Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Theory is crucial for efficacious IT management. It helps identify relevant factors, predict changes, and explain observations, steering decisions away from unreliable "fads." #EdTechTheory #DataDrivenDecisions

Effective IT in schools must be appropriate (for teaching/learning), properly configured (functions as expected), & reasonably implemented (considering resources). These 3 dimensions are interdependent. #ITGovernance #SchoolManagement

A core root cause of inefficacy in school IT management is a lack of shared understanding among disparate professionals. Building a common language & understanding is essential. #SharedVision #EdTechLeaders

Putt's Law captures school IT challenges: Professionals manage what they don't understand (pedagogy or IT complexity). Collaboration is key to bridge this gap for appropriate, proper, & reasonable tech. #SchoolLeadership #TechManagement

Schools are information-rich places, but managing tech for teaching & learning is complex. It requires collaboration between educators, IT pros, & school leaders for efficacious technology management. #EdTech #SchoolIT

Yeah, I admit it. One of my goals as a #teacher was to prepare my #students to recognize, call out, and contradict stupid ideas. I guess that makes me a “political” teacher.

Being “non political” is one of the most political stands one can make.

Always remember the principle of AAAAAAAAA (alliterative acronyms always aid adopter’s awareness and analysis abilities) when preparing your school initiatives.

Yeah, if your invite me to learn about an “exciting new program/ idea/ theory” and you use an acronym to name it, I’m going to decline the invitation.

I'm sorry, but if you study or sell "tracking" (as in digital tracking) and associate it with #education in any way... it's unlikely to be recording anything important to individuals' learning... and it is creepy.

If you cannot assess what you believe, then you have not learned the thing about critical thinking.

Reach out to HR for a time-sensitive problem... they respond 2 weeks later. Really?

“Assessment is an act of interpretation, not just measurement.” I sure wish all #educators understood that, especially those who are “data-driven.”

I’m a fan of rubrics and other scaffolds as long as they fade... if our students cannot internalize what we are teaching to the point they cannot become independent, then what are we doing?

I will sometimes be obvious when I disengage, hoping the leader of the meeting recognizes it has taken a turn to waste of time.

If educators had made a stand against the unequivocally bad education policy decisions that have marked the 21st century we would be better positioned to manage many problems.

Calling faculty and staff “rock stars” is as offensive to me as calling students “kiddos.”

Reading/ writing/ math/ arts/ recess/ physical education, etc. cannot be part of any reward/ punishment system. I found myself in schools where leaders did not understand that. I never participated in their systems and started job searches as soon as their wackiness became clear.

Listen to your intuition, except when it is wrong.

I’ve been questioning a lot lately... maybe it’s time to listen to something other than Noam Chomsky while on my afternoon walks.