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Two Decades Ahead: How 23 Years of #PracTICE-Based Education Led to #ReverseTHINKing

18 Jul

Image created by ChatGPT: click image to enlarge, please.

Are you ready to supercharge your productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills? Meet ChatGPT—the AI tool that’s changing how we work, learn, and innovate. Best of all, you can access it for free right from your Windows desktop!

In this tutorial series, I’ll guide you step-by-step through everything you need to know about ChatGPT: how to set it up, ask the right questions, and leverage its potential for blogging, learning, and beyond. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a tech-savvy pro, there’s something here for everyone.

Let’s dive in and discover how AI can make your life easier, more efficient, and a lot more fun!

Introduction:

🧭 Introduction: Twenty-three years ago (2002), when digital tools were just starting to enter the classroom and most teaching remained locked in traditional models, I chose a different path — one based on #PracTICE, curiosity, and empowering the #LEARNER. Starting with the #PracTICE instead of #THEORY was already a form of #ReverseTHINKing — although back then, the term itself didn’t even exist!

Today, #ReverseTHINKing emerges as a natural evolution of that journey, reconnecting me to the principles that sparked it all. This tutorial is both a reflection and a synthesis — showing how two decades of experience still guide the way forward.

1. The Evolution of #ReverseTHINKing – A Bit of History

Twenty-three years ago (2002), I began giving ICT courses to adults, seniors, and youth in an “Internetstuff” in Ettelbruck, Luxembourg — the very first of its kind in the country. This innovative initiative, launched by “eLuxembourg,” aimed to educate the population about new technologies, computers, and the Internet at a time when these tools were still unfamiliar to most.

Internetstuff ETTELBRUCK

The learning space had 10 PCs, a cozy room to rest, drink coffee or tea, and take breaks. But what made this place truly unique, my idea, was the learning environment: learners progressed at their own pace, worked together as a team, and often taught each other as much as they learned — becoming both learners and teachers in the same flow. Isn’t that already #ReverseTHINKing? 😉

At that time, primary schools didn’t yet have PCs in their classrooms. I knew a responsible teacher who asked me whether it would be possible to bring a whole class to my place. I gladly agreed and reserved the space twice a week for the school. That was a great time for me: I personally greeted all the pupils and teachers before they entered the room. They were excited — many had never seen computers up close — and they felt truly welcomed. It was unusual at the time to be greeted before entering the classroom, but deeply appreciated. The students learned with joy and engagement. It was a new way of learning, and even the simple act of welcoming a class was part of creating an atmosphere of openness and enthusiasm.

I also intervened with the Commune and emphasized that it should be a MUST to equip primary schools with PCs to prepare for the ICT-driven world. Two years later, this became reality — a change I was happy to have influenced.

This innovative idea of learning together and learning differently attracted the attention of the Ministry of Education. They visited my center and were surprised by my approach. I explained to them that I wasn’t teaching — I was coaching. Each learner received personalized support based on their needs. With only 10 PCs and diverse groups, this was demanding, but possible. The officials later admitted they had sent observers months earlier to understand my method. They congratulated me but claimed such an approach couldn’t be integrated into the school system at that time. Ironically, some years later, they began shifting toward exactly this kind of learner-centric model. 😊

On 06-08-2003, I also launched the website www.internetmonitor.lu, a platform originally created to support the learning activities of Internetstuff ETTELBRUCK — a friendly and welcoming space where people could make their very first steps with computers and the internet.

Over time, the site evolved into a focused learning hub on PC and internet security. More than 120 tutorials were published there, all dedicated to #CyberSecurity and made freely available for download. While it was mainly developed for my LEARNers, it quickly gained wider recognition and attracted visitors from across the globe. Its hands-on and practical approach made complex topics accessible, supporting digital literacy long before it became a mainstream concern.

