Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Information in IT system is bits, sometimes electric, sometimes magnetic, sometimes optical, but bits nonetheless.

Our information technology systems are built on the foundation of computer hardware. These are the physical devices that we use to create information which is processed on that hardware, moved to other devices, over wires and cables... or wireless signals.

It is reasonable to conclude that humans and their technologies cannot be separated.

One reason to adopt “innovative” practices is they introduce novel activities into classrooms and humans pay attention to a little novelty.

It seems we did not learn that video discussions are better than text-based during the pandemic.

Have you ever noticed the faculty who complain the most “why don’t students read the syllabus?” are the same who need to meet because they can’t read the directions you sent them? I have. #edtech

Those goals you set for us… they are contrary to the goals you set for us last year. You didn’t think we’d notice did you?

“Organizational anarchies” is my new favorite term.

If you are not going to discuss gender or racial identity should the data be gathered and reported? I suppose it helps understand the population, but I’m not sure I need to know anything more than generalities if the researchers are going to frame the study in those terms.

After a long struggle, we were ready to make a decision. One who had been the strongest advocate for acting pulled their support at the last minute which scuttled it. Now they are complaining no decision was made. Sabotage?

What if discussions were focused on students’ questions and not the teacher’s

One reason to adopt “innovative” practices is they introduce novel activities into classrooms and humans pay attention to a little novelty.

The best education adapts to the content being taught, the purpose of the teaching, and the nature of the students.

The most flawed educational proposals proceed from the position that education is an engineering problem, and thus we can build educational systems that produce measurable achievement reliably.

I am increasingly intolerant of those who continue to improve schools through old tired ideas that or those that ignore what we know about teaching and learning.

When an educational leader argues that we should follow the philanthropists because “they are paying for it,” that leader loses credibility immediately and permanently.

Have you ever noticed schools often have multiple initiatives that are contrary to each other, but the leaders are oblivious to that fact? I have.

I am cynical about much that is presented as education, especially by outsiders.

If we did not hire narcissists, work would be more pleasant, but there would be lots of vacancies in leadership positions.

Bullying begins in settings where there is “the” way to do “things.”