michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 23/04/2026You’ve inspired me to print course packs next time I teach my undergrad seminar on health and economic inequality. (My experiment this semester was introducing cold calling. Most students said they loved it on the midsemester survey, IMO the quality of discussion went back to pre-pandemic levels.) 000
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 19/01/2026I’ve got laptop free time in my class for the first time this year. The first half of class (during which we’re discussing the readings) is mandatory no-laptops time. Then we take a 10 min break, and the last half of class is laptop-by-choice. I’m hoping the mandatory time helps inform preferences. 000
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 08/01/2026@paulgp.com I do agree that moving from an equilibrium of "zero tests (and not even thinking about them...)" would be an improvement! FWIW a fair number of academics write useful "assert" statements in their code. When introducing more rigorous testing to academics, that's a useful reference point. 020
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 08/01/2026I taught my intro health econ students yesterday that: Not having disease D > Having disease D, diagnosed and treated > Having disease D, undiagnosed (which is self-reported as no disease) But there's a 4th worse option: Having disease D, but confidently believing you don't because of faulty tests 210
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 07/01/2026That lack of experience is one reason why academics could be especially vulnerable to the appealing idea: “I’ll get the AI to write my tests for me”. Designing good tests requires knowledge/taste! But if the LLM vibecodes the tests, you’re back to a “who will watch the watchmen” problem. 140
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 30/10/2025I'll be over here sorting my chats into the "kiki" and "bouba" folders. 072
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 14/03/2025The sources section on the @tpwky.bsky.social HIV episode could have some great pointers: thispodcastwillkillyou.com/2018/02/10/e...thispodcastwillkillyou.comEpisode 12 HIV/AIDS: Apathy Will Kill You – This Podcast Will Kill You 110
michaelstepner.bsky.social @michaelstepner.bsky.social · 10/03/2025@khoavuumn.bsky.social "have you considered grad school?" 020