iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 19h

I remember the terrified looks from fellow teachers in the k-8 school when I did not “line up” the 8th graders to walk from an assembly back to home room.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 20h

Create something worth criticizing.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 21h

There are some stories of individuals leaving education that give me a sense of relief.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 22h

I said to a student today "I think the principal was talking about me today when he was talking about task initiation, after all, you now I get distracted when we start talking before class starts." He responded, "yes, but you are connecting with us."

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As an educator, I have spent decades dealing with delusional individuals (leaders, students, colleagues, myself).

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

So many machines/ media have been promoted as replacing teachers. The strange thing is that so much “teaching” I’ve seen over the years could be mechanized.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Variability is reality in living systems. Attempts to standardize fail.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I’m increasingly convinced “data-driven” is closely associated with “data-denying.”

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Until we get to school, much of our learning is heutagogical. Please don’t make it wait until you say they are ready.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

No online classroom should be simply a list of links.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It appears that being “data-driven” begins with cherry picking.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Yeah, don't tell me how wonderful your system is. I've been using IT a long time and I know poor design and implementation when I see it.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If your blog/ article/ site is full of advertisements, even if you are credible in other measures, I assume the content is secondary to your purpose, so I'm not reading it.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Technology causes problems as well as solves problems. Nobody has figured out a way to ensure that, as of tomorrow, technology won't create problems. Technology simply means increased power, which is why we have the global problems we face today. - Jared Diamond

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The solution often turns out more beautiful than the puzzle. - Richard Dawkins

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Seriously... if you are asking for tech help... listen to what the technician is saying.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

One of the first digital news platforms (on PLATO) was used to circulate conspiracy theories? Of course it was.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“Subversive innovator”. That’s going to be my next career.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The best learners don’t let school get in there way.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm old enough to remember when teachers sought to facilitate learning not generate data.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“Skepticism is the agent of reason against organized irrationalism--and is therefore one of the keys to human social and civic decency.” ― Stephen Jay Gould

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Maybe it's time we go back to just one reality... you know the one grounded in things we actually observe rather than some other version that we really want to be true.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

If takes a special kind of hubris to think all must act as you do.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Trickle down economics… learning styles… so many myths accepted as true.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Wrong? Me? If you ask this question, the answer is “yes.”

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“Half-assing it never works.” Wisdom from my 31-year old son.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Don’t confuse schooling for learning… or teaching.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Word suggesting "similar to" be replaced with "like" in every instance could not be more annoying... unless it was given by an animated paperclip.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

If you are not in complete control over it, don’t make it a goal.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Lots of great innovations are just improvements (or repackaging) of previous discoveries.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You do know that many of your favorite PowerPoint themes are not ADA compliant, don’t you!

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

So many accomplishments are correctly attributed to luck.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I taught science and math for years, but never used “packets,” except for the weeks I was on jury duty (and the judge’s wife was my sub—seriously!).

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Yeah, one of the great myths (and rationales for wacky and even damaging ideas) is that it’s “for the students.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The fact that we all see only one version of education for everyone is the problem.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Politicians’ reasons can be capricious. Scientists’ reasons cannot.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You have an idea. One you believe strongly, but it has no basis in empirical fact. I am not obligated to stake it seriously. I am not obligated to give it any attention in my classroom.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Those who speak with the most confidence should be ignored first.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"Political ideology can corrupt the mind, and science." -E. O. Wilson

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

At some point "not tech savvy" must disqualify one from teaching online.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Just because I can’t explain it isn’t proof you are correct.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

One thing i learned during alost 40 years in education: WHen you hear, “We need teachers to be flexible” it is time to leave.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

“What do I want my students to be able to do?” is a much different question than “What are the learning objectives?”

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

“Accountability” is grounded in the assumption that one knows clearly what should be true when done. In #education, no one agrees what should be true, thus all such efforts are doomed.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I reported several situations to school leaders over my career. Hostile work environments. Teachers repeatedly using derogatory terms towards students. Bullying. Misuse of technology. All were “investigated,” no evidence was ever found for any. Interesting how that happens.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Gifting buying for my children used to be Lego sets. Now it’s tools.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Some leaders are so good at using data, they can deny reality.

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Dr. Gary Ackerman @garyackermanphd.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“I’m doing a smaller garden next year” is the mantra… until seed catalogs arrive.

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