Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

“Right to Read” legislation has become necessary. We should be ashamed as a nation. We are fortunate to have folks pushing back.

The problem with the “get a real job” argument is that the “real jobs” are not available in many areas.

How many students go through school “absorbing” as little as possible?

“Man build culture because he can’t help it.” (Excuse the language, the quote is from the 1950’s.) Maybe. But it is clear we would not be here without it.

“Tools are things made to make something else.”
I’m not sure I can argue against that, and their use seems to differentiate humans from other critters.

Prior to Darwin evolution was largely thought to be a progressive phenomenon. He taught us all adaptations are relative to the environment.

The more a learn about religious folks, the more content I am to have rejected it.

The reality is that “facts” are not things upon which we agree.

I’m an educational technology professional. For decades, I have been able to be a fly on the wall if I sat at a computer as class was on-going. I can report things have been broken for a long time.

"I hope you get to take time off, but not until after you finish my project."

Don't be that person, then speak of your "colleagues."

My management style summarized:
Me: "This is how we do things."
My team: "That sucks, let's try this."
Me: "OK. Let's make sure we cover these bases. Get me a cost and timeline."
Me & My team: Review their plan.
Me to my boss: "This is what we are doing."

If there is one study that confirms your stance, please avoid saying “the research shows.”

If it is easy, you probably are not learning.

One of the most distressing things I learned during my career in education was that leaders pivot to new initiatives very quickly and ignore the fact they are so contrary.

I remember clearly, though it was more than 40 years ago, feeling I really belonged in higher education when I was dropped off at college. I know almost immediately the school wasn’t the right fit, but college was.

What if Google, Apple, Microsoft, and others who “certify” teachers don’t really know anything about learning?

In many cases, I find, folks use “learning styles” when they are really talking about “varying modes of instruction.” In classrooms, we need to vary what we do, which is often contrary to one’s teaching style, and never needs to be explained by learning styles

When I use “project” I’m teaching, I mean something that the students have been involved is defining, bounding, and assessing. Many others mean “something that isn’t a test.”

Learning styles is a debunked idea about perception. Teaching style is typically applied to the preferred method used by an instructor. Teaching style is sometimes grounded in theory, but reflects one’s comfort.

Whenever I read a quote from Richard Feynman, I hear his voice reading it. It is delightful.