Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

It’s strange that so many “smart” people don’t realize diverse groups make better decisions.

I believe one reason conspiracy theories are so rampant is the fun folks get inti creating stories.

It is sad that folks are offended by accurate observations.

When one becomes a good critical thinker, they become dangerous in the eyes of many.

“Smartphone are entertaining and distracting.” Distracting for sure, but is entertaining the correct word?

OK seriously... folks tell me they save time using AI to write emails. I ask them why they don't use templates as they are even quicker than AI. The most common response is "what is a template?"

If you believe there is one single best method of teaching… all curriculum to all students… you are wrong.

I told a leader once what my goal was in the organization. She said, “it’s not going to happen here.” I thought she was telling me she wouldn’t allow it. I realize she was warning me about the culture.

Teaching how to think includes practicing empathy. The conclusions we draw when empathetic are often conflated with conclusions drawn from "teaching what to think."

I started my undergraduate preparation in education in 1983. The same year A Nation at Risk was published. The rants against school are not new.

In my experience, when students are taught to think critically (how to think), they reason and reach a set of conclusions based on reason. Those whose opinions are contrary to reason maintain those students were taught what to think.

Students who leave without knowing how to define good questions, then the lessons were incomplete.

When you find yourself responding, "that's what I said, but its not what I meant" it may be time to think before you speak.

Use AI, they say... it gives me bad answers slower than good answers from other sources, but OK.

I'm at that age where I pay attention to the stock market as much as the sports scores.

Someone needs to hear this right now: If you are muted in a Zoom meeting, it's because *you did not unmute yourself.* There is nothing else that i s wrong.

Users: "We want a system that does x."
IT: "Here you go."
Users: "Why doesn't it do y?"
IT: 🤦

Hey IT users: if you refuse to follow IT's recommendations, you cant complain technology doesn't work.

One thing I learned during 35+ yeas in education: What students think they can do is more predictive than what their tests scores are.

“Students should learn to thrive in curiosity.”

I can’t argue against that.