation. Here are the top five eco wins of the past year that we can celebrate and share with our students.

1. Renewable energy overtakes coal in the US

For the first time in over 130 years, renewable energy sources generated more electricity than coal in the United States. This is a significant milestone in the transition towards a clean energy economy, and it shows that renewable energy is becoming more economically viable than fossil fuels. This is a great opportunity for teachers to teach about the benefits of renewable energy and the importance of investing in sustainable energy infrastructure. 

 

2. Global agreement to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030

At the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China, more than 100 countries agreed to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030. This commitment is a significant step towards protecting biodiversity and preserving critical ecosystems. As teachers, we can use this as an opportunity to teach our students about the importance of conservation and the impacts of human activities on our planet.

 

3. Amazon rainforest deforestation hits a 10-year low

 

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest decreased by 70% from August 2019 to July 2020, hitting a 10-year low. This is a significant win in the fight to preserve one of the world's most important ecosystems. As teachers, we can use this as an opportunity to teach our students about the importance of rainforests and the impacts of deforestation, as well as how we can support efforts to protect these critical ecosystems.

 

4. China commits to reaching net-zero emissions by 2060

 

China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, announced its commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2060. This is a significant milestone in the global fight against climate change and shows that even countries with high emissions can take meaningful action to reduce their impact on the planet. As teachers, we can use this as an opportunity to teach our students about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the role of countries and individuals in mitigating climate change.

 

5. Plastic bag bans and restrictions continue to expand globally 

 

Countries around the world continue to implement bans and restrictions on single-use plastic bags, reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills. As teachers, we can use this as an opportunity to teach our students about the impacts of plastic pollution and the importance of reducing our plastic use.

 

In conclusion, the past year has seen some significant eco wins that we can celebrate and use as opportunities to educate our students about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. By sharing these wins with our students, we can inspire them to take action and work towards a more sustainable future."

 

Holy guacamole! That was a lot, and it was fascinating--both from the eco-win standpoint but also the speed and capability of the AI side of it. But, given my question above of "is it telling the truth," I decided this might be a good next follow up question in the same thread: 

"Include the citations where this information came from."

 

Again, almost faster than a blink of the eye, here is the response I got. I will say, it threw me off a smidge with the conversational tone:

"Sure, here are the sources for the information in my previous response:

 

Renewable energy overtakes coal in the US:Source: US Energy Information Administration. "Electricity in the United States". Retrieved 17 Feb 2023, https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php#tab2

 

Global agreement to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030:Source: Convention on Biological Diversity. "Kunming Declaration: Adopted at the Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity". Retrieved 17 Feb 2023, https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/e167/59b4/84b8d747cbd2cfc2a3849ee6/cop-15-dec-33-en.pdf

 

Amazon rainforest deforestation hits a 10-year low:Source: Mongabay News. "Amazon deforestation fell by 70% in the past year". Retrieved 17 Feb 2023, https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/amazon-deforestation-fell-by-70-in-the-past-year/

 

China commits to reaching net-zero emissions by 2060:Source: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "China Commits to Carbon Neutrality before 2060". Retrieved 17 Feb 2023, https://unfccc.int/news/china-commits-to-carbon-neutrality-before-2060

 

Plastic bag bans and restrictions continue to expand globally:Source: UN Environment Programme. "Plastic Waste: What you need to know". Retrieved 17 Feb 2023, https://www.unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/plastic-waste-what-you-need-know"

 

With the exception of the Mongabay reference which I hadn't ever hear of before, these are some legit resources! [However, I have heard others on message boards report that this is not always the case--so do your homework!!]

I proceeded to ask a slew of other questions, more specifically about integrating ChatGPT in the classroom, but like I said, more on that later. It also left me pondering a slew of moral and philosophical questions and implications, making me wonder where this will all take us as a society. Didn't take long for me to feel like my head was completely spinning!

 

In a big way, it reminded me of falling down the rabbit hole of YouTube and the stereotypical "crazy cat videos." Posing question after question to ChatGPT is like that!

