Notices by Gary Ackerman (garyackerman@qoto.org)

Facts do not speak for themselves… we interpret them in light of theory.

Divergent thinking may increase one’s questioning of social norms. Perhaps that is one reason education has been reluctant to teach it?

Yes, I do judge you by the company you keep. No, I will not apologize. It captures your judgement better than most anything else you do and way better than what you say.

You don’t get #students to understand ideas by learning definitions of more terms.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
- Albert Einstein

How do your students perceive the test?

Is it a gateway to a new experience?

Is it the signal they are done?

It matters.

Physics envy is a real thing amongst the “data driven crowd.” Too bad they misunderstand the reductionist nature of the science used to understand the physical world and the difficulties of applying it to learning and human activity in the real world.

You want students to be responsible and independent, but you dictate how they spend every moment, including when they can use the rest room.

And you don’t see an inconsistency here?

Progressive educators reject the passive absorption of facts. We honor the learner’s capacity for inquiry, experimentation, and democratic engagement. #education #teaching #schools

I forgot just how much reading one can get done while Windows updates.

Everyone is born a genius. Society de-geniuses them." -Buckminster Fuller

One of the most chilling lines I’ve read all week: “Big Data firms have a powerful incentive to pretend that anonymization works.” #data #digitalliteracy #DataDriven #DataScience #ethics

When scientific definitions and everyday definitions conflict, confusion results.

Am I the only one who is sick of hearing goals stated at the start of presentations? Tell me a story that makes your work relevant and important.

“To judge well, to comprehend well, to reason well, these are the essential activities of intelligence.”
Alfred Binet

One wonders what Binet would say about AI.

“Logic takes you from A to B. Imagination takes you anywhere.” -Albert Einstein

“Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.”
― Adam Smith
I sure wish all of those who advocate for his bastardized economics with such zeal advocated this part of Smith's thought equally.

Competent individuals are seen as a threat and are often disempowered, diffused, or deflected by narcissistic leaders.

35 years in education led me to conclude tests are not for students. They are of limited value to teachers. They are highly valued by managers and regulators.

Ask your students ... and believe what they say... they know much more that your think!