Gary’s Blog

In the modern classroom, the “workspace” isn’t just a physical desk; it’s a Learning Management System (LMS), a digital worksheet, and a shared slide deck. As education shifts deeper into the digital realm, ensuring every student can access these tools is no longer a “bonus”—it is a professional and legal necessity. The latest update, WCAG Read More

A Brief History of Computers in Schools   In the United States, desktop computers arrived in classrooms beginning in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, which is when they arrived on the consumer market as well. If you walked into one of the classrooms where there were those first desktop computers installed, you probably would have seen one or two computers; nearby, there would have been a box of 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

a post created by NotebookLM based on my notes from Michaelsen, L. K., Knight, A. B., & Fink, L. D. (Eds.). (2004). Team-based learning: A transformative use of small groups in college teaching. Stylus Publishing. Mention the phrase “group project,” and you’re likely to get a groan. For many of us, the experience brings back Read More

I’ve been rereading Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now. I am familiar with criticism of his work, but I am a fan nonetheless—maybe it comes from the fact that I believe we can read works even if we dispute some of the points and still find them worthy. In his chapter on “Knowledge” Pinker writes: “So much 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