Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Asking “what works?” isn’t really the way to improve #education

When ideas become popular, they are appropriated by everyone for everything that makes ‘em vacuous. I once heard (seriously), “I want my students to learn, so my lectures are the real ‘student-centered’ teaching.” This was from a 5th grade teacher... who lectured!

Learning styles don’t exist, but teaching styles definitely do.

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

“Leveraging” has a “meaningless buzz word” feel, but it accurately describes what can be done with well-deployed #edtech

Let’s begin a conversation about that... we will think pair and share... then write your feelings on sticky notes and put them on the wall... we will gallery walk to arrange them... then end with an vacuous statement about this being a terrific start to important work.

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

I really don’t understand #education’s fascination with standardizing everything.

Pushing against unquestioned assumptions is a worthy endeavor, but it is sometimes dangerous to your livelihood

Education striving for efficiency is probably not worth experiencing.

Yeah... the one rule they don’t teach you in “teacher college” is to never eat the treats/ potluck/ appreciate meals that are offered to you.

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’m wondering how to say tactfully “your colors make your materials difficult to read.”

No, I'm not going to be tactful.

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.

For students: To get good grades, stop caring about your grades and worry more about your learning.

A teaching strategy I am trying to share with faculty where I work:
https://hackscience.education/2025/08/21/prequestions-a-little-used-teaching-strategy/
#teaching

When asked "how will you use technology to improve communication?" you should run! We have had the technology for decades, if the organization still can't, it is a much deeper problem.

“Feedback that engages rather than criticizes.” Yeah, that sounds good.

If your students leave having passed all the tests, but they aren’t curious, you have failed as a #teacher.