ENKI Tech

30 Jun 2020

ENKI Team Social, World Permalink

Black Lives Matter: Making Meaningful Change in the World

ENKI Team June 30, 2020

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was murdered by a white police officer in the Minneapolis area of Minnesota. After detaining George Floyd, the officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd struggled to breathe. The murder, which was captured on camera, rightfully sparked outrage across America and around the world. Floyd’s death is one of the many instances in which police officers’ excessive force and brutality have led to the unnecessary death of a human being. And the Floyd murder has reignited a much-needed national conversation on systemic racism, justice, equity, and equality for marginalized people in America. Recently thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest injustice in America. Even prominent organizations have taken to social media to express their solidarity with the black community. But critics have noted concern over whether organizations were genuinely dedicated to the mission of racial equity. After all, creating true justice and equality in America will take more than posting a black square on Instagram or tweeting a black power fist and the #BlackLivesMatter. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that many people genuinely want to create positive change, strive for a more equitable society, and want to spread awareness and educate themselves on discrimination, justice, and equality.

For many white people, this may be the first time they have had to think about race critically. And many people are uncomfortable. Some react with guilt, others lash out in anger, and many are confused. That said, many white people want to learn to become better allies to their friends and families of color and want to do their best to educate themselves and learn.

For those who want to become better allies to the marginalized, please understand: Racism is not an easy topic to talk about for anyone. But it is incredibly awkward and uncomfortable for those of us who are minorities in America. We grow up learning to navigate a world that conditionalizes our humanity based on our skin color and our ability to make white people feel comfortable. We have no choice but to think about race because we live under a system that racializes us, and it has an impact on every aspect of our lives. From where we live, to if we get a job interview, to whether or not we are perceived as a threat, our race has an impact on us. And we have to be conscious of this to survive. Sociologist and civil rights activist W.E.B Dubois, referred to this internal understanding as ‘double consciousness.’ We constantly second guess our words and our actions around white people, anxious about their perception of us and the negative impact. We do not have the privilege of pretending racism doesn’t exist or that it is ‘not that bad’ because it will affect us whether we like it or not. And we often bite our tongues on this to keep the white people around us comfortable. We are uncomfortable, and we have had to get used to that discomfort. Any real work towards anti-racism and true justice starts with getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. If you are a member of a majority group and want to be a better ally, one of the best first steps you can take is listening and learning from marginalized people’s experiences in America. And this can take on many forms.

.

Find and Organization

Many individuals and organizations are dedicated to pursuing justice, equality, and equity that provide valuable resources that anyone can access and learn from. They have great tips on policy proposals and public advocacy that you can integrate into your work towards justice. Turning to organizations that specialize in anti-discrimination work is a great place to begin. Below is a list of some of the many organizations dedicated to the journey toward equality and justice.

Black Lives Matter

Four years ago, what is now known as the Black Lives Matter Global Network began to organize. It started as a chapter-based, member-led organization whose mission was to build local power and intervene when the state and vigilantes inflicted violence on Black communities.

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)

“SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.”

Racial Equity Tools

“Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula, and ideas for people who want to increase their understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities, and the culture at large.”

Immigration Advocates Network

The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), a program of Pro Bono Net, is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology. IAN was created in 2007 by leading immigrants’ rights organizations to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. We create our own tools, build platforms for others, and work with partners to harness the power of technology and collective action to better support immigrants and their advocates.

The Trevor Project

“Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.”

The Safe Zone Project

“Safe Zone trainings are one of the best places to start learning about all things LGBTQ+, but they are just that: the start.”

You can reach out, join these groups (and many more), donate money to their causes, and use the many resources they provide to continue your educational journey.

Read

Reading books, articles, poems, and essays written by people from marginalized backgrounds is a great way to learn about the multifaced experiences that we as humans have. If you don’t know where to begin, you can look into the many reading lists people have put together to help people get started. British Vogue magazine has released an article titled “An Essential Anti-Racist Reading List.” The article outlines comprehensive reading material to begin the work of anti-racism. From James Baldwin to Ta-Nehisi Coates, these authors and their work encompass both classic and contemporary experiences on race through a mixture of sociological study and personal narrative. Their experiences are varied and are impacted by class, gender, and sexuality. Many of these books are pretty accessible and can be easily be purchased online and in audiobook form. You can take a look at the article and the books here: https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/black-lives-matter-reading-list.

