Goals seem a natural part of human organizations and design; we define what we want, then take steps to achieve what we want. Those who have been involved with defining or achieving goals are likely familiar with the phenomenon of “moving goals.” We observe this when a goal is defined and when we are getting Read More
All IT users know the systems work well sometimes and they don’t work well other times. Systems function well only when they are properly configured, and IT professionals (usually) complete formal programs of study to learn the craft of configuring IT and pass professional exams to verify they know what they are doing. IT configuration Read More
This post was motivated by a quote (see it below) from an unpublished piece I wrote a few years ago. Individuals who have developed the skills we once taught as a liberal education seems to be exactly what we need in society right now. We could also use educators, law makers, regulators, philanthropists, and other Read More
This is another post that I wrote after reading old papers written when I was a graduate student… this one from 1999. Our goal for students is typically understanding; we don’t want our students to simply recall, we hope to see in them knowledge of facts and comprehension on concepts. But maybe we don’t. Actually, Read More
I had AI create this post based on a chapter I wrote a few years ago. 188: Elevating EdTech Professional Development: Training, Planning, and Design If you have ever sat through a school professional development (PD) day focused on “technology integration,” you might be familiar with the following scenario: A room full of educators with Read More
Standards are collections of actions that are undertaken by organizations to ensure they are aligned with the actions that should be taken by similar organizations. Many who work in information technology in the United Stated are familiar with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) which defines the Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. In education, there Read More
I colleague asked for my take on the difference between the two. I figured it mught be an interest post for my blog too. Design Versus Planning When I was an undergraduate student studying to become an educator, my peers and I took great pride in our lesson planning. When I was a graduate student Read More
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a quiet partner in the work teachers do every day. While much of the conversation focuses on collaborative, whole‑school adoption, the reality is that many educators are using AI individually—experimenting on their own, testing tools privately, and integrating them into their workflow long before formal policies or training appear. In Read More
151: Not Your Average User: Why School IT Is Different from Business IT This is an AI-generated post based on a chapter from a book I published under a Creative Commons license a few years ago When we talk about Information Technology (IT) in schools today, we are almost always referring to complex systems utilizing Read More
178: On the (Limited) Value of “Big Idea” People A colleague recently arrived at my door with a “great idea.” I listened patiently and finally told him “sure, that sounds like a good idea. I think your first step would be to….” He interrupted me to say, “I thought you would do that. I’m more Read More