This is Your Weekly Reboot with a Surprise Birthday 🥳
The ultimate time to rewind, rethink, reload and relaunch—#15
I write about leadership from both sides of the desk. But, I also explore AI and why teaching critical thinking about it is more important than ever.
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For some reason, the last couple of days I’ve been walking around singing “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.” There’s no party. And no crying happening either. But it is my birthday today.
Some years I celebrate. Other years, it’s just another day. This year? Just another day.
But I’m sharing it with all of you. And thankfully, it’s not one of those milestone birthdays that ends in a zero. I had one of those a few years ago, so I’m safe for a bit.
I remember as a kid it always seemed so unfair that my birthday was in the summer. My mom, brother, and dad were all clustered in February and March. I was kind of the odd duck out with the summer birthday. I envied my brother, who was able to bring treats to school to celebrate on his special day.
Back then, they didn’t take into consideration if you had a birthday in the summer. I don’t even know what they do now, with so many food allergies. Do they even let kids bring anything in to share anymore?
Regardless of how I honor mine, I think they are important. And no matter the number, they tend to make people reflect. While I’m always in a reflective mode, today has me pausing to think about the past year. And where I’m going next.
Everything normal until it isn’t
I’m a Gen Xer, so I’ve seen a lot change. Brace yourself because I’m going to pull the equivalent of an old person here. But it’s my party and I may not be crying, but I am making the rules. At least for today:
I grew up with three channels on the TV, and you had to get up to turn the knob.
Microwaves were magical ovens that were the size of televisions.
VCRs were the closest we had to on demand and streaming.
Everyone had a landline telephone and an actual live person answered when you dialed 0 for assistance.
Libraries and encyclopedias were as close to google as we had growing up.
The internet and email just slowly crept into our lives. I barely recall when it started. I just remember adapting. As an undergrad, they were just beginning to digitize books and periodicals back then.
Access changed the equation
Fast forward many years later. I got my PhD and wrote my dissertation without stepping foot into a library. At that point everything was online. I had access 24/7, and I could do whatever I needed without digging through stacks or spending countless hours on campus.
Without online access to write my dissertation, I never would have been able to earn my doctorate. I just wouldn’t have had the energy or interest to spend that much time searching for research in a library. So for me, tech made things possible.
I’m sure there were academics who saw this as too easy. It didn’t build enough resilience or grit. That it made it possible for people like me to earn something so highly regarded without putting in the same kind of effort they had to. And on some level, maybe they believed it wasn’t as deserved.
Change doesn't ask permission
Now here we are again at another crossroads with a cutting edge tool and a new wave of criticism. People are saying the same things about AI and ChatGPT that they once said about the internet and online research.
That it’s too easy.
That it removes the struggle.
That it waters things down.
For some of us, it presents opportunities, access and possibilities we never could have dreamed of. For others using it as a shortcut or worse, it creates potential harm and real concerns. Both can be true at the same time.
Like every shift before it, this one comes down to choices. Individual and collective.
Some we can control and some we can’t. One thing I’ve learned growing up in a dysfunctional family and working in less than ideal workplaces: you can’t change people and you can’t go back to the way things used to be no matter how much you may think you want to.
What’s next for me?
Probably more questions. More reading. Maybe another year of watching people try to hold on to what’s comfortable. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that letting go usually makes room for something better. Even if it’s uncomfortable at first.
Curious about Custom GPTs?
Click the image below to try out the one I just built. See what it can do ⤵
Welcome to The Spotlight Corner 📢
Here is a shoutout to my favorite piece of the week by
: What the Data Say About Students and AIStephen is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers about teaching and AI. His writing is grounded, and he shares the experiments he’s tried with his own students, along with the challenges of using AI/ChatGPT in the classroom.
What I like most about his writing is that he uses data from a variety of sources. He brings in statistics to support what he’s saying, to give you food for thought, and to leave you with a clearer picture of what’s really going on. Especially when it comes to what students are actually doing, what institutions think they’re doing, and the gap between the two.
And reality check: there’s usually a big discrepancy.
📌 Still thinking about AI, students, and teaching 🤔
Tech Toolbox: Tools I’m Loving Right Now 🛠
My favorite tech tool this week: Tab Suspender
I recently cleaned out my computer. I'll be writing a full post about that next week, including how I used ChatGPT to help with the process. My CPU and memory usage were spiking. My system needed some serious resuscitation because it was gasping for oxygen.
One of the fixes was a Chrome extension called Tab Suspender. It automatically puts your open tabs to sleep after a set amount of time that you define. It’s fairly customizable, and it’s been extremely helpful because I always have way too many tabs running. Usually more than 20 at once. And it was draining the life out of my system.
The constant tab activity was setting off my antivirus, spiking CPU usage, and creating this endless loop of slowdown. This extension was one of several things I tried, and I’ll share more on all that in a future post. But if you’re someone who always has a gazillion tabs open like me, this might be worth checking out.
The best dictation tool I’ve used ⤵
Wispr Flow Referral Link: wisprflow.ai/r/WISPR6911.
(You get a $15 credit once you hit 2,000 words! Trust me when I tell you that will happen quickly once you get hooked on this thing).
In Case You Missed It! 🔙
👉 My posts 📝from last week:
➠ What Using ChatGPT Looks Like in Your Practical, Messy Life: (I think the title pretty much sums this one up).
➠ Last Weeks Weekly Rundown: (How I’m moving toward AI, not away from it).
➠ New Video coming soon - I just need to edit it 😊
And until next week, “Don’t forget to lead with purpose in everything you do.”
© 2025 Bette A. Ludwig: All rights reserved
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Happy birthday, Bette! Hope you have a good day/week to celebrate and refocus!
A little later but Happy Birthday Bette!