Below are some other texts that can provide valuable information:

The Souls of Black Folk, by W.E.B. DuBois

Link to book online: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/408/408-h/408-h.htm

You can also purchase the book on amazon or from a local bookstore.

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, by Dr. Martin Luther King

Full Text: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond, written by Bill Campbell, edited by Edward Austin Ha

ll

Link to purchase E-book: https://books.google.com/books/about/Mothership.html?id=hUd0CwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo

Linked to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, by Olaudah Equiano

Link to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Olaudah-Equiano/dp/1945644915

Watch

Film is another excellent way to begin the journey towards understanding. If you, like most people, have access to a Netflix account, you can go to your Netflix account and explore the list of films that Netflix has recently curated under the Black Lives Matter Collection to help educate viewers on race. Some of these films include:

13th, an award-winning documentary by filmmaker Ava Duvernay, explores the history of racial inequality in America, specifically regarding the criminal justice system. When They See Us is a biopic miniseries, also directed by DuVernay, that tells the story of Central Park 5. The Central Park 5 were five African American and Hispanic teenagers who, because of race, class, and a corrupt criminal justice system, were wrongfully convicted for the rape and assault of Trisha Meili, a 28-white woman who was attacked while jogging in Central Park.

LA 92 and Let it Fall are two documentaries that explore the 1992 LA Riots. On March 31, 1991, police officers pulled over Rodney King, a black construction worker, after a high-speed chase. The officers who pulled him over beat Rodney King while he was on the ground unarmed, and the incident was caught on camera. After much public uproar, the officers were tried, but an all-white jury subsequently acquitted them. Anger and outrage amongst racial minorities in LA led to a six-day riot that shed light on the reality of police corruption and racial tensions between different racial and ethnic groups in the city.

The Two Killings of Sam Cooke, a documentary on Sam Cooke, details the life of a soul singer and civil rights activist whose murder was tragically covered up.

Other films that showcase essential issues around race, class, gender, identity, and ethnicity include:

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha P. Johnson was a black transwoman who is largely credited for starting the Stonewall Riots and the subsequent birth of Pride and the modern LGBTQIA+ movement. Johnson was an advocate and an activist who sought to provide shelter and a safe space for homeless queer youth. Ms. Johnson was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, and her death remains unsolved, though some speculate foul play.

Moonlight is an award-winning film that is a fictional narrative that explores the story of two black gay youth as they grow from young boys into men against the backdrop of the inner city of Miami, Florida.

What Happened Miss Simone is a documentary on the life of Nina Simone, a legendary singer and activist whose career and legacy, though prominent today, was sideline during her time.

In recent months we have been exposed to the absolute depths of depravity within the human heart. We witnessed a lynching by white supremacists who chased and gunned down Ahmaud Arbery, a young black jogger. There has been an increase in racial attacks on Asian Americans in the wake of the novel coronavirus. Black and brown transwomen continue to experience the highest number of homicides amongst any group in America. Knowing what we know and seeing what we have seen makes it easy to be cynical about the world and humanity. But We have also seen the capacity for love and humanity come together to protest injustice and demand change worldwide. We have seen people from all walks of life come together to protect each other and stand up for what is right. We are in a chaotic and challenging time for everyone. This is not an issue that will be solved in a day, week, or year. The fight for equality always has and will always be a constant battle. But there are ways to educate yourself and make meaningful strides towards a better future for everyone. And if we continue to learn, teach, hope, dream, and fight, we will find a way to move forward.