In 2004, as I was already creating tutorials about #CyberSecurity and actively teaching them to my LEARNers at my learning space, I approached the Ministry of Education to see if they would be interested in integrating this crucial topic into official education. They agreed — and for a period of time, my #CyberSecurity tutorials became mandatory in the national education program in Luxembourg called “Lusi” run by MySecureIT!

Gust-MySecureIT

The entire website, including my tutorials, disappeared overnight — without prior notice and without granting me any further access.

Later, the initiative was handed over to BEESECURE, which continued the mission but with a different approach WITHOUT letting me know about it, it happend from one day to the other over night! While my method emphasized proactive protection — installing antivirus and anti-malware tools first and explaining why this step was essential — BEESECURE focused more on how to react after a problem occurs and on general awareness. That, too, was a form of #ReverseTHINKing — but my proactive angle wasn’t fully understood or adopted at the time.

2. Introducing a #LEARNingPath — A Visual Journey

The idea of introducing a #LEARNingPath didn’t exist back then. But I wanted to give my learners a clear overview of their learning journey — to help them see where they were starting, which steps they’d take, and where they were headed. I designed these paths manually, much like a subway diagram, with stations representing key learning checkpoints.

In retrospect, this was another early example of #ReverseTHINKing — showing the end goal at the beginning of the learning process, to help learners understand the purpose of each step before they even started. Today, this practice is known as backward design in education. Back then, it was just me trying to make learning meaningful.

More Links:

3. The Retired Period — A New Chapter

Evolution of Education: Wordle Logo

Eventually, due to health issues, I reached the age of early retirement. I wasn’t truly happy about it — I felt I still had more to give. So I started a blog in 2011, https://gustmees.wordpress.com/ which now (as of 18 July 2025) has grown to 418+ publications. I continued sharing modern educational ideas, book reviews, and later — when AI began to take off — a multitude of tutorials to help people understand and navigate this new era. I started also a new way of sharing knowledge, #Curation ===> where I have already 1.2 MIO (1 Million 200K) views and where I was recognized as “Lord of Curation Series: Gust Mees” by “Scoop.it“.


Through CURATION it is possible to create a #PLN, a “Personal [Professional] LEARNing Network” https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-learning-and-teaching?tag=PLN and ALSO collecting meaningful articles to create MY PERSONAL #PKM (Personal [Professional] Knowledge Management) PKM – Personal [Professional] Knowledge Management blog post, my own place where I could find back my interested articles for LEARNing.

Here I must say as well, that my CURATION had +/- 600K views and suddenly in one day it raised to 1.2 MIO views, this was likely the result of AI systems harvesting information behind the scenes.

It’s up from that moment that I started using AI-ChatGPT. In this rapidly shifting digital era, many educators still hesitate to integrate AI tools like ChatGPT into their daily teaching or course design. And that’s entirely understandable. I was once hesitant too — uncertain about its impact, skeptical of the hype, and unsure how it would truly fit into reflective, value-driven pedagogy.

But curiosity and careful observation led me to follow the developments over more than a year https://www.scoop.it/topic/21st-century-innovative-technologies-and-developments?tag=AI. When ChatGPT became freely available for Windows desktop, I took the leap. And I don’t regret it.

My first post about AI-ChatGPT:

That step opened new possibilities: not to replace teaching, but to enhance it — saving time, prompting deeper questioning, encouraging co-creation, and supporting differentiated learning. It became a pedagogical dialogue partner, not a solution machine.

Unfortunately, personal challenges also emerged. In 2016, the Ministry of Transportation installed a bus stop just 30 cm in front of our house entrance. This led to daily disturbances, as strangers entered private property, insulted us, and invaded our space. Our home — constitutionally protected private property — became a place of constant stress. From 2020 onward, when public transport in Luxembourg became free, the situation worsened drastically. More travelers arrived, including people with no civic education or respect for boundaries. Radical mindsets and aggressive behavior became more frequent, resulting in daily tensions — all day and even through the night.

This deeply affected me and got me thinking about liberalism and the way liberal education has evolved — or more accurately, how it has degenerated. I studied the topic and began writing critical tutorials about it.

