Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

It seems we disagree on the definition of “evidence.”

It seems we disagree on the definition of “research.”

AI adds stray bold to point out information it deems important. I have begun asking students why they took the time to add all of those bold to the document.

When the tricks of paranormal performers are exposed, lots of folks continue believing the effects are real. It seems out power of denial can be more powerful than our power of observation.

Curiosity. I don’t care about your achievements, if you don’t leave school with curiosity, your education didn’t do what it should have.

Are we “raging workaholics” or “working rageaholics?” (Apologies to George Carlin)

“We can’t do it because it’s not perfect” prevents so many helpful projects from moving forward.

I am that teacher who would overhear teachers complaining about the amount of “correcting” they had to do and ask “wow, who assigned all that work?”

I understand my observations can be faulty as can my logic, but I’ll still trust it over dogmatic authority any day.

Those whose authority is grounded in observation and who practice logic, in groups, are trusted as well.

“The stars have larger agendas in which the preoccupations of human pettiness do not figure.” -Richard Dawkins

Reading a book written by Richard Dawkins in 1998… he reminds of the increase in paranormal thinking around the turn of the century. Makes me wonder if there is a connection between that and the rejection of science that is distressingly common now.

During and open forum on campus for candidates to fill the position when your boss retires. Some folks make statements about your office and team that are misleading or false. What do you do?

"Believe users, but distrust their troubleshootiung." This is great advice for IT folks.

Oh, no, I do understand accurately what you are saying, I just realize it is illogical and contrary to what we have observed.

Yes, I am a skeptic, but I recognize evidence when I see it.

“I um... err... huh?”

This is sometimes the most insightful response.

Things can be clearly categorized… until you get closer to the extremes… then you find “what counts?” cannot be answered.

Maybe Zevon’s “I Was in the House When the House Burned Down” does not describe the 2020’s to the degree I thought it did.

“Generative AI takes scissors to the web of pedagogy, teaching, and assessment in which faculty have created their courses.” Yup, pretty much.

Yeah… no… when we are critical, we evaluate the quality of ideas. That does require the thinker to adopt different points of view. While this is rejected by some, it is an essential aspect of being a critical thinker.