 

Just like an open tube of toothpaste, once it's squeezed and the toothpaste is out, there's no putting it back in. Same holds true for Pandora's box. Now that we have this capability, it's out there, and the technological advances will only continue to "speed racer" at double or quadruple the speed. AI is not going away! The slew of controversial conversations will only continue. Is it okay to use it as brainstorming or cutting through the writer's block, as long as we go in and edit it? I don't know. Would we accept that explanation from our students. Doubtful. That probably should be the guide. Is it okay to use it for thank you notes or resignation letters... or is it dumbing us all down? Seems like there are lots of parameters to figure out.

 

As all of this AI continues, let's just all hope we ALL make decisions to use this type of tech for the power of good, not the force of evil!!! 

Images from: Screenshot from https://chat.openai.com/chat when you first login to chat (Taken 2-25-2023), OpenAI/ChatGPT image from https://levelup.gitconnected.com/what-is-chatgpt-openai-how-it-is-built-the-technology-behind-it-ba3e8acc1e9b with Image Source: Amarujala

Where Do Students Get Their Climate Change "411?"

Back in the day, 411 was the universal code you dialed on your home landline when you wanted to get information or directory assistance. This was way back when "landline" wasn't really a thing because it was just your phone. The only one you had. The one in your home--the only place you had a phone. 

 

Of course that also was in the days we had television too. (I'm not THAT big of a dinosaur!) So, you could also get information from the news...as well as libraries, newspapers, magazines, and more.

 

Well of course, here in the ultra-connected digital age where smartphones and tablets are extensions of our arms, even though 411 is still sort of "a thing" (unless you are an AT&T customer), we get a lot of information in other places. 

 

On the Social Institute's blog, I ran across the February 10, 2023 article "Climate Change Education: Where Are Students Getting Their Information?" [The Social Institute is a paid, online learning platform and curriculum for schools to help students grades 4-12 navigate their emotions and the tangled world of social media and technology.] 

 

Environmental education is not standard state to state at this point in the United States. (Sadly, it often times becomes a highly charged political issue, when truthfully, helping our planet should be universal...but I digress.) If students aren't consistently learning about climate change in school, it begs the question: where are they getting their 411? 

 

All fingers tend to point to social media. TikTok is a wildly popular way to share soundbites, and there are influencers galore (on every subject) as well as on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Additionally, social media is a very popular platform for environmental organizations as well as all sorts of news and other media outlets. On top of that, teens are less likely to get this type of information from news programs or books.

This is where it gets hairy. The Internet is ripe with amazing information, facts, and details. It also is the host of a lot of misinformation, disinformation, biased content, propaganda, fake news, semi-accurate facts, spin-doctoring, conspiracy theories, and outright fiction...all posing as factual information.  Of course, this is hard enough for adults too navigate, let alone our preteens, teens, and college students. Then throw in algorithms that lead to biased silos, clickbait, ads, and other online manipulation ... it can get hairy indeed! Media literacy serves as the keys to the correct content kingdom.

 

With science-based information in particular, students need to remember the importance of triangulating their facts by fact checking using multiple (at least three), reputable sources. Even if it's in a 15 or 30 second TikTok. Scientific journals and governmental organizations are two great places to start. They may also want to investigate their social media's algorithm. It's also good practice to report blatant misinformation to stop the spread. At the very least, we all need to make sure we aren't part of the problem by sharing and spreading the "bad stuff."

 

It's also good to encourage students (and adults) to do what The Social Institute calls "Using Social Media for Good." This includes not how a person uses it, but also who they follow. Look for those who are trustworthy folks to follow! Social media is growing as a platform for activism. By being sure to use it for the positive good, not only can people connect on matters of importance (which for many young people includes protecting the planet from the effects of climate change), but it also can become contagious. (I'm feeling Heather White's One Green Thing [OGT] in action, especially the OGT Influencers out there!)