More to explore:

I observed how modern liberalism had erased many of the valuable teachings from previous generations — replacing them with uncontrolled, often poorly thought-out ideas. What had once been a movement of freedom and responsibility had morphed into an ideology lacking structure and respect — even putting democracy at risk.

Up from there I recognized that all the common good values from earlier education (two generations back) had been gradually erased. The new liberalism replaced those with poorly thought-out, uncontrolled ideas — now unleashed into society.
The #ReverseTHINKing emerged through new ideas and from personal experience lived in a transforming society.
This made me think deeply about how to step outside a system that, in its current form, risks endangering democracy itself.

From that point on, my thinking took a sharper turn. I realized the common good I had grown up with was being swept away. That’s when the concept of #ReverseTHINKing truly took shape in my mind. I began developing it through a series of publications, exploring how to implement it as a counter-movement — a way to rebuild independent thinking, critical analysis, and civic responsibility in a time when they are sorely lacking.

And I still continue today — because as AI and new technologies evolve rapidly, most people still don’t grasp what’s really happening or where it may lead us.

4. Conclusion — From Spark to Maturity

As you can see, #ReverseTHINKing was already happening more than 20 years ago — even if the slogan didn’t yet exist. But what matters most is the journey. Ideas take time to grow, evolve, and mature. The seed you plant today may not bear fruit for years — or even decades.

That’s why I encourage you, as a learner, not to give up. It may take time — sometimes even a generation — but your ideas can transform into something powerful and meaningful. I started this path at age 45. You might still be in your youth — so take your time, nurture your vision, and move forward with purpose to see the success in your youth and not later after you are retired as me.

Happy #LEARNing,
#CriticalTHINKing,
#DeepTHINKing,
#ProactiveTHINKing,
and of course — #ReverseTHINKing,
to be truly ready for an AI- and technology-driven world.

That’s 20 years of Pioneering in action 😉

So this is how ideas emerge over the years.

🧠 A Final Call:

What if we reactivated the filter between our two ears — also known as the “brain” — to get those grey cells moving again? 😉

Related links, tutorials:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/the-synthesizing-mind-in-education-tackling-the-challenges-of-a-changing-world/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/a-modern-ethical-framework-for-a-changing-world-rebuilding-lost-wisdom-and-knowledge/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/09/chatgpt-free-for-windows-desktop-users-part-73/

Check ALSO my Curation and EDU-related articles on my Blog

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.

Check ALSO:

ChatGPT FREE for Windows Desktop users, Part 38

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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Posted by on July 18, 2025 in #ReverseTHINKing, #THINKReboot, 21st Century Skills, 21st-Century-Teaching-and-Learning, acceptation de nouvelles idées, Adaptive Learning, Adult Learning, AI, Analyzing, Andragogy, Apps, Artificial Intelligence, Autodidact, Awareness, Éducation, Évolution des valeurs, égoïsme, BEE CREATIVE, Better Learning, Better Learning about ICT, Better Teaching, bidirectionnel, bien commun, Big Data, changement social et éducatif, changer les mentalités, ChatGPT, ChatGPT-AI Teacher Tools, Civism, civisme, Collective Intelligence, communication, communication est bidirectionnelle, communication numérique, Competency, Concept, Connected Educators, conseils, Creating Mind, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Criticism, Culture, Curation, Curriculum, Digital Citicenship, Digital CitizenShip, Digital Footprint, Digital Intelligence, Digital Lëtzebuerg, Digital Luxembourg, Digital4EDUcation, DQ, Education, Education 4.0, eLeadership, eLearning, Emotional Intelligence, empathy, Engagement, EQ, eSkills, Ethical Mind, ethics, Ethik Unterricht, Europe, For a Better World, Free courses, FREE-courses, Future Work Skills, Global, Government, growth mindset, Gust MEES, Holistic view of EDUcation in the future, HowTo, Innovation, Internetstuff ETTELBRUCK, Learning about Social Medias, Learning By Doing, Learning Path, Learning to Learn, Libéralisme, Liberalismus, LUSI, Luxembourg, maker, Maker PracTICE, MakerED, MakerSpace, MakerSpaces, Medienkompetenz, Modern EDU, Motivation, MySecureIT, Naivety, Not ONLY rights but also responsibilities, Often Asked Questions, Open Mind, openai, Paradigmenwechsel, Parents, Personal Learning Network (PLN), PKM, PLN, PracTICE, Privacy, Proactive Thinking, Professional Development, Professional EDUcators TEACHers, progrès éducatif, Project Based Learning, publications, Quality Courses, Reality, Reflecting, Respectful Mind, responsabilité, Responsibility, Reverse THINKing, Right use of Technology, Rise Of The Professional Educator, Seniors, Skills, Social Media, Softskills, SOLID, stratégie de communication publique, Students 21st Century Survival Guide, Synthesizing Mind, Synthezising Mind, Teacherpreneurs, Technology Integration, Tim BERNERS LEE, Tim BERNERS-LEE, Tutorials, Uncategorized, understanding, Understanding the internet, Virtual Savant Child, Vivre ensemble, Wertewandel, Zeitgeist, Zivilcourage, Zukunftswerkstatt