27 Jun 2020

ENKI Team E-Learning, Technology Permalink

E (co-Friendly) Learning

ENKI Team June 27, 2020

In the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic, people everywhere have been students forced to leave their public lives and hunker down at home to slow down the spread of the virus. Educational institutions were the hardest hit as millions of teachers and students were forced to leave school. Despite the anxiety and uncertainty that the pandemic has brought to our lives, it has also given way to newer innovations in the way we teach and learn. Online learning is a highly efficient and accessible alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom. With an internet connection and a smart device, anyone can access an online e-learning platform or update existing software on their smart devices with an e-learning plugin. Many e-learning platforms also generate performance evaluations based on the areas the students excel at and what they need more help in, allowing instructors and students to create a personalized learning plan that considers a student’s particular learning style. E-learning has helped professors and trainers to maintain the educational process despite the closing of physical schools. And the benefits of the e-learning environment expand beyond keeping students and teachers safe during a pandemic. Online learning can be a great tool to combat climate change, another global crisis we currently face.

Climate change refers to the regional and global changes in climate patterns due to excess atmospheric carbon. For decades, scientists have warned us of the dangers looming in our future if we as global citizens do nothing to mitigate our environmental effects. Climate change has ravaged natural habitats worldwide, leaving many plant animal species endangered and encroaching on the livelihood and wellbeing of humans. For example, the 2019 fires in Australia devastated the outback and left the koala, a marsupial native to that region, functionally extinct. In 2017, Hurricane Maria ransacked Puerto Rico, killing over 2,900 people and costing the area $90 billion worth of damage. The hurricane was the worst natural disaster to hit the Island in almost 100 years. It is, in short, a global crisis and a crisis brought about by us. Human behavior directly contributes to the rise in global temperatures, and as we rely on the earth and its resources to survive, it is on us to do better.

Around the world, many people have already begun the mission, turning to technology and innovation to minimize our carbon footprint. People are working hard to find creative ways to be friendlier to the environment, from inventing electric cars and solar-generated electricity to recycle plastic water bottles by turning them into shoes. Companies worldwide can collectively minimize their impact on the environment is to turn to virtual learning. Virtual learning or e-learning uses technology to facilitate any training or educational experience online. E-learning can help cut our use of paper, gasoline, and other carbon-producing processes that contribute to global climate change.

Paper is one of the most widely used and wasted materials in America. Every year we produce 300 million tons of paper, with the average American consuming 700 pounds each year. That used paper then goes on to account for 25% of waste products that fill landfills. A large amount of paper waste that we generate comes from our office and school environment. A single office worker uses about 10,000 sheets of paper each year. Likewise, a single school goes through an average of 360,000 sheets of paper a year.

Travel also accounts for a large amount of waste that we produce. For example, if a company requires its employees to travel off-site to receive training, they contribute to 140 billion gallons of gas that Americans use each year on travel. This comes down to about 600 gallons per person per year. Using this much gas is also very expensive, with the average American shelling out over $2,600 of their expenses on gasoline alone. In addition, burning crude oil gasoline for fuel harms the air we breathe, producing smog. When ingested, pollution can damage lung tissue, leading to a higher likelihood of developing asthma and other respiratory issues.

One way to eliminate this excess paper waste is to conduct our learning online. Conducting employee training and school lessons online could help businesses and schools save time and money and cut their paper waste. With e-learning, companies do not have to pay for a trainer, location, and document fees. Instead, all training courses can be taken online at each employees’ pace, allowing them to absorb the material when they can. For schools, e-learning can help them cut back on their paper use by enabling them to manage their lessons online. Students can do homework, write papers, and take tests online and send them to their instructors electronically, eliminating the need to print out unnecessary amounts of paper.

Online learning can also help us to cut back on the carbon emissions we produce. Experts believe that e-learning requires 90% less energy emission than brick and mortar learning institutions. E-learning does not require the same energy emission as a school building or a college campus. In addition, students and parents do not have to use transportation to get to a physical site to engage in the learning process, meaning individual carbon emissions per student will also go down (up to 85%).

Every year, colleges and universities receive more students and have little room to place them comfortably, forcing them to expand their campuses and infringe on their environment. American colleges and universities utilize 18.9 kWh of electricity and 17 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot annually. Large college buildings such as dorms can end up costing over $100,000 worth of energy. Existing structures and the expansion of campuses cost an immense amount of money, and the financial burden falls on the students as well, many of whom do not have the means to pay for increasing tuition rates and are forced to take out student loans. The internet allows learning to be much more accessible to those without the financial resources to travel to a campus or pay for a physical course. Video chat platforms such as Zoom and Skype are also used to maintain some human connection usually provided by the classroom environment.

