We often see learning as absorbing information, but what if teaching became a dynamic journey of problem-solving? Problems are far more interesting and informative than learning outcomes for motivating students. At its core, effective teaching embraces the “problem-centered principle,” stating learning flourishes when students acquire knowledge and skills by tackling real-world problems or tasks. This Read More
Author: Gary Ackerman
Authentic Curriculum
I was recently asked to comment on curriculum, specifically for community college students. Here is my response: Creating and implementing authentic curriculum is a complex and often unpredictable endeavor, especially when compared to relying solely on textbooks or highly prescriptive sources. Authentic curriculum is designed locally, tailored to specific populations, goals, and community resources, yet Read More
Prequestions: A Little Used Teaching Strategy
Welcome to a discussion on a simple yet incredibly powerful technique to boost your learning and retention: prequestions. Often overlooked, the prequestion effect is a phenomenon supported by cognitive science research that shows asking students questions about learning material before they encounter it significantly enhances their learning. Think of it as preparing your brain, or Read More
Avoid Black Box Learning
AI is all the rage right now. Students use it. Faculty complain about it. Bosses are trying to figure out which jobs can be replaced by it. We are all trying to figure out just how this technology will affect us. It is a challenging time, and responsible educators are actively participating our collective negotiation Read More
Cryptographic Protocols
a post for network security students Network security isn’t just about the hardware and software; it’s about understanding the underlying principles that make digital communication secure. Central to this understanding are cryptographic protocols. These aren’t just obscure algorithms; they are the invisible architects of trust and security in every online interaction, from browsing the web Read More
Threat Actors
A post for students in my network security course In the domain of network security, while the mastery of technical controls such as firewalls, encryption protocols, and intrusion detection systems is paramount, a foundational understanding of potential adversaries and origins of compromise is equally important. This foundational knowledge pertains to the identification and classification of Read More
Intelligence: AI Reviews The Mismeasure of Man
Until COVID, I did not read audio books. Now, I read them all the time. (Yes, listening to an audio book is reading; I learn as much from listening as from reading print. I use audiobooks for different purposes, sometimes listening to a book before buying a print copy, or listening to books I’ve already Read More
Teaching in the AI World: A Time for John Dewey
106: Teaching in the AI World: A Time for John Dewey I’ve been as educator for a long time. In the 1980’s, the folks who taught me how to do the work connected me with John Dewey. I have continued to read his work over my career and wondered what he would have thought of Read More
Is It Time to Reject Intelligence as a Construct?
Decades ago, I first read Stephen Jay Gould’s The Mismeasure of Man. The book was published first in 1981, then a revised edition in 1996 which included essays critical of the 1994 book The Bell Curve. It was this second edit that led a colleague to tell me is was “one of the most profound Read More
Sometimes AI is Post-on: The End of Average Again
My summer reading always includes listening to Stephen Jay Gould’s The Mismeasure of Man. I discovered Gould in 1984 and have been a lifelong fan of his essays and books. Especially this year, I have been thinking more and more about intelligence and the really weak definitions of it that characterizes our understanding of it. Read More