Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

The best technology leaders are the ones who accommodate reasonable requests, so they don’t become “the department of no.”

Are they assessing the system? or are they finding that which is unfamiliar?

Leaders who make decisions so that everyone conforms to their comfort level... they really tick me off.

If you don't understand the effects of you decisions, you have no business making them.

The way the system is configured affects how users log on, which applications and data sources are available, how secure it is, and the degree to which they can use it to support business functions.

When I started in education, tech-savvy teachers could reasonably manage one or two devices in each classroom in their spare time. I know because I did it.

White-collar work, much blue-collar work, and popular culture are dominated by digital data and electronic digital computing.

As a teacher and educational technology professional, I have watched educators use IT that was well-managed, and I have watched them use IT that is poorly managed. I have watched school leaders struggle to provide effective leadership to, supervision of, and evaluation of IT professionals.

It is difficult to ascertain if leaders believe their spin or not. We should not blame them for appearing delusional, in many cases. Their boss or other politically powerful individuals want the narrative of the spin to be true, so they actively participate.

“Spin” is a fact of life for school leaders. They are faced with uncomfortable situations, and they must describe them in a positive light.

As a student, I attended a high school that had four computers available for students (my classmates’ recollections confirm my memories). I was thoroughly unimpressed with the devices.

I found a description of video conferencing I wrote in 2017. I has not aged well.

Classrooms are now both physical places and online spaces.

On the Obsolescence of #edtech https://hackscience.education/2024/03/05/on-the-obsolescence-of-edtech/

Remember leaders: Cheap. Good. Fast. You only get two.

I unexpectedly encountered the widow of one of my best friends from high school today. There are some things you don't think you will ever talk about, but then 40 years passes.

Users' perception of your IT matter more than yours You might think it is perfect, but if they find it difficult to use, it is.

Technicians plan, design, and build systems according to their skills and knowledge and as the budget and extant technology limit them. But ti they don't meet users' need, they have the responsibility to update the configuration.

One of the perennial complaints of educators is that information technology systems they use at school are not configured for easy use; one of the perennial complaints of technicians is that educators do not use the systems as designed.

"AI can give feedback to students, thus encouraging active learning." This seems to be grounded on a weak concept of active learning.