Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

“Homer stitched together prefabricated parts. Instead of a creator, you had to be an assembly-line worker.” - Walter Ong

Be mindful of the first solution you teach. Many in your class never learn another.

I’ve a list of teaching strategies (worked examples, reflection prompts, you know the list) associated with learning (however you define it)... unfortunately, the list of reasons many faculty give for avoiding their use is longer in most situations.

A blog post on leadership and #edtech
https://www.hackscience.education/an-edtech-problem-no-one-talks-about/

Communication preferences and habit are not "learning styles."

I was in a school once when the “tech guy” announced on the intercom that “the network issues are due to an ISP issue.” A technician for the ISP (cable at the time) was in the building doing an unrelated upgrade. The resulting “conversation” was hilarious.

Is your “debrief” really a self-congratulations session or do you really want feedback?

If you are always complaining about the technology, but never take steps to resolve the issues, it is not a technology problem.

The situation defines what you know more than what’s stored in your synapses at the moment.

For devices whose hardware and software are designed to exacting standards, digital devices are surprisingly unreliable... until you consider them from a systems perspective... then you are amazed they ever work.

It’s interesting to watch how leaders (esp. in education) become very uncomfortable when change (even that which they they advocated) begins to take hold. Unless the change is going back to what they did in a previous position.

The curriculum you can deliver is a small part of the curriculum students need.

There has gotta be an AI tool that can predict when someone will tell bad joke on Zoom and will mute them.

What if your test isn’t predictive? (eg. the test of reading level doesn’t predict ability to interact with text or reading habits)

Maybe the most sensible advice I have read this year is “let’s all stop using the phrase ‘fake news’ as it just reinforces the false narrative that nurtured it.”

Here is your reminder: reality ruins so many good ideas.

Sometimes the least effective way to measure something is a “do a survey.”

Clippy was really prescient... it was asking us to do what we actively ask AI to do for us now.

Tame problems can be solved quickly. Seek advice of those who know what they are going and follow it. Wicked problems... that’s a different story.

I used to be a vexillologist as a hobby... now I really question flags.