E-learning and online classrooms are relatively new phenomena that improve how we learn and reduce our negative impact on our environment. E-learning allows for the democratization of learning for those who face obstacles that prevent them from attending a physical learning site. It also saves us money and reduces our carbon emissions, creating a pathway to a greener future.

26 Jun 2020

ENKI Team Covid-19, E-Learning, Technology Permalink

Coronavirus and the Education Crisis

ENKI Team June 26, 2020

The 2019 novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has changed everything about our everyday lives. For the past three months, people worldwide have been hunkered down at home as their countries have shut down international travel and much of public life to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, education is one of the institutions hardest hit by the shutdown. In the US, millions of students from kindergarten to graduate school left their learning institutions and to stay home.

In a recent survey of outdoor K-12 education programs in California conducted by the University of California, Berkley (UCB), researchers found that almost 63% of the 1,000 programs survey had pending reopening dates, with many believing they may not open until the end of the year or until 2021. As of the end of May, over 4 million students who had benefited from these outdoor programs were forced to forgo them this year, and the programs continue to shut down. This comes when public health experts have stressed the importance of outdoor activity for both physical and mental health and wellbeing. Outdoor science and nature programs, parks, and zoos have proven to be effective and vital learning environments for kids outside the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom. California’s outdoor educational programs have proved especially beneficial for the learning outcomes of kids for marginalized backgrounds such as black and brown students and students without little access to educational programs communities.

There is much concern by parents and program directors about their ability to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus at their programs or contain one should it occur. Even the most hopeful public health officials believe that developing a working vaccine for COVID-19 will not be available for months, even a year. And the funding needed to mass-produce enough vaccines to inoculate enough people in every country to foster herd immunity will be immense. Doctors and scientists still know very little about the virus and how it affects people in the short term, and the long time and every new case has brought to light just how dangerous this pandemic is. In a few small studies conducted in Wuhan, China, researchers discovered that even in asymptomatic people infected by the virus, the majority had abnormal changes or fluid build-up in their lungs that may have long-term consequences on the patients. To date, the vast majority of public health experts believe that the best way for us to combat the virus globally is to continue to practice social distancing and lockdown measures to decrease our chances of becoming infected in the first place. Without widespread testing or contact tracing, it is hard to estimate just how many people have the virus, especially for people who may be asymptomatic and spreading it unknowingly. Without testing or contact tracing, even moderate reopening measures will be in vain, as cases of the virus will inevitably surge, which will overwhelm our healthcare system and force us back into stricter lockdowns.

For parents of students, there is significant uncertainty as to whether or not their student will be able to return to the classroom by fall. By all estimates, the virus is nowhere near slowing down in its spread to the degree that would make public health officials confident in reopening our public institutions, especially schools where diseases quickly spread.

Can E-Learning Help?

Though online classrooms can’t make up for all outdoor academic experiences, they can give them access to the educational materials typically found in a school. Teachers and parents can utilize online e-learning platforms and plugins to design a curriculum done from home comfort. E-learning can be designed to accommodate anyone. To reopen, many outdoor education programs are considering limiting the number of students attending to decrease the chances of a viral outbreak. For these cash-strapped programs, this also means reducing the resources they can provide, such as scholarships and subsidized programming. Students from marginalized backgrounds with little access to resources will have even less access to these programs than before. For most e-learning platforms, the only requirement being a smart device and an internet connection. Many e-learning platforms and plugins are free to download or have affordable monthly prices. And for parents of students, especially those who may have immune complications that make them even more susceptible to catching the coronavirus, having an alternative allows the student to access classroom materials still.

