Have you been to a Whole Foods recently? Rather than paying with cash or card, consumers can now opt to pay by scanning their palm, which is linked to their Amazon account. Dystopian? Sure. Harmful? No comment. Is this not an excellent example of why digital literacy is maybe one of the most important skills a young person needs to learn today? Definitely. [...]
Introduction Cellphones have always been the hot topic amongst teenagers alike. Conversations of the latest model, all the upgrades it contains, and where to find the cutest cellphone cases run rampant throughout schools. The real problem lies within the constant usage of cellphones in classrooms, disrupting the sole student and others around them. Cellphone Bans Across Schools Cellphone bans have steadily increased across [...]
In an increasingly technological world, it is no surprise that our systems of education focus on training young thinkers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or as they are known together: STEM. STEM has become a leading buzzword on the resumes of up and coming professionals, guiding how educators and employers prioritize the development of these practical, technological skills. Studies show that STEM [...]
In this mediascape, the forms literature can take varies wildly. Whether you want to pop in some headphones and listen to hours of someone reading you a story or if you want to simply pull an ebook up on your smartphone on the train, you can enjoy books from the comfort of anywhere. The dissemination of literature like this seems to be a [...]
Humanities vs. STEM If you’re on any secondary education campus that offers degrees in both humanities and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) studies, then you are bound to come across the ongoing debate of the value of which field of study is more ‘valuable.’ You might even hear a group of STEM students during finals bemoaning all the cramming and memorization for [...]
If you haven’t noticed, audiobooks have made a recent and sharp rise in popularity among readers in recent years. In fact, in places like Sweden, more than half of all book sales in 2024 were audiobooks as opposed to print or e-books.[1] According to the Audio Publisher Association, audiobook sales in the U.S. have seen double-digit growth year after year, with global sales [...]
What are E-Readers? The use of E-Readers has been on the rise, opening more and more people up to reading as the need for physical books reduces. But what exactly are they, and what can they do? E-Readers contain a multitude of uses aside from simply reading; along with electronic versions of books, they have built in dictionaries, word search tools, highlighting, note-taking [...]
Introduction Over the past decade or so, Artificial Intelligence a.k.a. AI has taken the world by storm—some people are fully in support of AI’s many capabilities, while others argue that it does more harm than good. AI refers to machines' capability to learn through artificial neural networks that resemble humans’ [1]. However, AI is still in its infancy, and it’s difficult to tell [...]
Introduction Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a topic of conversation in academic communities. Experts in all fields have been trying to decide if AI use should be allowed and, if so, how it can be detected and disclosed. The scientific publishing community also finds itself asking: what are the potential gains and risks of using AI to [...]
Introduction to Virtual Reality (a.k.a. VR) Rock climbing, skydiving, extreme mountain biking, roller coasters, even tropical vacations: Thanks to VR, all these endeavors are now possible without leaving the comfort of your home. VR refers to the use of computer-generated imaging and stimuli to replicate a “real” environment. In their selected environment, users can experience sound, touch, and even 360-degree panoramic views, as [...]