Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

So much that is “data driven” turns out to be “myth driven.”

Don’t overestimate the power of data. Sound interpretation of data is far more useful.

A friend of the family texted last evening. We venmo’ed him some money. That’s how kids sell stuff for school & club fundraisers in 2025.

Wondering why we need to keep putting volume, issue, page numbers in citations when we have a doi.

Avoid “leading by buzzword.” Some of us can recognize it and we know what it means.

What if we replaced "delivering the curriculum" with "teaching?" #education

What in your curriculum is there because it *is* the curriculum?

Just because you experienced it in school, does not mean every one did... or should.

I write notes on paper in meetings in my own “scrawly” short-hand. it is actually an effective analog encryption method.

If you are ignoring theory, you aren’t really being data-driven.

Remember, “if it’s free, your data is the product.” #OER excepted.

Taylorism was *not* designed for education.

Do “deep dives” into hobbies interfere with “education?”

The best thing about working from home is no one appears at your office door when you are thinking and says, “good, I caught you doing nothing.”

I used to wonder how to say tactfully “your colors make your text difficult to read.”
Now, I just say it.

It is better to solve one problem five different ways, than to solve five different problems in one way.
—George Pólya

One reason I accept late work is I’d rather have students use their time working on assignments rather than wondering/ stressing over extensions then composing requests for extensions.

A blog post on rules and inconsistent rules as a teaching opportunity:
https://hackscience.education/2018/11/01/teachers-inability-to-deal-with-ambiguity/
#teaching

A blog post, now with audio, that describes those things we do that are very important, yet have no influence of how well we accomplish our goals.
https://hackscience.education/2018/10/23/red-herrings/

One year my PD goal (which couldn’t be an official goal as it didn’t align with district initiatives) was to have a personal interaction with each student (looking them in the eye greeting them with their name counted). Best teaching decision ever. I continued it until I retired as a teacher.