Author: Gary Ackerman

Some Thoughts on Learning

Another post based on my file clean-up. This is from about 25 years ago, and it largely still accurate. So just what are the things that I believe about learning?

Portfolios: Statement of Purpose

Prior to starting work compiling the portfolio, one should compose two statements of purpose: The brief statement will serve as the first page of the portfolio and the longer one is a brainstorming and clarification document. Composing each will focus the portfolio creator’s attention on what is being done, why it is being done, and Read More

Thoughts of School Leaders and Technology

I am in the middle of cleaning out old files. I discovered a assignment for my doctoral studies in which I commented on my observations of school principals and their collective ignorance of technology. I am unsure of it is still true. I hope my observations are les true than they were, but I expect Read More

Some Older Thoughts on Media

Media theorists tend to understand information technology as a non-neutral aspect of culture. These scholars recognize characteristics of cognition and interaction that are attributed to the effects of information technologies.  Walter Ong used the term primary orality to describe cultures that are free of writing, so the only way to recall was to “think memorable Read More

Expertise and Reasoning Among Learners

Cognitive and learning scientist are finding evidence that brains process the information that is stored in memories. The processing allows the learner to find connections and organize the memories. As a result, what one “knows” is not a collection of discrete facts, but it is integrated and one’s knowledge can be used to create new Read More

Defining Knowledge

I am in the middle of rereading Carl Bereiter’s 2002 book Education and Mind in the Knowledge Age. Among the intriguing ideas is the book is his confrontation of the “mind as a container” metaphor. Recent generations of educators have operated under the assumption that one’s brain is a container and that what we know Read More

Assumptions and Their Corollaries About Teachers

I assume that those of you who want to be—or already are—teachers have a broad and deep experience as learners. You likely succeeded in school, an achievement that may actually have remarkably little to do with formal teaching and learning. You have also likely been a successful learner outside of school. After all, one does Read More

Electronic Portfolios in Middle Schools

I found this piece I wrote several years ago and it continues to be relevant for middle school treachers. One obvious feature of fully implemented middle level schools is engaging and relevant curriculum. Students in fully implemented middle schools are likely to score well on standardized tests. However, many educators also recognize that to view Read More

On Observation About School IT

When listening to students and teachers, as well as administrators and staff who comprise the users of information technology systems in schools, I hear complaints about the technology (they tell me it is unreliably and insufficient) and I hear complaints about the people charged with managing IT (they tell me technologists are unresponsive to and Read More