Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

I’ve worked in #edtech for decades. I see most #edtech tools as shiny distractions from teaching and learning.

I live in a small state. My vote counts for more in the electoral college than others. I support electing the president by popular vote.

After attending a seance, Charles Darwin said, “The Lord have mercy on us all, if we believe in such rubbish.”

I saw a copy of The Bell Curve (1994, Murray & Herrnstein) at a used book sale, so I bought it. It’ll sit in my shelf safely being not read until I have to recycle it to make room for more books.

If someone tells you they have a technology/ method/ strategy/ plan/ technique that can be used to teach anyone anything… stop listening and walk away.

Especially if they are a school leader.

I do believe grades in most courses are meaningful and motivating for students, not as rewards or punishments, and not when the students see no connection to the work and there is no rationale. #education #teaching

Look at your organization's IT.

Does it's use closely aligned with strategic goals?
Is it functioning... like does it really work well?
Is it sustainable given financial and personnel resources?

The answers are often "no" when looking at schools.

High-quality customer service depends on effective communication. IT professionals who seek to improve customer service should improve their abilities to communicate: to understand what others mean, be clearly understood, and to improve the efficiency of communication.

Is putting words like “irregardless” in posts reason enough to unfollow someone?

A blog ost on network and content delivery for those preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam:
https://hackscience.education/2025/10/13/aws-networking-and-content-delivery/

I’m an #edtech professional, but I don’t want edtech companies teaching teachers.

If some leaders didn’t focus on red herrings, they’d have nothing to do.

I’ve worked in education for decades. I’ve come to expect the rationale for decisions and situations to be changed immediately when the current rationale is found to lack credibility.

Telling IT when you are available is not the same as scheduling a technician at that time.

If you reject science, that is up to you, but when leaders reject it, then we all suffer.

"Failure is a great teacher" seems disingenuous if it is "someone" else (teacher, test, etc.) that is defining the failure.

“We don’t have money for that” emails are often followed by “we have an opening for a new administrator.” #education #highereducation

Folks who think AI can generate worthy content have not spent enough time reading great writers.

Ray Wylie Hubbard was correct when he observed, “A enlightenment, B endarkenment, hint there is no C.”

Personal incredulity isn’t evidence.