 

In The Social Institute's post I referenced above, they also have a seven-page infographic on the 23 Insights for 2023 on how students use social media and how it impacts them emotionally. [Disclaimer: To download this, you need to give your 411: your name, phone number, and email address.]

 

As tech becomes even more enmeshed in our lives, these media literacy skills become more vital for each and every one of us, every day!

 

 

Image from https://www.ooma.com/blog/10-telephone-slang-terms-that-kids-dont-understand/; infographic from https://gabb.com/family-resources/what-is-media-literacy/, video from https://medialiteracynow.org/what-is-media-literacy/--Both of these articles are very good reads!]

52 Ways to Walk

I happened upon the book 52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time by Annabel Streets in the virtual bookshelf of my Libby app. I'm not even 100% sure how, but it most certainly was a "happy accident!" It was the perfect book as I'm newly back to walking after 2 knee surgeries over the last 6 months. Additionally, there are so many tie-ins to both nature and brain & body science.... I feel it's one of those books that everyone needs to read. 

It's probably no surprise that people view walking as boring. You may agree. Given that, these 52 approaches serve as a good way to snazz up walking and jazz up your step, making it more of a habit and bringing you more joy. It doesn't have to be same ole, same ole.

The way the book is laid out, you could read it front to back, skip around, or save a chapter a week to guide your walking with 52 different approaches and ways to be mindfully focused out in nature. It helps you get out of the mindset of "the walking rut." It even inserts a bit of playfulness and levity, and our brains love novelty.

 

Some of my favorite chapters included: 

• Week 2: Improve Your Gait
• Week 3: Walk, Smile, Greet, Repeat
• Week 8: Walk with Vista Vision
• Week 11: Take a City Smell Walk
• Week 13: Take a Walk-Dance or a Dance-Walk
• Week 16: Pick Up Litter as You Walk
• Week 26: Walk in Sunshine
• Week 29: Walk Barefoot
• Week 32: Walk in Water
• Week 44: Seek Out the Sublime
• Week 45: Work as You Walk
• Week 51: Walking as Meditation
• Week 52: Walk Deep and Seek Out Fractals

Some major takeaways....

• As humans whose lifestyle is growingly becoming more sedentary, we don't move enough. Our bodies were meant to move. Half (or more) of our aches and pains come from our crunched computer posture. We need to move and groove so much more.

• The health effects are many with routine walking. Regular walking: 
• lowers your blood pressure, weight, inflammation, and cholesterol;
• engages and alerts all of your senses;
• counters heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and anxiety;
• improves your overall mental health and provides stress release
• increases oxygen which helps your organs in addition to your memory, creativity, clarity of thought, concentration, relaxation, and your ability to sleep at night;
• combats fatigue and brings about greater energy; 
• helps move your muscles, joints, and bones and improves your alignment, strengthens your core, and improves your balance and stability;
• increases your long distance and panoramic vision given you aren't singualarily looking at a screen;
• provides you opportunity to get more Vitamin D.

• There are also a bounty of environmental benefits: 
• Walking provides you an opportunity to step away from your car or public transportation, which lowers the overall environmental impact of getting from one place to another.
• As you walk, you can make it you "one green thing" to pick up trash along the way as you go.
• Walking gets you more in touch with your surroundings. When this happens, it helps us care more about our world around us--which makes you more invested in protecting the world around you. This is how environmental stewards are made.

When there's a bounty of science explaining all the benefits of walking, and the price is right (free!), what's not to love about walking. There's literally nothing stopping you, except your own 2 feet! Today may be a great day to get outside, breathe in some fresh air, sharpen your focus, and start feeling the benefits!

Book image from https://www.amazon.com/52-Ways-Walk-Surprising-Wellness-ebook/dp/B096DVH9HF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=52+ways+to+walk+book&qid=1676821812&sprefix=52+wakys+to%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1; Quote image created from canva.com using a book quote from -From 52 Ways to Walk by Annabel Streets

Planetary Stewardship TEDxBoston

In researching my recent post about Heather White's TEDx Talk in Boston, I learned she was there for the November 13-14, 2022 Planetary Stewardship TEDxBoston event. Focused around climate change and timed to coordinate with the United Nations Climate Change Conference last November, the many TEDxBoston talks all centered around environmental sustainability.

