Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

If a project failed because of incompetence, was it sabotaged?

Education that nurtures curiosity over education that generates answers… yes, please.

I noticed the log on screen (“by logging on you are agreeing to our terms of service”) at an organization has grammar errors. Should I bring it to their attention?

Yes, one can ruin a life full of good work by making terrible decisions near the end of their career… at least I’ve lost respect for competent leaders late in their careers.

Many potential customers or clients check your web site first. If they end up calling only to be told information that is contrary to what is on the web, you are alienating them.

One thing I learned during 30+ years in classrooms, handing out worksheets is not teaching.

So many “great” ideas turn out to be false when tried in the real world.

“If someone didn’t see it, it didn’t really happen” is among the weakest arguments one can make.

If everyone is doing it, it cannot be innovative.

“Just a theory” is not the condemnation you think it is.

So I’m reading a book about volcanoes that I rescued from a discard pile. I’m not sure I’m going to apply what I’ve learned, but I’m really enjoying it.

There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere. -Isaac Asimov

The proof of evolution lies in those adaptations that arise from improbable foundations. -Stephen Jay Gould

I could get Cs in math class, but actually understood many sophisticated concepts. When I became a math teacher, my students liked my approach… other teachers, not so much

Observation ruins so many wonderful speculations.

When the “next big thing” runs contrary to the philosophies that have guided recent decisions, it is best to not say anything. The leaders don’t like it.

No, that’s not what the data say, but you go on.

The savior syndrome explains much teacher behavior (in my experience). They reason the students should be so grateful they are here to teach them that the students should comply with every command no matter how ridiculous.

If a project failed because of incompetence, was it sabotaged?

I’m always interested at how folks are so quick to “make a survey” when instruments used by researchers are available to measure the “thing” we want to study.