 

WHAT’s the Best Way to Understand #ReverseTHINKing?

16 Jul

A practical guide to breaking mental habits and reclaiming independent thought

Image created by ChatGPT: click image to enlarge, please.

Are you ready to supercharge your productivity, creativity, and problem-solving skills? Meet ChatGPT—the AI tool that’s changing how we work, learn, and innovate. Best of all, you can access it for free right from your Windows desktop!

In this tutorial series, I’ll guide you step-by-step through everything you need to know about ChatGPT: how to set it up, ask the right questions, and leverage its potential for blogging, learning, and beyond. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a tech-savvy pro, there’s something here for everyone.

Let’s dive in and discover how AI can make your life easier, more efficient, and a lot more fun!

🧭 Introduction: A practical guide to breaking mental habits and reclaiming independent thought

As an autodidact and #LifeLongLEARNing advocate, I have worked on various EDUcation-related projects and spent nine years teaching #ICT to adults, seniors, and youth. My teaching approach was entirely different from what is typically used in schools: I started with the #PracTICE first, and only introduced the #THEORY afterward. Why? So that the #LEARNERS could clearly see the benefits — the personal gain — of engaging in that specific #LEARNing activity.

And THAT is exactly what #LEARNERS should see FIRST:
What is it good for? What’s the profit for me in learning this?

Once they understand its value, #LEARNERS become naturally curious. They engage with motivation and often go beyond the initial scope — because it becomes #LEARNing with enjoyment and meaning.

So, to help you understand WHAT #ReverseTHINKing is, I will apply the same METHOD, which I present to you below.

The way: #PracTICE FIRST Explained to Clarify the Benefits For the #LEARNER

In my previous tutorial, I already shared some practical examples. I invite you to read those examples to understand WHAT #ReverseTHINKing brings in terms of benefits — for you and for other #LEARNERS.

Once you’ve explored these #PracTICE examples, you’ll likely be ready for the #THEORY — the WHY behind it all. At that point, I encourage you to read the explanatory parts provided in my other tutorials.

And THAT approach is, in itself, part of #ReverseTHINKing — a different, more conscious and empowering way to #LEARN for deeper understanding

🧠 Conclusion

By using my way of TEACHing — which naturally integrates #ReverseTHINKing — I do not simply deliver content for the #LEARNERS to read. Instead, I create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable, valued, and engaged. I encourage them to speak up, to ask questions, to explore with curiosity, and to feel free in their journey of LEARNing — a journey aimed at understanding what’s truly behind the curriculum.

This approach empowers them to become active participants rather than passive receivers. It fosters motivation and builds confidence, allowing them to connect the dots between what they are learning and why it matters.

