Dear WinkWorld Readers,
In my life now, I do not need ChatGPT, nor Cloud, nor AI. However, I still want to understand how they work. So, I have been thinking about what I can do to play with ChatGPT, and suddenly I had a way to do it.
It started so simply. A friend/colleague, Shelley, asked Dawn and me, if we wanted to write a testimonial for a book about Jim Cummins. Of course! I already had a DRAFT ready for WinkWorld of his influence on me professionally, and Dawn updated the written doc. We sent it off to Shelley.
In our conversations with Shelley, she talked a lot about festschrift. I wanted to know what it meant. Suddenly, I decided to go to ChatGPT and see if they knew the word. I asked ChatGPT what festschrift means.
AI said, “A Festschrift is: a book or collection of writings published in honor of a scholar, usually to celebrate a milestone such as a retirement, a landmark birthday, or a major achievement. It typically contains essays written by colleagues, former students, and collaborators.
Next, Shelley asked if we would send her a 50 word bio. I had mine ready. Here it is:
Joan Wink is a professor emerita of California State University, Stanislaus. In addition, Joan has been an adjunct professor at Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University, and The College of New Jersey in Mallorca, Spain.
But then I wondered what AI would create for a 50 word bio for me. So, I went to ChatGPT and asked for a 50 word bio of Joan Wink.
AI said “I can write a 50-word biography, but I want to make sure it’s accurate—there are multiple people named Joan Wink. If you are the Joan Wink who is an educator and author known for work in bilingual education and critical pedagogy, here is a polished 50-word version:
50-Word Bio (Educator Version from AI)
Joan Wink is an educator, author, and professor emerita whose work centers on critical pedagogy, bilingual education, and community-based learning. She has taught nationally and internationally, published influential books, and continues to inspire educators through writing, speaking, and storytelling that connects theory, practice, and lived experience.
AI must have known that they were dealing with a rookie, because next they asked if I want a humorous 50 word bio of me.
Here is the AI generated 50 word humorous biography of Joan Wink, the educator.
50-Word Humorous Bio
Joan Wink is an educator, author, and world-class storyteller who swears she retired but keeps teaching anyway. Famous for mixing theory with real-life grit, she turns coffee into curriculum and students into believers. When not writing or speaking, she’s probably traveling, laughing loudly, or trying to remember where she put her glasses.
50-Word Mischievous Bio
Joan Wink is an educator and author who pretends to follow the rules, then quietly rewrites them in the margins. She inspires students to question everything—especially instructions—and has “retired” more than once. Armed with books, wit, and contraband chocolate, she continues spreading learning like a wonderful, organized rebellion.
50-Word Whimsical Bio
Joan Wink is a wandering educator who collects stories like seashells and sprinkles them into classrooms worldwide. She conjures learning from coffee cups, curious minds, and mysterious library stacks. Officially retired but chronically inspired, she writes, teaches, travels, and occasionally stops long enough to wonder how life became such delightful homework.
50-Word Wry & Playful Bio
Joan Wink has spent a lifetime encouraging people to think for themselves, which has made her both beloved and mildly dangerous. Officially retired, she continues to stir up curiosity, challenge assumptions, and collect adventures. Her favorite classroom tool? A good question nobody can answer too quickly.
50-Word Sassy Bio
Joan Wink is an educator, author, and cheerful troublemaker who believes the best classrooms are slightly noisy, and the best ideas refuse to stay in neat little boxes. She has spent decades nudging students to think bigger, laugh harder, and politely question anyone claiming to have all the answers.
50-Word Daring Bio
Joan Wink has been joyfully disrupting education for decades, armed with stories, curiosity, and just enough stubbornness to keep everyone thinking. She considers rules useful—until they get in learning’s way. Retirement merely gave her more time to ask inconvenient questions and inspire delightfully independent minds.
This was my first attempt at ChatGpt, and I found it eye opening. However, I am so leery of the power of AI. My colleagues who know the most about AI, seem to be the most concerned about its possibly uncontrolled power. Next, I am revisiting my work on Vygotsky*, and I am going to update the images with the Image Generator of ChatGPT. I may or may not share this with you.
*These images are all in Visually Vygotsky, a book I wrote with my friend and colleague, LeAnn Putney.
