Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

It is entirely possible the skilled IT professional hired to work in a school has never thought about the unique characteristics of IT users in schools or the unique demands placed on the IT they deploy.

IT configuration is also non-neutral. 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 teaching and learning activities and business functions.

IT configuration can be considered neutral. It does not matter the purpose for which the network is used for, the devices are the same and their configuration is the same. When configuring a firewall, an IT professional uses the same commands when they work in a school as when they work in an accounting office.

It Isn’t Your Parents’ #edtech https://hackscience.net/2024/08/27/it-isnt-your-parents-edtech/

When hiring new IT leaders, CEOs must be very cautious of those who intend to replace systems. The existing systems were installed for a reason and the familiarity causes the leader to prefer other systems cause large groups of faculty and staff to prefer the existing systems. Until a leader understands the systems and the many contingencies that affect the total cost of replacement, then they should not be authorized to make significant changes.

The best school technology leaders are the ones who accommodate reasonable requests, so they don’t become “the department of no” by refusing to make the changes or provide the capacity needed by faculty, staff, and students

Elevator Pitch: IT Leadership https://hackscience.net/2024/08/26/elevator-pitch-it-leadership/

“Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.”
― Eric Hoffer

No IT leader wants their systems to be unsatisfactory to users. The reality is they often do not how to prevent that.

“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”
― Eric Hoffer

Innovation is defined as “doing things differently.” In education, leaders, including technology leaders, must negotiate a balance between existing practices and innovation.

Effective leaders are finding that responding appropriately to emerging technology like generative AI requires a more sophisticated approach to ethics than simply crafting a list of what is acceptable and what is not.

By approaching ethics as a design process, leaders recognize that all decisions are based on incomplete information.

Changing one’s mind is a reasonable and responsible action when dealing with technology.

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
--Albert Einstein

Learning is promoted when new knowledge is applied by the learner.

"I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned."
-Richard P. Feynman

Learning is promoted when existing knowledge is activated as a foundation for new knowledge.

In my field, ethics is a vital part of the content. I believe it should be in yours too.

When you point out red herrings in systems, you perspective is not appreciated.