Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

The best lessons are designed not planned.

Hypocrisy is so tiresome.

“We are developing instruction that scales” is a signal they don’t understand teaching.

“We are not dealing with a thinker” is my new favorite observation.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of having a scientific mindset is the curiosity and mystery. We actually admit when we don't now something.

When it comes to IT, the best leaders are the folks who have been on the first line of IT support.

Sure, your intervention may coincide with a change in what you are measuring, but causation requires much more than that.

I work with someone who inserts snarky criticisms into others’ presentations. I’ve started pausing until I count to 15 when she does it to me. I cool off and it adds an uncomfortable break in the flow.

Evolution gives the illusion of design. Life works that way. Much culture works that way. Humans see design where none existed.

Let’s normalize dismissing folks whose evidence they are not ready to share.

Hey IT: Don’t undertake widespread maintenance work or changes less than a week before classes start. Seriously, just don’t.

Hey faculty: Your IT requests (we get many which must be prioritized and integrated into existing systems) take time and energy to deploy and maintain. If yours doesn’t get to the top of the list you probably provided a weak case for it.

I’ve been in education long enough that the I’m seeing some “innovative new approaches” come around for the third time.

One difference between “data-driven” folks and researchers is the degree to which they question their methods and instruments.

We assume students who provide the correct answer to a question “knows” it.

That is often an invalid assumption.

Who could have predicted?

I mean other than the folks who know the scientific explanations.

“If I don’t need it, then no one does” explains much decision making.

One difference between “data-driven” folks and researchers is the degree to which they question their methods and instruments.

Hey faculty “leaders:” Don’t be that person who expresses relief that your workshop was canceled because you didn’t know what you were going to do.

I’m at that age where I can tell how long ago a school leader was a teacher by watching them lead.