Category Archives: Uncategorized

SlideShare: PowerPoint with animations on your iPad

I was prepping for a meeting recently and wanted to use some basic animations in a PowerPoint slide deck. Nothing fancy–just bringing bullet list items one at a time as a discussion unfolds. And was resigned to schlep my laptop … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on SlideShare: PowerPoint with animations on your iPad

Emirates chooses Seattle; thanks GdC*

Got this email today: Starting March 1, Emirates is offering new daily service from Seattle (SEA) to destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the South Asian subcontinent via Dubai. With our new partnership with Alaska Airlines, travelers can … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Emirates chooses Seattle; thanks GdC*

Apple TV, Airplay and UBC

He asked for it. Here it is.  🙂 I’ve been fairly obsessed with “tablet teaching” as of late. Initially I was more than happy to plug my iPad into the projector (or podium) and use it like a laptop. Then … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Some apps I love

A quick metric for how overcommitted busy I am relates to my iOS devices. No, they’re not neglected–I use my iPad and my 2 iPhones (one is for work…but yes I’m a loser) every day. Certain apps would need to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Some apps I love

c’est ma vie, je dis oui

I don’t often write about my life here. Perhaps I should? Or not? This morning I had a marvellous ski up on Cypress Mountain. I managed to get all the way to the top of Hollyburn Ridge for only the second time … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on c’est ma vie, je dis oui

A new term: new cohorts, projects and adventures. And OMG iTextbookses!

Gung hay fat choy! Gung hay! Gung hay! The latest cohorts of ETEC565A are well under way: somewhat smaller crowd (17 and 18 per section), but two quality bunches of folks in each.  Qualitative feedback on their Flight Paths has … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A new term: new cohorts, projects and adventures. And OMG iTextbookses!

Je reviendrai Ă  MontrĂ©al…

…et après QuĂ©bec. J’aime la belle province (oui, c’est un province; n’importe) et j’y allais en 2009. QuĂ©bec me manque! Il y aura deux confĂ©rences Ă  MontrĂ©al en juin; donc je serai lĂ  pour une dizaine de jours. Et pour … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Je reviendrai Ă  MontrĂ©al…

another suitcase, another hall

Or, rather, another teaching term. 🙂 This terms I’ve got two sections of ETEC565A; in the end I suspect I’ll have just under 40 students in total. A nice, manageable number! I’ve made a few tweaks (with my colleague Jeff … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on another suitcase, another hall

Adieu 2011

Another year has zoomed by. It’s been an interesting one for me, particularly on the professional front. I’ve taken on–and settled nicely into–a newly created role in a newly created service unit. I’ve built a new working relationship with one … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Adieu 2011

wanted: Graduate Academic Assistant SoTL and Curriculum Educational Developer

I’m hiring a GAA for Jan-Apr 2011.  You must be a UBC full-time graduate student. Job ad is here; feel free to circulate widely. Applications close 1159PM Sunday 18 December.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on wanted: Graduate Academic Assistant SoTL and Curriculum Educational Developer

OECD ranks Canadian public schools 3rd in the world on PISA

The Guardian UK reports the latest Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD, or those kapitalist bums, as I like to think of them) education rankings. Overall Canada comes in third, behind South Korea and Finland. New Zealand is 4th, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on OECD ranks Canadian public schools 3rd in the world on PISA

Riiiiiiga

Bless me blogosphere for I have sinned. I should’ve posted this a couple of weeks ago. Had other things to do. Sorry, sort of. I calibrated my recent travels in Europe to be in Riga for Latvia’s indepdence celebrations. Like … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Riiiiiiga

Pan-Canadian Assessment Program: Meaningless

Today the CBC had a story on the most recent results of the PCAP tests, which are administered to grade 8 students across the country.Unlike many of my colleagues in education I think have some sort of national assessment of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Pan-Canadian Assessment Program: Meaningless

VIlniush

I awoke today the freshest so far: darn near bright eyed and bushy tailed, as Mom used to say. After a mediocre buffet breakfast, I set out for my first sightseeing destination: Lieutuvos Radio Television (TV) Tower It’s honking’ big … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on VIlniush

A measly 50 minute flight, pas grand chose, ouais?

After a relaxing morning at my Warsaw hotel I decided, as much to shake myself out of lingering jet lag torpor, to head to the airport a bit early. Upon my arrival I do as I always do: I checked … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A measly 50 minute flight, pas grand chose, ouais?

Warsaw

As I wandered through the Castle in Warsaw's Stare Miasto (Old Town) I thought to myself "a culture must value itself that goes to such great efforts to ensure its legacy is maintained. And then I remember 95% of what … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Warsaw

miscellania

Been playing catch-up on a number of fronts as of late. Mostly because I loathe not being on top of things; partially because I’m in the office 4 days this week, then on holidays for 11 days (w00t!). Consider this … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Recommended iPad app: 2Screens

I had a meeting with a faculty member a couple of weeks ago about “tablet teaching”. For many folks tablet=iPad; given he’s a scientist I suspected he might be using a Wintel tablet–a PC with a touch screen.  Turns out … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Recommended iPad app: 2Screens

MET Moodle now version 2!

The awesome folks in the Faculty of Education’s Computing and Media Services unit have moved our MET Moodle server to a new box AND upgraded us to version 2 (2.1 I believe). If you’ve built a course under 1.9.8 it … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on MET Moodle now version 2!

2 – 4 – 6 – 8 can you say e-val-u-ate?

Apparently many of you can. Just reviewed my evaluations for the summer offerings of 565A.  Overall folks are pleased with the course and the work Robert and I did (thanks again Rob, if you’re reading this). I, of course, zoom … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments