Dr. Gary Ackerman
@garyackermanphd.bsky.social
Teaching. Learning. Technology.
https://hackscience.education
Political science
40%
Sociology
22%
Create a system to promote anything you want and the first thing folks do is figure out how to game the system rather than doing what you seek to promote.
Just because you have been hired, does not mean you have the expertise you need.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence… and the evidence needs to be shared.
Believe what you want/ Physics, chemistry, and biology will win.
“It’s not going to be quick or easy.” Folks who bring this (accurate) news are unlikely to be hired.
Propaganda and misinformation. Those things that have so affected recent discourse. They are not new. Generations of propagandists have been at work influencing our beliefs.
“The opposite of knowledge is uncertainty.” Yup.
“Better” is a meaningless word unless you include for whom, for what, when, in what circumstances?
“Blank slate” describe the preferred approach to dealing with student misbehavior. “Blank slate” does not describe how students arrive in your classroom cognitively, emotionally, physically, etc.
Keep paying attention when a “ground breaking” discovery is made. The findings are usually not replicated. That’s just how science (and media) works.
“Encyclopedias contributed to the French Revolution,” paraphrasing Simon Winchester.
As I think about it, that explains much that we see today.
As I think about it, that explains much that we see today.
“Natural selection favors AI over humans.” Can we stop with this silly take? Seriously stop. In a time when science is so misunderstood, such statements make it worse.
"Necessary" usually isn't
Sure, the ebook the department has adopted may be cheaper and immediately available, but students much prefer a printed copy.
We were having a conversation about higher education and for-profit institutions came up. The person in the group who has financial experience in industry and non-profit higher education stopped and asked, “wait, you think there is a difference?”
“Obsolete technologies are no longer technologies.” Hmmm… I’m not sure I agree... perhaps for some definitions of technologies, but not those we typically use.
"AI is going to be as intelligent as humans" is a phrase uttered by those who have no idea that we have no idea what human intelligence is.
I hear lots of folks brag “we rode bikes without helmets and turned out OK” as they criticize today’s culture. I wonder how the neighborhood child who died in bike accident when I was young would respond.
I’m convinced good teaching doesn’t scale. Good teachers do integrate technologies that scale, but elements that can’t be scaled are vital to the craft.
I’m convinced good teaching doesn’t scale. Good teachers do integrate technologies that scale, but elements that can’t be scaled are vital to the craft.
Just me over here judging you by the folks with whom you associate.
“This is the first book that describes x.”
Readers who have stacks of books about x don’t believe you.
Readers who have stacks of books about x don’t believe you.
“Evidence-based practices” are only effective if the evidence isn’t fabricated.
I know it a small detail, but it’s kind of important
I know it a small detail, but it’s kind of important
“Do you understand that I f you do x, the y is likely.”
“Yes.”
Please stop complaining when y happens after you do x.
“Yes.”
Please stop complaining when y happens after you do x.
You can believe all you want about teaching, but when it gets down to it, if your methods don’t align with how human brains work, then all is wasted.
Questions are more effective at organizing lessons than learning outcomes.
“Fashionably apocalyptic” is my new favorite term.
“Brains can’t download?”
You have heard of writing haven’t you?
You have heard of writing haven’t you?
If you claim to have proof, then you are obligated to share it.
IT professionals often say "that's the way we do it." At least they have a reason as the IT they add often depends on the IT they have.