Dan Stephenson
@danstephenson.ca
Educator | Podcaster | Entertainer | Hockey Fan | All Around Geek
It's 2026, and I still have to teach young folks to manage files on their computers. Four times in the last week I've had to sit with someone and show them how to copy, cut, paste, rename files, etc.
Wasn't this generation supposed to have grown up with and understand this tech?
Wasn't this generation supposed to have grown up with and understand this tech?
January 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM
It's 2026, and I still have to teach young folks to manage files on their computers. Four times in the last week I've had to sit with someone and show them how to copy, cut, paste, rename files, etc.
Wasn't this generation supposed to have grown up with and understand this tech?
Wasn't this generation supposed to have grown up with and understand this tech?
We’ve lived with AI chatbots long enough that this shouldn’t need repeating: confident and convincing doesn’t mean correct. Treat AI as a starting point, not a source. Verify everything. Web search tools still work; use them to find information.
January 12, 2026 at 6:55 PM
We’ve lived with AI chatbots long enough that this shouldn’t need repeating: confident and convincing doesn’t mean correct. Treat AI as a starting point, not a source. Verify everything. Web search tools still work; use them to find information.
Thinking back on 2025, wasn't TikTok supposed to be gone or sold by now?
I still have TikTok functioning on my phone, and it's still owned by ByteDance.
I still have TikTok functioning on my phone, and it's still owned by ByteDance.
January 7, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Thinking back on 2025, wasn't TikTok supposed to be gone or sold by now?
I still have TikTok functioning on my phone, and it's still owned by ByteDance.
I still have TikTok functioning on my phone, and it's still owned by ByteDance.
As we start a new semester, a reminder to students everywhere: it’s okay to not earn an A+, submit imperfect work, miss an assignment, or feel frustrated by hard material. Those moments mean you’re learning. Struggle isn’t a failure signal - it’s part of the process.
January 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
As we start a new semester, a reminder to students everywhere: it’s okay to not earn an A+, submit imperfect work, miss an assignment, or feel frustrated by hard material. Those moments mean you’re learning. Struggle isn’t a failure signal - it’s part of the process.
What do you think the hot web design trends of 2026 will be?
December 31, 2025 at 7:08 PM
What do you think the hot web design trends of 2026 will be?
What web design trends do you hope we see less of in 2026?
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 AM
What web design trends do you hope we see less of in 2026?
“One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things.” — Frank Herbert
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
“One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things.” — Frank Herbert
A reminder to my students and students everywhere. It's okay not to know things - you're here to learn. But make sure when you encounter something you don't know, you take the time to practice and use the skills/knowledge so you do know it next time you need it.
December 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A reminder to my students and students everywhere. It's okay not to know things - you're here to learn. But make sure when you encounter something you don't know, you take the time to practice and use the skills/knowledge so you do know it next time you need it.
AI transcription bots are everywhere in meetings—but are we handling privacy right? Should their use and terms be disclosed in advance, announced at the start, or is there a better norm we should adopt?
December 17, 2025 at 2:11 AM
AI transcription bots are everywhere in meetings—but are we handling privacy right? Should their use and terms be disclosed in advance, announced at the start, or is there a better norm we should adopt?
A student used a random image converter they found online and kept getting corrupted WebP files. I showed them the method we’ve practised all semester, and they said I should “remove the website from the Internet since it doesn’t work.” I’m flattered they think I have that power.
December 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A student used a random image converter they found online and kept getting corrupted WebP files. I showed them the method we’ve practised all semester, and they said I should “remove the website from the Internet since it doesn’t work.” I’m flattered they think I have that power.
More and more the word "hacked" seems to be used in the media for an undesired technological outcome that can't be explained. We need to find a better word to use.
December 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
More and more the word "hacked" seems to be used in the media for an undesired technological outcome that can't be explained. We need to find a better word to use.
I chatted with a web dev tonight who ranted about PHP being “ancient” and “unusable.” Five minutes later he said he loves working in WordPress and Drupal. It felt like AI-fed talking points. When I mentioned the contradiction, he immediately walked away.
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 AM
I chatted with a web dev tonight who ranted about PHP being “ancient” and “unusable.” Five minutes later he said he loves working in WordPress and Drupal. It felt like AI-fed talking points. When I mentioned the contradiction, he immediately walked away.
