Language Learning Matters
@llmllc.bsky.social
Education is a human endeavor. Communication is a human right.
Pinned
The Communication Bill of Rights (NJC, 3rd Ed.):
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows — an imaginative lexicon of words for things we feel but cannot name — is one of the 3 books I most often give as presents that most readily delight the recipient: www.themarginalian.org/2024/04/12/d...
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: Uncommonly Lovely Invented Words for What We Feel but Cannot Name
“Despite what dictionaries would have us believe, this world is still mostly undefined.”
www.themarginalian.org
January 26, 2026 at 1:03 PM
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows — an imaginative lexicon of words for things we feel but cannot name — is one of the 3 books I most often give as presents that most readily delight the recipient: www.themarginalian.org/2024/04/12/d...
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
My perspective in @thetransmitter.bsky.social on why emotion research feels stuck and how we might move forward—by focusing on how the brain uses internal brain models to shape emotional processing across species. www.thetransmitter.org/emotion/why-...
Why emotion research is stuck—and how to move it forward
Studying how organisms infer indirect threats and understand changing contexts can establish a common framework that bridges species and levels of analysis.
www.thetransmitter.org
January 26, 2026 at 11:18 AM
My perspective in @thetransmitter.bsky.social on why emotion research feels stuck and how we might move forward—by focusing on how the brain uses internal brain models to shape emotional processing across species. www.thetransmitter.org/emotion/why-...
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
"Imagine if all that money had gone to teachers instead."
Blistering piece on ed tech in @economist.com.
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
‘Although ed-tech companies tout huge learning gains, independent research has made clear that technology rarely boosts learning in schools—and often impairs it.’
economist.com/united-state...
Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless
Independent research identifies few learning gains
economist.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:05 PM
"Imagine if all that money had gone to teachers instead."
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
Good morning, we are open! -Sally
January 25, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Good morning, we are open! -Sally
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Amid the news saddening the world, a photo of the moon🌙 over an ancient castle and the words of a poet:
'She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, But she'll wait a wee.' 🔭
Translated for all of us: the light calls us home, but it’s in no rush—we can take our time, share a thought, a virtual smile. 🧪
'She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, But she'll wait a wee.' 🔭
Translated for all of us: the light calls us home, but it’s in no rush—we can take our time, share a thought, a virtual smile. 🧪
"It is the moon, I ken her horn,
That's blinkin' in the lift sae hie;
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,
But, by my sooth, she'll wait a wee!"
Lots of despair & sadness watching the 🇺🇸news today.
I'm hoping Burns can lift your spirit today.
🏴Happy #BurnsNight🏴
📷@tomduffinphotos.bsky.social
That's blinkin' in the lift sae hie;
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,
But, by my sooth, she'll wait a wee!"
Lots of despair & sadness watching the 🇺🇸news today.
I'm hoping Burns can lift your spirit today.
🏴Happy #BurnsNight🏴
📷@tomduffinphotos.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Amid the news saddening the world, a photo of the moon🌙 over an ancient castle and the words of a poet:
'She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, But she'll wait a wee.' 🔭
Translated for all of us: the light calls us home, but it’s in no rush—we can take our time, share a thought, a virtual smile. 🧪
'She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, But she'll wait a wee.' 🔭
Translated for all of us: the light calls us home, but it’s in no rush—we can take our time, share a thought, a virtual smile. 🧪
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
They are a beautiful form of community art
I love honesty boxes and always stop when I see one. This is my all-time favourite, near Applecross 😄
January 25, 2026 at 10:56 AM
They are a beautiful form of community art
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Stile and wave clouds. (As it's Sunday, best use their Sunday name, altocumulus lenticularis. )
January 25, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Stile and wave clouds. (As it's Sunday, best use their Sunday name, altocumulus lenticularis. )
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
A great short piece highlighting the “phantom velocity” of vibecoding, and its costs - but also applicable to LLMs elsewhere. “the thoughtless introduction of LLMs into every process is a massive drag on environments that were already productive. Every expert’s job transforms into “workslop sifter.”
“Vibe prototyping isn't solving problems. It's creating new ones.”
https://productpicnic.beehiiv.com/p/vibe-prototyping-isn-t-solving-any-problems-but-it-s-creating-many-new-ones
> AI created an environment where good design is impossible
https://productpicnic.beehiiv.com/p/vibe-prototyping-isn-t-solving-any-problems-but-it-s-creating-many-new-ones
> AI created an environment where good design is impossible
Vibe prototyping isn't solving problems. It's creating new ones.
It's easy to prototype and so everyone is prototyping, without really knowing why they are doing it. The resultant noise drowns out thoughtful work.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:56 AM
A great short piece highlighting the “phantom velocity” of vibecoding, and its costs - but also applicable to LLMs elsewhere. “the thoughtless introduction of LLMs into every process is a massive drag on environments that were already productive. Every expert’s job transforms into “workslop sifter.”