E-learning platforms give students access to up-to-date materials. This allows themselves, teachers, and parents to stay current with lessons and the newest learning materials. As classes are easily accessible, they can be delivered efficiently to students. There is no need for travel, and students can do their lessons at their own pace, making it easier to absorb the material. They can also access past lessons for study and review the material of subjects they struggle with, allowing them to become more familiar and competent with the material. Curriculum developers can also design lesson plans with students’ specific learning needs and requirements in mind, allowing them to create an educational curriculum that is unique and effective for various learning styles. Educators can also contact their students and use these platforms to assess their students’ progress and understand what they create. With materials that can be accessed at any time, there is no fear of losing out on any lesson material, meaning lessons can be accessed anytime, which can help students maintain the information they learn for a more extended period.

10 Jun 2020

ENKI Team Artificial Intelligence, Technology Permalink

AI Enabled E-Learning, Presentation by Nektar Baziotis

ENKI Team June 10, 2020

Life starts with you!

All that exists would be meaningless for you, without yourself.

What you decide now determines the possibilities of the future.

But what is your life’s blueprint?

The blueprint is the pattern and model we use to forge the foundation of our own lives and the living conditions of future generations.

Education is freedom.

Our parents and their parents fought for us having the privilege to be educated.

Our life is of ultimate significance – our worlds create worlds –

We started with traditional education and we elevated that.

We defied all the limitations. The Internet gets the opportunity for each one to come closer and be heard.

But above all, now whoever wishes to access knowledge and learning programs, they can!

Teachers have a voice. They have an opinion beyond the standard material of their practice.

They can dialogue with students and they have a strong say in their development.

With e-learning, we maximized the technological benefits. We have learning paths, video, power points, forums and we ask to make them apply to students.

But we forgot. The core of education is the student. This is our only commitment.

Finally, the moment came that we progressed in technology and the dream of artificial intelligence started having a life.

AI started reasoning and using patterns to make logical conclusions. In a fraction of time, we have results using Machine Learning or Big Data analysis.

We started profiling students, teachers and learning material, so we can understand the real needs of all of them!

We take a thousand possibilities and bring 10 recommended results to both student and teacher based on their needs.

We motivate students to focus on where they do not excel and allow them to access objective information.

Of course, there is a lot of concern about ethical AI and fear that AI will eliminate jobs. But weren’t those the exact words humanity used in front of evolution?

AI comes as an opportunity in education. It’s only logical!

Presented at IDEAS 2019, Los Angeles, California by Nektar Baziotis

22 May 2020

ENKI Team Artificial Intelligence, Business, Technology Permalink

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Marketing

ENKI Team May 22, 2020

In the digital age, we are constantly bombarded with new technology, and it can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. And innovations in Artificial Intelligence, particularly machine learning technology, could revolutionize how we market each other.

What is Machine Learning? Machine learning refers to training computers to operate more like humans. More specifically, it feeds computers data that they can then analyze and integrate into their intelligence, using the data to make smarter choices and tackle more complex problems: Artificial Intelligence.

So, what does this mean for marketers? With access to technology intelligent enough to decipher data, analyze it, and learn from it, marketing campaigns can be streamlined and made efficiently while being relevant. Computers can collect and mine limitless amounts of data at a much faster pace than any human. For marketers, this means that they now can analyze millions of gigabytes worth of data from their potential customer base, allowing them to understand their customers’ personalities, interests, and spending habits more precisely than ever. With this vast amount of data at hand and the technology to cipher through it quickly and efficiently, marketers can design campaigns that accurately represent their customer base.

For customers, machine learning means that they receive the most relevant content. In addition, artificial intelligence helps marketers to cater better to their customer base. Customers are no longer forced to sit through boring ads they can’t relate to. Instead, ads are much more personalized to them and their interests. Artificial Intelligence learns what moves customers to purchase specific items and what drives others to skip by analyzing customers’ internet behavior.

Artificial Intelligence can help enhance human productivity and creativity. Though some worry about machines taking over our jobs, there is no replacement for the human touch in the realm of imagination. Even the smartest of Artificial Intelligence cannot replace the innately human creativity that captivates us and keeps us interested in the content. AI-powered machine learning will allow marketers to understand pop cultural trends and what entices their customers more efficiently. With this information made available more quickly than ever before, marketers have more time and energy to devote to tapping into their creative brains to generate relevant, intriguing, and unique content. AI can take marketing into the digital future and at the same time make it even more human.