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
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
When we gather data and create evidence, we are making several assumptions about the activity. We assume we are measuring what we claim (that our instruments are accurate). We assume that our tools are sufficiently precise to give us the level of detail that we claim or that we need (that our tools are precise). Read More
“In cultures that lack writing, all individuals participate in the communication life of the group without need for special training or skill. Once writing is introduced, a hierarchy of political power becomes possible with the more skilled readers and writers holding a greater share of the power. Abstract concepts such as property, law based on Read More
School and technology leaders generally concur that the IT systems in schools should be of high quality (for now, we can define “high quality” as being functioning and used for relevant purposes). Quality is also understood to be a measure that has no ceiling; one can always makes changes that will improve the degree to Read More
I was recently asked to suggest tips for reducing the potential for folks to fall for phishing attempts. Here is what I proposed:
I just finished Ron Folman’s 2025 book The Human Test: How Predictability, Creativity, and the Quantum Mind Will Redefine Life in the Age of AI. Folman’s book opens with ahypothetical story of Eve, who was in his lab looking at atoms, and asked the question “Are they alive?” My mind immediately went to 10th grade Read More
Another old piece, that still seems to have relevance: Human communication is influenced by the technology used to communicate. Ostensibly, this seems an obvious statement of a simple relationship. In the 21st century, we observe on a daily basis people (usually people young that we are– this statement is true of almost anyone who is Read More
Here is another post motivated by my clean out of old files. In 2013, I prepared a conference presentation (which was never delivered due to a scheduling problem). In that presentation, I claimed the dominant model of learning that seemed to be accepted by schools was grounded on six assumptions: I believe the assumptions remain Read More
Computers are here. Computer are not going away. Computers are complex systems. Complex systems break. It is not a matter of “if my computer malfunctions,” it is a matter of “when my computer malfunctions.” All educators must have some skill at troubleshooting some of the simple problems that can arise when using a computer. There Read More