Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

If your #students approach your course as a game of “what do I need to pass,” then you are both missing the point. I understand the motivation of grades (I tracked my progress *very* closely as an undergrad) but if you can’t make your content interesting & relevant then... why?

“But what else could it be?” isn’t evidence you are correct.

“No, your idea doesn’t deserve our attention. It has been disproven by loads of empirical evidence and it lacks theoretical basis.”

“Yes, I’m aware you’ve seen articles on social media supporting it.”

“No, those aren’t enough to convince me.”

Remember Taylorism was developed and propagated with the assumption that workers would benefit (financially) from improved efficiency. I’m not sure that intent was realized.

The standardization of many products and services leads to a degradation in quality and options... restaurants and schools provide the best examples IMHO.

When it became clear to me teachers had given up all agency and were happy with that, I realized it was time to leave the profession.

I’m at that age that I read someone’s name in the local news and my reaction is, “I thought they died a few years ago.” To be fair, I saw a former colleague recently who said, “I thought you had died.”

“The more strongly we identify with a party, the more likely we are to double down on our support for it. That tendency is exacerbated by rampant political misinformation, and too often identity wins out over accuracy.” Perhaps the truest words I’ve read this year.

“Motivated reasoning” is the process of defending yourself against contrary evidence... maybe there has been underground universities awarding PhDs in this field?

“System justification” is the belief that “if it is in the system (political, educational, etc.) it must be right.” Yeah, we need to start seriously questioning that assumption.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

I just received a very well-done attempt to get my credentials! Maybe be extra careful right now.

Yeah, there is something disingenuous about labeling your journal “open access,” when there is a single article in the issue (often a book review or opinion piece) that is really #openaccess

They are students, not “kiddos.” Please stop.

“Delusions can be a hallmark of psychosis....” that’s not my conclusion, but it sure seems valid.

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn. - Alvin Toffler

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. - Carl Sagen

Yesterday, I went to a store with the intent to purchase a device I needed. My budget was $500. An employee walked past me with two other customers. The customers needed something that was locked. The employee said, "and you know why that is" and carried on with the customers about how terrible the town is because of liberals. I left and with my $500 in my pocket.

A blog post on the capacity of computers, designed for school and technology leaders.
https://www.hackscience.education/capacity-of-computers/
#edtech

Do technologies exist in isolation from the skills to use them? I think, “no.”