Hi! I’m Dan from Northern Ontario
Hi everybody!
Here’s some instrumental music to listen to as you read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UF3haMYqg
I’m in my second semester of the MET and I’m studying full time. After a semester of 4 courses, I’m taking 3 more now (ETEC 511 and EPSE 410). I’m in Timmins, Ontario but recently spent a few months in Toronto and absolutely loved it there! It was great to be able to go to the theatre as often as I wanted! I was there for the Busker festival which was a few days of constant fun and good food! There was also the Zombie walk. It was fantastic to see so many people taking a break from life by being dead for a while! Hopefully I’ll make it back to Toronto.
My background is in chemistry, but I switched to teaching for a while. That led to my being a part of several projects for creating technology-based teaching materials and online courses. I enjoyed the combination of learning about different subjects and the creative process, so I decided to study educational technology and here I am!
Throughout all of that, I got hired at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, and am still an employee there, on leave. I’ve been able to use what I’ve learned in the MET to help the CMN improve the quality of their teaching materials. I’m looking to work in educational technology in the fall, either full time or by contract, so if you know of any interesting companies, please let me know! I’m not really limited, geographically speaking, but I would like to stay in Canada.
I just got a fun question on Facebook, so I thought I’d post it here: What makes you smile? Here’s my answer: The zygomaticus major and minor, the orbicularis oculi, the levator labii superioris and several other muscles make me smile. Other things that make me smile: my nephew and niece, the discovery of a new type of chocolate candy or recipe, and that moment when I manage to purchase tickets to see a play in Toronto – especially AFTER the show has sold out!
Cheers,
Danielle
P.S. I noticed there’s another Danielle here, so to minimize confusion, I’ll go by Dan.
P.P.S. I tried to change my avatar using all three aceptable formats with no success. Got advice?
Posted in: Uncategorized
karonw 10:17 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dan,
Nice to meet you, I’m Karon. Wow, you’re a quickie!! It is your second semester and you are already in your 7th course! I am also trying to find an educational technology position where I can start to gain more work experience in this field. Try the search engine Eluta, it is pretty good for searching up jobs in Canada and all. It seems like it will be a busy semester for you, goodluck with your studies!
Karon
dubiend 11:25 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Karon,
I’ve done the work+study thing a few times before. I want to get my courses done as quickly as possible and start enjoying 9-5 work days with free evenings.
Thanks for the job search tip! Here are some sites I like:
http://www.cnie-rcie.ca/?q=node
http://www.cvu-uvc.ca/employment.html
http://www.celea-aceel.ca/
http://www.candevs.ca/
Colin Kam 10:42 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi again, Danielle. You and I were in 565A last semester. I thought your Science Education site (Moodle) was very well done. I look forward to work with you again this semester.
dubiend 11:41 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Colin,
Thanks for the compliment! I liked your course too; the look was very professional and the whole thing was very well organized! It’s great to see you here! Lynnette’s in ETEC 511. Enjoy your semester!
dubiend 11:57 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Donna Forward 10:52 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Danielle,
How nice to have you in my class again. I loved reading your assignments in 500! I’m currently taking 3 courses and am already feeling overwhelmed. How did you do it? I’m looking forward to July when I won’t have to go to work and can just concentrate on my courses. I’ll also be doing 511 like you and 532.
Have a great week,
Donna
dubiend 11:57 pm on May 8, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Donna,
It’s great to see you again too! ETEC 500 was lovely (and thanks)! Your constantly positive contributions really made a difference in that course!
I was able to do 4 courses because that’s all I had to do and I don’t have kids. I know other people have taken 3 courses and had work at the same time, and I hope you can do it. However, if the next two weeks indicate that the course load is too much, no one will think less of you if you drop a course. Check the refund policy too. Whatever you do, I wish you the best!
For me, the next 6 weeks will be like having 4 courses because one of my courses (EPSE) is condensed. Then I’ll have a very reasonable work load just in time to enjoy summer! It’s still springish here with rare days of warm weather.
What do you think of the new LMS in ETEC 511? I find it’s got a much more mellow look and it’s easier to navigate the discussions – less clicking.
dubiend 10:36 am on May 11, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Oops – the drop deadline is today!
adi 1:58 pm on May 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dan,
I changed my avatar by uploading a picture, but I believe if you go to the Dashboard, then Settings and Profile, you can change it there,too.
Thanks for the nice music!
Adriana
Danielle 9:18 pm on May 9, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Danielle,
Nice to meet you! And thanks for the background music, that was a nice idea.
Your job sounds wonderful! Though I am sure you are glad to be on leave with 3 courses on the go! I would have loved to have done that. Perhaps with my next degree!
I am looking forward to learning more from you!
Danielle
Yves Mainville 6:59 am on May 10, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Salut Dan. 3 autres cours eh? Tu va tapper ça pas mal vite le MET.
Bon courage et bonne chance.
-y