Included in the multitude of speakers were the following: 

• Heal Your Planet, Heal Your Heart - Maya Dutta 

• Eat Climate Change - Nora LaTorre 

• A Plan to Save The Planet - Glenn Weinreb

• Portraits of a Planet - Donald Pettit 

• How to Protect People and Planet - Tania Roa

• A Five-Step Recovery Program for “Sustainable” Fashion - Neri Karra Sillaman 

• Farming While Black - Leah Penniman

• Artistic Map-Making: Reawakening Our Wense of Place and Planet - Molly Holmberg Brown

• Data Centers on Wheels: The Carbon Footprint of Self-Driving Cars - Soumya Sudhakar 

• The Future of Climate-Tech Is Everything - Valerie Shen

• Love Us Like you Love your Food - Tu David Phu

• How a New Space Race Can Help Us Reverse Climate Change | Peter Minor

You can find these and other talks both at the TEDxBoston Planetary Stewardship website and also their Planetary Stewardship YouTube playlist. What a way to soak up so much environmental expertise!

Video from https://youtu.be/Gwq4l11dy2E and  TedxBoston logo from https://youtu.be/kyGsec5AuCo

Plastic-Free This Valentine's Day

 ♥️ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥️

These images struck me that as we are celebrating our loved friends and family this Valentine's Day, maybe we should extend a little love to our planet. Most beautiful part of all of this: it's not limited to just one day in the middle of February. It's something we can do every day!

♥️ I hope your Valentine's Day is full of love and free of plastic! ♥️

From BeyondPlastics, this link will give you 10 plastic-free gift ideas 

if you are still in the market for giving a little plastic-free love today!

"My love language" image from https://twitter.com/ZeroWasteNC/status/1227272442093166593, "Use Real Stuff" image from https://twitter.com/PlasticPollutes/status/1624112261265489934, "Guide to Plastic Free Valentine's Day" image from https://www.beyondplastics.org/holiday-guides/valentines-day 

Heather White's "Think Like An Awesome Ancestor" TED Talk on Eco-Anxiety

What are your daily practices?

Coffee in the morning?

Exercise or meditation?

Walks after dinner?

Couch cozying and binge watching?

 

We all have those things that we do every day. Purposefully or not. 

 

Several posts ago I wrote about Heather White and her One Green Thing climate action superpower online quiz. It's been a book that's been ruminating with me for awhile now.

 

Her proposal is that we all should set up a daily practice of sustainability. In doing so, it can help combat the eco-anxiety many feel, especially our teens.

 

Here, in her TEDxBoston talk "Think Like an Awesome Ancestor: A Daily Practice to Ease Eco-Anxiety" she addresses all of the above. Her statistics for Gen Z'ers and their eco-anxiety are eye-opening, striking once again about the mental health crisis we have on our hands--especially when you factor in how social media can elevate all of that. But, by thinking ahead, paying it forward, like planning as your ancestors have in the past, we can lead to a greener cultural change that will benefit our kids and their future kids.

 

Image from https://www.heatherwhite.com/post/your-role-in-climate-action
and Video from https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_white_think_like_an_awesome_ancestor_a_daily_practice_to_ease_eco_anxiety?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

Go Slow: For Our Planet and Our Health

I recently ran across Lloyd Alter's Treehugger article "Go Slow to Help Slow the Climate Crisis" while scrolling my social media feed. It was a good read here in the winter, when the time of the year lending itself to cold, chilly, and hibernating. I like the idea of being more deliberate in our approaches to our choice. 

However, the most striking part about this whole article was that it was dated December 30, 2019. 2019! Only 3 years ago, but given the past 3 years, three years can feel like a lifetime ago.

