Thoughts
Occasional notes and insights about communicating environmental, climate and sustainability themes, and tackling today’s sustainability challenges. Occasionally, we talk about facilitation, training and storytelling, too.
Playing with AI: Notes from #FacLab009
I run a regular gathering for facilitators to try out new tools, share knowledge and use our combined views of the world to help each other learn, grow and thrive. In February, a small group came together and I shared what I’ve learned, and they offered some reflections on AI and the future of facilitation.
Playing with AI: Other AI tools that might be of interest
A final note about AI (for now) on my thinking journey around AI and my work. May be helpful to fellow facilitators, trainers and workshop designers interested in how to use emergent and generative AI in their work.
Playing with AI: Dall-e for image creation (and a mention of Midjourney)
My notes on using Dall-e and Midjourney. May be helpful to fellow facilitators, trainers and workshop designers interested in how to use emergent and generative AI in their work.
Playing with AI: Jasper and other content-creation tools
My notes on use Jasper.ai and other content creation tools. May be helpful to fellow facilitators, trainers and workshop designers interested in how to use emergent and generative AI in their work.
Playing with AI: ChatGPT and other AI language models
My notes on using ChatGPR and a few other AI language models. May be helpful to fellow facilitators, trainers and workshop designers interested in how to use emergent and generative AI in their work.
Playing with AI: Synthesia (video)
My notes on use Synthesia. May be helpful to fellow facilitators, trainers and workshop designers interested in how to use emergent and generative AI in their work.
How to try out new tools and register for content without getting spammed
A short tip on how to set up accounts and try out new tools without being spammed. TLDR: for a temporary email address, EmailOnDeck is where I go.
Playing with AI: A note on the ethical issues related to AI and to generative AI in particular
A note in my thinking about AI and how it might inform, improve or impact my facilitation work. When I say “a note”, I mean “a note” – stylistically, there is nothing to see here. In this, I am wondering about the ethical issues that are bouncing around in my head. My thinking hardly scratches the surface but that’s okay: it’s not meant to.
Playing with AI: What are the different types of AI out there?
In my quest to understand the world into which ChatGPT has exploded, I thought that understanding more the different types of AI might be interesting. This is my take on the question and its answer.
Playing with AI: A note on using prompts
To use many of the generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, Dall-e, Mid Journey and others – you need to give the AI prompts instead of keywords. Here are some notes from my explorations into prompts from my Playing with AI diversion.
Scientists Warning Europe
A interesting site full of science endorsed solutions which will lead to a just transition for our World to a sustainable and equitable future presented by scientists across Europe.
Sustainability meets heritage: powering heritage buildings with solar electricity is a no-brainer
The “protected status” of heritage buildings means that solar photovoltaic panels are seldom seen on roofs, but does this make sense in our changing world?
What if we all took small but consistent action to tackle today’s sustainability challenges?
The “protected status” of heritage buildings means that solar photovoltaic panels are seldom seen on roofs, but does this make sense in our changing world?
Make BIG changes by starting a tiny push
Let’s talk about physics and how one small action (yours) can end up making a significant difference (for yourself or the world).
What if climate change is a hoax?
What do you take away from the inimitable Joel Pett's cartoon? (© Joel Pett - for more of his work, see: https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorial-cartoons/joel-pett/.)
How can you foster a culture of communication in your organisation?
Like so many things, fostering a culture of communication has to start at the top. If leaders really want to have a two-way dialogue, they need to have an open-door policy, make time to listen, be open to new ideas, and not only act on good ideas, but acknowledge where those ideas came from. This encourages conversation in all directions. Of course, the same needs to happen when communicating downwards, and it’s vital that downward communication is clear, consistent, honest and transparent....
How can you make sure that everyone contributes in a meeting?
If you have a meeting, hearing the voices of all attendees could be a game-changer. Of course, it depends on the meeting: if you’re delivering a state-of-the-nation talk to the company, perhaps you’re more interest in cascading information down rather than getting input. If, however, you have selected a number of people to attend a meeting to make a decision, generate ideas, move forward with plans, or start planning something brand new, you need to make sure that everyone can and does...
How can you diffuse drama in your team?
The Karpman Drama Triangle defines the roles that people take on (and can switch between) in stressful, emotional or high-conflict situations. Dr Stephen Karpman identified three main roles that emerge: the persecutor, the victim and the rescuer. We can often find ourselves drawn to a particular role. However, the reality is that we move around the three roles. Different circumstances—people, context, emotions, environment, topic—pull us towards one particular pattern of behaviour or another....
What if there was a process for soliciting honest, neutral input for your ideas?
You’re a creator. Perhaps you’re creating a new strategy, a product, a play, a novel, a team, or something completely different. You’re part-way through. You think you’re on the right track. And you have decided that you want to share your idea and get feedback and input that will not only help you move your ideas forward, but that will energise you and perhaps even make your creation even better than it would otherwise be. The way to do this is by asking for feedback, but asking for feedback...
What if there was a process for giving kind but honest feedback?
The good news is that there are loads of interesting models, but which model you choose to use depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you want to give feedback on work-in-progress—a creation of some sort—you might want to take a look at Liz Lerman’s deceptively simple Critical Response Process or CRP. This allows you to understand get a wider perspective about an individual’s thoughts, motivations, and creation(s) so that you can offer feedback that is honest, direct, and both...
What if it was possible to have productive, conflict-free conversations?
Conversations are life’s “grease”. Good conversations make things go smoother – work, relationships, buying something at the store, understanding a complex idea, and more. The challenge is that so many conversations become charged and filled with conflict below the surface. This is certainly true when it comes to communicating sustainability challenges or the climate crisis. Why? And how do you diffuse this? There are lots of reasons for conflict and many ways things to look out for in a...
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