Showing 1 - 6 of 6
The crisis in West's AI industry needs attention
News, Charles Ferguson, Published on 10/02/2025
» The release of the Chinese DeepSeek-R1 large language model, with its impressive capabilities and low development cost, shocked financial markets and led to claims of a "Sputnik moment" in artificial intelligence. But a powerful, innovative Chinese model achieving parity with US products should come as no surprise. It is the predictable result of a major US and Western policy failure, for which the AI industry itself bears much of the blame.
Is AI a curse or a blessing for education?
Oped, Matthew Robert Ferguson, Published on 17/08/2024
» My collegiate rowing coach at the University of Western Ontario was an eccentric West German named Dr Volker Nolte, a stocky and imposing figure who was only funny when he didn't mean to be. He was a biomechanics wizard, obsessing over the countervailing forces of the rower and shell, currents and winds, blades and water. In the early 80s, as part of his doctoral research, he designed a sliding rigger that moved along the hull of the boat on slides in tandem with the rower, which, when compared to a fixed rigger, effectively doubled the force and propulsion of every stroke. It made second-tier rowers competitive with the best in the world.
Climate change is killing our summer
News, Niall Ferguson, Published on 31/07/2023
» Most of us have an idea of summer in our heads. It generally involves beaches. Americans head to their coasts -- avoiding only fog-shrouded San Francisco -- and Europeans to the Mediterranean or Aegean. We all strip down to near nakedness and sit around in the sun, occasionally frolicking in the ocean waves. We aim to return home tanned and toned. If you come from another planet and don't know what I am talking about, watch the Barbie trailer.
Teacher's role in a world with ChatGPT
Oped, Matthew Robert Ferguson, Published on 08/03/2023
» Fundamentally, I see my role as an educator as to find creative ways to nurture the development and resilience of the human brain. Yes, I teach subjects, and there's content knowledge that I impart to my students. But at its root, pedagogy is about the process of teaching and learning, and not about filling an empty vessel.
Classrooms enhance value of learning
Oped, Matthew Robert Ferguson, Published on 18/09/2021
» Thank goodness for Zoom and platforms like it. They have salvaged more than an entire academic year of study for our Thai university students.
Evaluations inspire teaching success
News, Matthew Robert Ferguson, Published on 03/07/2019
» As a lecturer at a respected university in Thailand, evaluating my students is a critical part of my job. I will do this four to five times a term, assessing their assignments, their progress, their development.