Moreover, December 2019 was ironically 3 months before the start of the Covid 19 pandemic started mid-March 2020. The pandemic which forced all of us to "go slow" for months (and some of us, now, for years).

Alter's 2019 article focuses on slow food, slow cities, slow travel, slow cars, and slow space. And it makes sense how these would make a greater impact on our planet:

• Slow Food: Eating locally, seasonally, and in a farm-to-table manner means our food travels shorter distances, provides us with greater nutrients, and makes a smaller carbon footprint.

• Slow Cities: Walkable cities and town centers with no cars helps bring about a greater reliance on local businesses. It grows connection and community and lowers greenhouse gases.

• Slow Travel: Planes are carbon intensive. A shift to alternative travel promotes less emissions and more opportunity to slow down, take a look around, and smell the roses as you go. 

• Slow Cars: Driving a little slower or a smaller car saves on fuel, emissions, and improves your gas mileage (which saves you money). Carpooling and public transportation also help in congested communities.

• Slow Space: There's a lot of cheap, poorly constructed, toxic materials in the items we bring into our homes. Making smart decisions with what you do and don't bring into your home benefits the planet that houses it.

All excellent points in moving slower intentionally to help promote the planet. In a way, though, in reading this article retrospectively in 2023, it reads like a premonition.

As a planet of people who have collectively lived through a pandemic, there has been a lot of shift in people's perspective on community, health, wellness, and personal decisions. While we were all living through the pandemic, life seemed to be screaming "less is more!" For many of us, it still does. 

However, as more people are seeing Covid 19 in the rearview mirror (whether that is medically accurate or not), the desire to "return to normal" is causing the "go slow" lessons learned these past 3 years to dissipate like fog. Is it just me, or does it seems like people are starting to forget? More importantly, should we forget??

This idea of going slow also parallels the "quiet quitting" movement that has gained traction this past year. As Cal Newport (author of Digital Mimimalism) described in his 12/29/22 New Yorker article "The Year in Quiet Quitting," quiet quitting is when you maintain your employment, but you stick with your listed job requirements. You draw stricter boundaries between home and work--especially as it has become blurred, blended together with remote work, zoom meetings, or email pings all weekend long. You do your job, but you stop burning the midnight oil going over and above. It will all be there tomorrow. Your goal: to make sure you have a life along the way. 

Lives most certainly are meant to be lived, and we do only have one of them. 

As a 30+ year veteran teacher, I have noticed that wealth of articles specifically tying all of these ideas together. Teachers were the March 2020 heroes who readied for remote learning at a moment's notice. That revered reputation was short-lived. In fact, life back in the classroom intensified with greater demands when the kids all came back in class. Teachers left the workforce in droves, leaving current teachers to double up due to no substitutes. Also for those who stayed, they are dealing with increased concerns about student socialization/behavior, "learning loss" (a term I hate), and growing mental health issues. 

We learned so much during the pandemic--and we want those lessons to not go by lost, in vain. We need to remember: less is still more. Slow and steady still wins the race. These 3 articles that have spoken loudly to me about all of this:

• "Teachers, What If Our Burnout Is Actually Grief?" by Kelly Treleaven [12/9/22] from We Are Teachers website
• "We Haven’t Addressed Teachers’ COVID Trauma: Why That Matters and What Needs to Happen" by Shannon McLoud [8/8/22] from We Are Teachers website
• "Why One Principal Is Asking Her Staff to Do Less" by Crystal Thorpe [11/1/22] from EducationWeek

As I write this post and reflect on going slow for our planet, our health, our students, and our classrooms, I have homemade soup simmering on my stove. I chuckle at the irony as it makes for a good metaphor. Sure, I could put my soup on a high heat and "cook it up quick." But, it is through the marinading and the melding of ingredients where the magic happens. The end product is full of flavor to savor. That slow simmering pace feels like it has a wealth of benefit. Strikes me the same with life. Especially if peppered with a lot of time spent outdoors, in exploration and adventure.