That’s also why I regularly remind #LEARNERS of the importance of knowing what they will learn throughout the year. Understanding the direction of their learning — the LEARNingPath — gives purpose and clarity to each step. It helps them visualize how the knowledge and skills they gain are connected and where they are heading.

🕰️ Side Note – A Decade of Vision
It’s worth noting that my concept “LEARNing Path For Professional 21st Century LEARNing By ICT PracTICE” is now over 10 years old. That’s a strong reminder that innovative, learner-centered ideas are not trends — they’re seeds of transformation planted well in advance. And it’s never too late to start implementing them.

🧠 A Final Call:

What if we reactivated the filter between our two ears — also known as the “brain” — to get those grey cells moving again? 😉

Related links, tutorials:

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/the-synthesizing-mind-in-education-tackling-the-challenges-of-a-changing-world/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/a-modern-ethical-framework-for-a-changing-world-rebuilding-lost-wisdom-and-knowledge/

https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2025/03/09/chatgpt-free-for-windows-desktop-users-part-73/

Check ALSO my Curation and EDU-related articles on my Blog

.

.

Check ALSO:

ChatGPT FREE for Windows Desktop users, Part 38

.

L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

.

 
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Posted by on July 16, 2025 in #ReverseTHINKing, #THINKReboot, 21st Century Skills, 21st-Century-Teaching-and-Learning, acceptation de nouvelles idées, Adaptive Learning, Adult Learning, AI, Analyzing, Andragogy, Apps, Éducation, Évolution des valeurs, égoïsme, BEE CREATIVE, Better Learning, Better Learning about ICT, Better Teaching, bidirectionnel, bien commun, Big Data, changement social et éducatif, changer les mentalités, ChatGPT, ChatGPT-AI Teacher Tools, Civism, Collective Intelligence, communication, communication est bidirectionnelle, communication numérique, Competency, Concept, Connected Educators, conseils, courage civique, Creating Mind, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Criticism, Culture, Curriculum, De l'information au lien social, DeepTHINKing, Democracy, DeppTHINKing, Digital Citicenship, Digital CitizenShip, Digital Footprint, Digital Intelligence, Digital Lëtzebuerg, Digital Luxembourg, Digital4EDUcation, DQ, Education, Education 4.0, eLeadership, eLearning, Emotional Intelligence, empathy, Engagement, EQ, eSkills, Ethical Mind, ethics, Ethik Unterricht, Europe, FAQ, Feedback, For a Better World, Free courses, FREE-courses, Future Work Skills, Get smart with 5 minutes tutorials, Global, Government, growth mindset, Holistic view of EDUcation in the future, HowTo, Innovation, Key Instructors, Leadership, Learning about Social Medias, Learning By Doing, Learning Path, Learning to Learn, Libéralisme, Liberalismus, Luxembourg, maker, Maker PracTICE, MakerED, MakerSpace, MakerSpaces, Medienkompetenz, Modern EDU, Motivation, Naivety, Not ONLY rights but also responsibilities, Often Asked Questions, Open Mind, openai, Paradigmenwechsel, Parents, Personal Learning Network (PLN), Personal profit, PKM, PLN, PracTICE, Privacy, Proactive Thinking, Professional Development, Professional EDUcators TEACHers, Quality Courses, Reality, Reflecting, Respectful Mind, responsabilité, Responsibility, Reverse THINKing, Right use of Technology, Rise Of The Professional Educator, savant child, Seniors, Skills, Social Media, Softskills, SOLID, Students 21st Century Survival Guide, Synthesizing Mind, Synthezising Mind, Teacherpreneurs, Technology Integration, Tim BERNERS LEE, Tim BERNERS-LEE, Tutorials, understanding, Understanding the internet, Virtual Savant Child, Vivre ensemble, Wertewandel, Zeitgeist, Zivilcourage, Zukunftswerkstatt

 
 
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