Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Acronyms create barriers to meaning.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

If #students never decide their own curriculum and projects, they have had a deficient #education.

Rather than simplifying the problems in the curriculum (some say “sterilize” them), support the learner with tools, ideas, coaching.

I suggest students are much more competent applying academic skills outside of school than inside school.

“Working workshops” should be a thing.

Most important ideas, concepts, skills cannot be taught as “self-contained entities.”

For a long time, we thought learning was simply a matter of remembering information. We were wrong. #schools #teaching #learning #highered

Following the algorithm means we proceed through the intersection when the green light is displayed.

Understanding the system means we still look for oncoming traffic.

Doing math on paper with marks made in pencil by humans following algorithms was abandoned for important calculations in the middle of the 20th century largely because it was slow and error prone. I’m always curious about why math education has failed to realize this.

What should be the actions if a public employee parks their vehicle at work, and it displays messages some interpret as offensive or threatening on bumper stickers?

“Critical thinking” should be an outcome of every class for every student. Teachers who do it well will not be popular amongst leaders, however, as their students will ask uncomfortable questions.

Barbed wire fences were fashioned into workable telephone systems. Exaptations are more interesting than innovations.

In the days when telegraphs dominated communication over distances, codes like “shf” were used to shorten messages like “stocks have fallen.” This part of our "modern" communication is not new.

James Gleick (in The Information) tells of people who took hand written notes to be “sent” by telegraph. They objected when the note was still in their hands.

Behaviors are a convenient measure of learning... not necessarily accurate or meaningful... but that doesn’t stop educators.

All those assumptions upon which you base your decision... some are wrong... if you consider the assumptions from divergent viewpoints, then they are likely all wrong.

“The problem with computers is often people.” Yup, sure seems accurate to me. At least as accurate as switching “computers” and “people” in the statement.

Festschrifts are among my favorite types of anthologies. I wish there were more.

“Data-driven?” Some of us don’t take your word for it... and we can tell.

“How can I help you?” and “Here is how I can help you.” Often get us to the same place, but the pathway may be different.