As Ferris Bueller once said: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Seems like good advice for both humans taking care of themselves and their planet!

Slow is a Revolution poster from https://degrowth.org/2017/11/08/conversations-degrowth-exploring-slow-movement/; slow graphic created at www.canva.com, head on computer from  https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/08/21/quiet-quitting-what-to-know/

Checking in on Your Carbon Footprint

I referenced being a lover of online quizzes a few posts ago.

Here's another one for you. This one is a free, not-behind-the-paywall quiz from the New York Times. "Quiz: What's the Best Way to Shrink Your Carbon Footprint" by Sander van der Linden is a simple 12 item quiz where you test your knowledge about the best way to reduce your own carbon emissions. Your job: to decide if each item has a small, moderate, or large effect. The other neat thing about this quiz is that once you answer, it shows the percentage of US quiz-takers who scored it accurately. 

I fared as Americans did on the question with the greatest percentage of Americans who got it right: 50%. And I'm sure that I've read more books that most people on the subject of carbon footprint and environmentalism... so one would expect I should have gotten more correct. I will say (in my defense), my errors were 1 degree away versus the two. For instance, if the true answer was "small effect," I put "moderate." Or vice versa. Or the same with "moderate" versus "large." So for the 6 I missed, I was "in the neighborhood."

According to the article, I was on par with most people. Most of the time I over-estimated the effect of my missed items. 

But it goes to show, even as educated as I am on these items, 50% of the correct answers isn't passing. We are seriously in need of education. Sander van der Linden's article that accompanies the quiz notes the same.

And spoiler alert, the one item you'd think most people are doing collectively (and most of America is probably not even doing well), ranks in the small department of effecting change. 

For some tips on reducing your carbon footprint, check out Columbia Climate School's The 37 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint (Animated Graphic), which is an excellent summary of many ways you can take action.

[For a more in-depth investigation into your own carbon footprint, check out Carbon Calculator.]

Image from https://co2living.com/reduce-your-carbon-footprint-7-instant-ways/

Funerals: Returning to the Earth

Sadly, we've had to attend two funerals in the past month. Never fun. It certainly puts everything into a clearer focus and makes you sharpen your priorities knowing that our time on this planet is finite.

Given we have been very much in this hyper-awareness of death in our house, I certainly paused when I saw Michael d'Estries' January 10, 202 Treehugger article: "New York Expands Green Burial Options With Human Composting."

My previous school was very eco-centric. We composted our school lunches and I brought my family's home food composting to school weekly--so I closely know how composting works. This, of course, brings almost too much inside information to the table... the thought of human composting brings about an initial "ew" factor.

New York is the sixth state to legalize human composting (which is also called natural reduction). Washington was the first in 2019, Colorado and Oregon in 2021, then California, and Vermont prior to New York in 2022.

Thinking about traditional modern burials, there's a lot of items being put into the ground: metal caskets lined with fabric. When you think about that alongside a growing population, that's a lot of "stuff." But even considering cremation can be hard for some people when it comes to considering that for a loved one. Then you add in composting? That's a lot to wrap a mind around.

But, for the avid environmentalist, it might be worth considering. In d'Estries' article, he goes through what human composting entails...and does a better job of it than I could do with summarizing it.  He also mentions companies in this field like Recompose and The Natural Funeral that specialize in natural reduction. While the price is still currently on par with traditional funerals, the longterm projection is that as more people embrace this, the costs will come down. 

To dive even deeper than the d'Estries article, click on the Recompose and The Natural Funeral links above. Then check out CNN's November 7, 2022 article "How Human Composting Could Reduce Death’s Darbon Footprint" by Kristen Rogers.

Am I ready to make this my end game plan? Not sure yet. But it is an interesting green alternative green for those who choose it as a way to reduce their waste, carbon footprint, and greenhouse gases in order to make a more sustainable impact on the Earth.

Image from https://undark.org/2022/08/18/for-a-more-sustainable-afterlife-try-human-composting/