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Part 1: How do LLMs work?
YouTube video by Andrew Perfors
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I just created a series of seven deep-dive videos about AI, which I've posted to youtube and now here. 😊
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Targeted to laypeople, they explore how LLMs work, what they can do, and what impacts they have on learning, well-being, disinformation, the workplace, the economy, and the environment.
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
In case the lights are out tomorrow, everyone please try to breathe and be mindful of your own humanity. None of us can afford to lose it now. ❤️
January 25, 2026 at 1:56 AM
In case the lights are out tomorrow, everyone please try to breathe and be mindful of your own humanity. None of us can afford to lose it now. ❤️
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
When Mr. Rogers said “look for the helpers” he meant also in ourselves
January 23, 2026 at 12:57 AM
When Mr. Rogers said “look for the helpers” he meant also in ourselves
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
"That's absurd," objected Milo, whose head was spinning from all the numbers and questions.
"That may be true," he acknowledged, "but it's completely accurate, and as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong? If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
"That may be true," he acknowledged, "but it's completely accurate, and as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong? If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
January 24, 2026 at 5:02 PM
"That's absurd," objected Milo, whose head was spinning from all the numbers and questions.
"That may be true," he acknowledged, "but it's completely accurate, and as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong? If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
"That may be true," he acknowledged, "but it's completely accurate, and as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong? If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
"But if all the roads arrive at the same place at the same time, then aren't they all the right way?" asked Milo.
"Certainly not!" he shouted, glaring from his most upset face. "They're all the wrong way. Just because you have a choice, it doesn't mean that any of them has to be right."
"Certainly not!" he shouted, glaring from his most upset face. "They're all the wrong way. Just because you have a choice, it doesn't mean that any of them has to be right."
January 24, 2026 at 8:02 PM
"But if all the roads arrive at the same place at the same time, then aren't they all the right way?" asked Milo.
"Certainly not!" he shouted, glaring from his most upset face. "They're all the wrong way. Just because you have a choice, it doesn't mean that any of them has to be right."
"Certainly not!" he shouted, glaring from his most upset face. "They're all the wrong way. Just because you have a choice, it doesn't mean that any of them has to be right."
Thread.
When you presume competence, students step up.
When you presume competence, students step up.
Last term I tried an experiment: I walked into my Tech and Design Ethics class, admitted that I had *no idea* what to do about ChatGPT - so I would let them figure it out.
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
January 24, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Thread.
When you presume competence, students step up.
When you presume competence, students step up.
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Provocative! Not all scientists will want to hear this. I agree with many points. In parallel to emphasis on better communication, I hope we’ll begin conversations about maintaining integrity.
asteriskmag.com/issues/13/th...
asteriskmag.com/issues/13/th...
The Fight For Slow And Boring Research—Asterisk
As federal research funding shrinks, scientists are looking to other sources of support. Can they learn to sell their work without selling out?
asteriskmag.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:38 AM
Provocative! Not all scientists will want to hear this. I agree with many points. In parallel to emphasis on better communication, I hope we’ll begin conversations about maintaining integrity.
asteriskmag.com/issues/13/th...
asteriskmag.com/issues/13/th...
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
“Conceptual monoculture cannot work because, in almost all our thought, we are dealing with subject-matters that we need to consider from more than one aspect.” —Mary Midgley
December 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM
“Conceptual monoculture cannot work because, in almost all our thought, we are dealing with subject-matters that we need to consider from more than one aspect.” —Mary Midgley
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
"It is not true, as has often been suggested, that we cannot be interested in anything unlike ourselves. Both poetry and science show us as being interested in all manner of unlike things."
-Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter
#marymidgley #philsky
-Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter
#marymidgley #philsky
April 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"It is not true, as has often been suggested, that we cannot be interested in anything unlike ourselves. Both poetry and science show us as being interested in all manner of unlike things."
-Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter
#marymidgley #philsky
-Mary Midgley, Animals and Why They Matter
#marymidgley #philsky
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
Constructing language: A framework for explaining acquisition. Final version by @carorowland.bsky.social & al.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.015
doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.015
January 23, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Constructing language: A framework for explaining acquisition. Final version by @carorowland.bsky.social & al.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.015
doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2025.05.015
Reposted by Language Learning Matters
Do you conduct research on child learning languages that are under-researched? Add your papers to our repository! www.childlanguage.org/underreprese...
January 22, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Do you conduct research on child learning languages that are under-researched? Add your papers to our repository! www.childlanguage.org/underreprese...
The Communication Bill of Rights (NJC, 3rd Ed.):
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”
January 24, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The Communication Bill of Rights (NJC, 3rd Ed.):
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”
“People have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives. These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan.”