Dr. Gary Ackerman
@garyackermanphd.bsky.social
1.3K followers 2.8K following 3.6K posts

Teaching. Learning. Technology. https://hackscience.education

Political science 40%
Sociology 22%
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garyackermanphd.bsky.social
It we could engineer schools that “work,” we already would have done it. The reality is that learning and being “smart” are multifaceted, complex, context-dependent, and changing. When we engineer for one part, everyone complains we’ve missed the others. #education

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Real life is on-going, open ended, uncertain. Laboratories and classrooms are not.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I don’t worry much about grammar errors or typos… but I do smile when I see folks misuse whom and myself in an attempt to seem “smarter” than they are.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I heard during my career that many of the “tough” students turn out fine. That motivated me to just treat them with respect and work on relationships rather than interventions

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I live in a small state. My vote counts for more in the electoral college than others. I support electing the president by popular vote.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I’ve worked in #edtech for decades. I see most #edtech tools as shiny distractions from teaching and learning.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
After attending a seance, Charles Darwin said, “The Lord have mercy on us all, if we believe in such rubbish.”

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I saw a copy of The Bell Curve (1994, Murray & Herrnstein) at a used book sale, so I bought it. It’ll sit in my shelf safely being not read until I have to recycle it to make room for more books.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
If someone tells you they have a technology/ method/ strategy/ plan/ technique that can be used to teach anyone anything… stop listening and walk away.

Especially if they are a school leader.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I do believe grades in most courses are meaningful and motivating for students, not as rewards or punishments, and not when the students see no connection to the work and there is no rationale. #education #teaching

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Look at your organization's IT.

Does it's use closely aligned with strategic goals?
Is it functioning... like does it really work well?
Is it sustainable given financial and personnel resources?

The answers are often "no" when looking at schools.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
High-quality customer service depends on effective communication. IT professionals who seek to improve customer service should improve their abilities to communicate: to understand what others mean, be clearly understood, and to improve the efficiency of communication.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Is putting words like “irregardless” in posts reason enough to unfollow someone?

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
If some leaders didn’t focus on red herrings, they’d have nothing to do.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I’ve worked in education for decades. I’ve come to expect the rationale for decisions and situations to be changed immediately when the current rationale is found to lack credibility.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Telling IT when you are available is not the same as scheduling a technician at that time.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
If you reject science, that is up to you, but when leaders reject it, then we all suffer.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
"Failure is a great teacher" seems disingenuous if it is "someone" else (teacher, test, etc.) that is defining the failure.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
“We don’t have money for that” emails are often followed by “we have an opening for a new administrator.” #education #highereducation

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
I’m an #edtech professional, but I don’t want edtech companies teaching teachers.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Folks who think AI can generate worthy content have not spent enough time reading great writers.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Ray Wylie Hubbard was correct when he observed, “A enlightenment, B endarkenment, hint there is no C.”

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Personal incredulity isn’t evidence.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
It was funny to see the unreasonable illogical takes on situations, but then I realized they actually believe their BS.

garyackermanphd.bsky.social
There is a population of teachers who only want those students who don't need to be taught in their classrooms. I really dislike those teachers,