Prof. Pam Birtill
@diervilla.bsky.social
Professor in the Psychology of Learning at University of Leeds. Welsh learner, #psychology academic, higher education and assessment, #linoprint artist, #allotment holder, weaver, spinner and all round dabbler. Northern. She/her/hi. SFHEA. NTF.
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
Just a gentle reminder to save PDFs of the work you published this year especially in digital publications because you could look up one day and find that that pub doesn’t exist anymore and isn’t archived anywhere and is just gone
Ask me how I know!
Ask me how I know!
November 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Just a gentle reminder to save PDFs of the work you published this year especially in digital publications because you could look up one day and find that that pub doesn’t exist anymore and isn’t archived anywhere and is just gone
Ask me how I know!
Ask me how I know!
This is the most mad policy. @lukecharters.bsky.social how can you support this tax on successful exports that will damage a vital growth sector in the UK and Yorkshire?
sorry for the naive question, but what is the policy goal here? force everyone to cut staff/shrink with only a select few remaining?
These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.
November 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This is the most mad policy. @lukecharters.bsky.social how can you support this tax on successful exports that will damage a vital growth sector in the UK and Yorkshire?
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It’s widely known (and, I think, pretty uncontroversial) that learning requires effort — specifically, if you don’t have to work at getting the knowledge, it won’t stick.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Even if an LLM could be trusted to give you correct information 100% of the time, it would be an inferior method of learning it.
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
A new paper argues that current generative AI tools offer little benefit for genuine learning unless students already have substantial prior knowledge. genAI gives probabilistic summaries, not the kind of support that builds expertise.
November 23, 2025 at 7:47 AM
A new paper argues that current generative AI tools offer little benefit for genuine learning unless students already have substantial prior knowledge. genAI gives probabilistic summaries, not the kind of support that builds expertise.
This is such an interesting article
Guardrails anyone? Apparently not. With a sharing link for 3 non-subscribers. on.ft.com/44fyMfK
Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts
AIG, Great American and WR Berkley seek permission to limit liability from AI agents and chatbots
on.ft.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This is such an interesting article
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... this is a really insightful article - AI slop is a result of the poor working conditions of the raters as well as being a consequence of the innate characteristics of LLMs
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:58 AM
www.theguardian.com/technology/2... this is a really insightful article - AI slop is a result of the poor working conditions of the raters as well as being a consequence of the innate characteristics of LLMs
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
'The economic impact of international students in the UK surged from £31.3 billion in 2018/19 to £41.9 billion by 2021/22. On average, every parliamentary constituency in Britain benefits by £58 million.' 1/3
Which UK regional economies are most reliant on international students? - HEPI
Join HEPI for a webinar on Thursday 11 December 2025 from 10am to 11am to discuss how universities can strengthen the student voice in governance to mark the launch of our upcoming report, Rethinking ...
www.hepi.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
'The economic impact of international students in the UK surged from £31.3 billion in 2018/19 to £41.9 billion by 2021/22. On average, every parliamentary constituency in Britain benefits by £58 million.' 1/3
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
Just finished reading Faraday and Bragg's Top Tips for lecturing.
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Just finished reading Faraday and Bragg's Top Tips for lecturing.
Second day back to work in England. Freezing temperatures and the bus is 25 minutes late.
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Second day back to work in England. Freezing temperatures and the bus is 25 minutes late.
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
As the cold weather continues, Local Authorities are introducing SWEP. If you see someone sleeping rough, contact your council or Streetlink thestreetlink.org.uk/about
About Us - What is StreetLink?
StreetLink connects people sleeping rough in England & Wales to local support via alerts submitted by the public and people sleeping rough. Learn how it works.
thestreetlink.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
As the cold weather continues, Local Authorities are introducing SWEP. If you see someone sleeping rough, contact your council or Streetlink thestreetlink.org.uk/about
A session on student success has started talking about students not having driving licenses - let’s not bring motornormativity into our student support conversations…
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A session on student success has started talking about students not having driving licenses - let’s not bring motornormativity into our student support conversations…
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
This—on my former university, department, and advisor—is harrowing but required reading for all social psychologists. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Oxford University Has Failed Women Over Harassment Concerns, Staff Say
The university has repeatedly been slow to act against male academics accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior, a Bloomberg investigation found.
www.bloomberg.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This—on my former university, department, and advisor—is harrowing but required reading for all social psychologists. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
Surveillance of students is problematic. Close observation of student learning is good teaching.