There is a website I log into often that implemented passkeys. Now, whenever I log in with a passkey, it skips prompting me for a password but asks for my TOTP code. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a passkey?
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
There is a website I log into often that implemented passkeys. Now, whenever I log in with a passkey, it skips prompting me for a password but asks for my TOTP code. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a passkey?
Whatever happened to the idea Google had years ago where Google Asisstant could phone your local barber and book a haircut for you? It seemed far fetched at the time, but now very doable.
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Whatever happened to the idea Google had years ago where Google Asisstant could phone your local barber and book a haircut for you? It seemed far fetched at the time, but now very doable.
I am disappointed I still need to remind people of this. ChatGPT (and other GenAI LLM tools) is not a truth machine, as it generates responses based on statistical patterns in its training data rather than a commitment to factual accuracy.
November 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I am disappointed I still need to remind people of this. ChatGPT (and other GenAI LLM tools) is not a truth machine, as it generates responses based on statistical patterns in its training data rather than a commitment to factual accuracy.
I've been exploring my Elgato Stream Deck Mini over the last few weeks and discovered it can have live tiles - clocks, timers, weather, etc.
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
October 30, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I've been exploring my Elgato Stream Deck Mini over the last few weeks and discovered it can have live tiles - clocks, timers, weather, etc.
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
More #webdev agencies are defining themselves by a single platform—“WordPress,” “Shopify,”, “Webflow.” It’s a strong brand move, but as a client, I’d value an agency that starts with my goals and then selects the best tool to match.
October 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
More #webdev agencies are defining themselves by a single platform—“WordPress,” “Shopify,”, “Webflow.” It’s a strong brand move, but as a client, I’d value an agency that starts with my goals and then selects the best tool to match.
I've now got my Elgato Stream Deck Mini set up for my #webdev work so I can get access to my eye dropper, measuring tool, code editor, browser's dev tools, DBeaver, and FTP client all set up as buttons. This is a really useful little tool for less than $80 bucks.
October 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I've now got my Elgato Stream Deck Mini set up for my #webdev work so I can get access to my eye dropper, measuring tool, code editor, browser's dev tools, DBeaver, and FTP client all set up as buttons. This is a really useful little tool for less than $80 bucks.
In the age of QR code scanning and search engines with reasonably accurate results, it seems less and less people know what the address bar/omnibar in their browser is for, and how to use it.
October 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
In the age of QR code scanning and search engines with reasonably accurate results, it seems less and less people know what the address bar/omnibar in their browser is for, and how to use it.
My #webdev students found Sprott’s Fractal Gallery website and couldn’t believe how bad the design was. I told them, “That’s just what the web looked like in 1995 when this was launched.” The collective gasp was audible. Web design has come a long way.
Sprott's Fractal Gallery
Computer generated artwork, with
thousands of downloadable images and a new fractal every day!
sprott.physics.wisc.edu
October 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
My #webdev students found Sprott’s Fractal Gallery website and couldn’t believe how bad the design was. I told them, “That’s just what the web looked like in 1995 when this was launched.” The collective gasp was audible. Web design has come a long way.
I am exploring alternatives to the Adobe Creative Cloud to determine if I can viably move away from that subscription.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
October 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I am exploring alternatives to the Adobe Creative Cloud to determine if I can viably move away from that subscription.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.
October 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.
I got an Elgato Stream Deck Mini. Not being a streamer, I wasn't sure how much use I'd get out of it, but I've found it to be a great workflow tool. The ability for it to switch my buttons to different actions based on the open program is convenient and makes me more productive.
October 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I got an Elgato Stream Deck Mini. Not being a streamer, I wasn't sure how much use I'd get out of it, but I've found it to be a great workflow tool. The ability for it to switch my buttons to different actions based on the open program is convenient and makes me more productive.
After many years of being faithful to Firefox, I'm diving in and giving Brave browser a try. I've promised myself that for better or worse, I'll use Brave as my primary browser for all of October.
October 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
After many years of being faithful to Firefox, I'm diving in and giving Brave browser a try. I've promised myself that for better or worse, I'll use Brave as my primary browser for all of October.