Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves.... Bertrand Russell was right

A blog post on efficacious #edtech:
https://hackscience.education/2018/08/15/efficacious-edtech/

School leadership is largely a political process, where its success and manner depend entirely on perceptions, power, and priorities.

Designing IT systems is a tame problem: it is understood, solvable with known procedures, and can be tested before deployment. Teaching, in contrast, is a wicked problem: it is not clearly understood, involves multiple interconnected factors, and different individuals judge outcomes differently.

Efficacious IT management is also made more difficult by the disparate approaches to problems solved by technology professionals, teachers, and school administrators

Negotiating what is appropriate, proper, and reasonable in IT is difficult when participants approach problems from different perspectives.

Complex passwords: IT professionals see them as a simple security strategy, but teachers perceive them as an impediment to quick access for students.

Fundamentally, educators and IT professionals understand technology in different ways, leading to varied perceptions.

The root cause of much IT inefficacy in schools is a lack of shared understanding among the disparate professionals involved in IT management.

Even with well-functioning committees, IT management can be inefficient, ineffective, or incomplete for some students.

“Investing in science and technology education and research and supporting tech businesses create a positive feedback loop where governments have a direct stake in state-of-the art technology….” - Mustafa Suleyman.

Too bad we are actively rejecting this endeavor.

To realize the strategic goal of allowing students to fully participate in the digital world, information technology must be appropriately used, properly configured, and reasonably supported.

I read he disappointing news that my favorite conference is not happening next spring. I think I will go visit the hotel and spend my time in the town I rarely get to get visit with no conference.

A student handed in work a few hours after the end of class. I reviewed it and updated her course grade. I see no evidence of the anarchy claimed by the advocates for “strict deadlines.” Sure, I was no longer getting paid, but I probably would have just wasted the time anyways.

“Care about what others think and you will forever be their prisoner.” Some wisdom that appeared in my feed today.

Innumeracy is still a thing that should concern us.

Critical thinking—the ability to judge the quality of information and your understanding of it—is an essential skill.

#Teachers who claim, “it’s my job to teach and the students’ job to learn” misunderstand their role. The boundaries implicit in their statement prevents the relationships necessary for #teaching and #learning in #schools.

I understand we don’t want high paid leaders wasting time walking from car to office when returning in mid-day to full parking lots, but the reserved parking signs send a message about whose time is valued.

Recognizing your current solutions don’t work, are inefficient, or are boring is the beginning of creative thinking.