Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

“And if California slides into the ocean like the mystics and statistics say it will”

One must relish the genius of plate tectonics in rock and roll lyrics.

Rather than say, “it’s on the syllabus,” maybe you say, “let’s see if it’s in the syllabus.”

That way you are teaching students how to be better students

One thing I learned during 30 years as a teacher: the 5 minutes one “wastes” talking with students rather than jumping right in increases productivity many times over.

Sometimes you have to repeat directions because you were not clear the first time.

Imagine if school reform focused on what really matters as understood by cognitive and learning research—fields just emerging in the last few decades—rather than what some politician or philanthropist thinks schools should be.

Knowledge is inseparable from social life… not necessarily in WEIRD cultures, but in many others.

“It’s in the syllabus.”

Let’s stop with the indignant tone.

Imagine if school reform focused on what really matters as understood by cognitive and learning research—fields just emerging in the last few decades—rather than what some politician or philanthropist thinks schools should be.

“X improves y” sounds great, but makes sure to know what they mean by “X,” “y,” and “improves” before you start advocating it. They may have very different concepts than you do.

"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." - Richard Dawkins

We are at the point where I interpret teachers who say "I am not good at technology" in the same way I would interpret "I am not good with books."

One thing I learned during 30 years as a teacher: Curriculum writers have not spent time with students.

Every time you edit a manuscript, you introduce new errors.

The learning experiences of in-service teachers can affect their teaching... but those experiences must align with good teaching.

Who would've guessed?

I used to work for a leader who was fond of saying, "there are consequences for your actions." He also had the habit of interrupting people. I refused to complete my thought after he interrupted, and said, "there are consequences...." I've rarely seen anyone more angry.

The "extended mind" theory suggests our cognitive processes aren't just in our heads. Technology like a smartphone can become part of our mind. This means interfering with a device could be morally equivalent to interfering with a person. #EdTech

Neurotechnologies can threaten personal autonomy. Algorithms that learn your preferences can influence your decisions in ways you may not realize, constituting an "undue influence". This is especially concerning when corporate interests are involved. #Autonomy #Cyberlearning

Calling your “fill in the facts” worksheets a “scaffold for big ideas” isn’t really what we mean.

It is more accurate to say “state the opinions upon which you base your facts.”