Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

When we do science, we question everything. This is why so many people are resistant.

Curiosity. It is a far better motivator than outcomes.

Red herrings. So much work is wasted on red herrings.

"Let's do a survey" is a sure way to not find out what you want to know.

I have a few assignments in which I trust students when they tell me they did it. If they don’t, then they will struggle with later projects. I explain the rationale, but they are still confused that they don’t have to hand anything in. Yeah, and when they struggle later, and admit they did not do the earlier project, I have no sympathy.

STEM fields are related, but are fundamentally very different. Science explores nature as it exists. Technology and engineering control and apply natural phenomena. Math applies and explores patterns.

So many lofty sounding titles obscure the intent of the advocates.

I’ve worked in #edtech long enough to realize I should not recommend Google tools as they are likely to be abandoned.

Here is your regular reminder the saying should be “always state the opinions upon which you base your facts.”

The more objective you claim to be, the less objective you are.

Grades in school are thought to reflect students’ knowledge of the curriculum. They are not, and they never were. They do reflect students’ ability to function in a hierarchical social organization, which is useful, but very different from knowledge of curriculum.

Leaders who have big ideas, but no capacity to implement them need to realize it and stop asking those of us who can do both to do their work.

“Back in the day” a grade of “C” on a report card meant “average,” so it was reasonable that lots of folks saw them. Grades have much different meanings now.

Unsupported arguments. I’m familiar with them. I’ve listened to school leaders for decades.

Narcissists join together in cliques, but they always turn on each other. I learned this lesson by watching it happen in schools (adults, not children) for decades.

I understand language evolves, but the stray capital letters in writing drives me crazy.

“Content delivery” is a sign you misunderstand teaching.

If a student is hostile towards test or tester we cannot claim it measures what is is supposed to.

Naming a situation isn’t that same as solving the problem.

If you department doesn't have the "bandwidth" for their responsibilities, please don't delegate it to others. We are already busy doing our work.