Online learning is powerful. Online assessment is forever broken.
Lots of wisdom in the interview about AI with @tbertramgallant.bsky.social and David Rettinger. pca.st/episode/4f66...
Online learning is powerful. Online assessment is forever broken.
Lots of wisdom in the interview about AI with @tbertramgallant.bsky.social and David Rettinger. pca.st/episode/4f66...
November 17, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Surveillance of students is problematic. Close observation of student learning is good teaching.
Online learning is powerful. Online assessment is forever broken.
Lots of wisdom in the interview about AI with @tbertramgallant.bsky.social and David Rettinger. pca.st/episode/4f66...
Online learning is powerful. Online assessment is forever broken.
Lots of wisdom in the interview about AI with @tbertramgallant.bsky.social and David Rettinger. pca.st/episode/4f66...
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
In other news look at councils projected cumulative deficit just on special needs costs over the next few years. Yikes.
November 17, 2025 at 9:27 AM
In other news look at councils projected cumulative deficit just on special needs costs over the next few years. Yikes.
Reposting for the uk morning crowd. We must call out this racist and inappropriate application of AI.
There is convincing evidence that trauma accelerates biological ageing www.apa.org/news/press/r...
November 17, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Reposting for the uk morning crowd. We must call out this racist and inappropriate application of AI.
There is convincing evidence that trauma accelerates biological ageing www.apa.org/news/press/r...
November 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
There is convincing evidence that trauma accelerates biological ageing www.apa.org/news/press/r...
In further toxic immigration policy news, AI will be used to assess the ages of asylum seekers! I would very much like to see the data that demonstrates this is accurate, particularly in the population likely to seek asylum, and in people who have suffered trauma www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
In further toxic immigration policy news, AI will be used to assess the ages of asylum seekers! I would very much like to see the data that demonstrates this is accurate, particularly in the population likely to seek asylum, and in people who have suffered trauma www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
On a wine tour. Feels like the guardian “dining across the divide” feature. No, the uk is not overrun with immigrants despite what you see on TikTok. No, there is no looting. FFS!
November 16, 2025 at 3:20 AM
On a wine tour. Feels like the guardian “dining across the divide” feature. No, the uk is not overrun with immigrants despite what you see on TikTok. No, there is no looting. FFS!
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen | Euractiv
Open letter criticises the Commission President for remarks earlier this year – when she anticipated AI would “approach human reasoning” in 2026
www.euractiv.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
Worth remembering that freezing fuel duty, which could well happen again, costs about 30x more than the cycle to work scheme per year.
November 13, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Worth remembering that freezing fuel duty, which could well happen again, costs about 30x more than the cycle to work scheme per year.
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
560 000 ChatGPT users are showing signs of psychosis or mania per week. About twice as many are showing signs of heightened emotional attachment.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
openai.com/index/streng...
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
openai.com/index/streng...
ChatGPT: More than a million users show signs of mental health distress and mania each week, internal data suggest
Hundreds of thousands of ChatGPT users exhibit signs of psychosis, mania, or suicidal intent every week, a company audit indicates.1
The finding, released as part of an update to the AI technology to...
www.bmj.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
560 000 ChatGPT users are showing signs of psychosis or mania per week. About twice as many are showing signs of heightened emotional attachment.
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
openai.com/index/streng...
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
openai.com/index/streng...
It’s quite nice here
November 1, 2025 at 7:14 AM
It’s quite nice here
Reposted by Prof. Pam Birtill
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
Our politics is increasingly normalised to racism – because politicians are addicted to X
The platform has quietly dragged British politics into a dark place
inews.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...