Hello from Vancouver!
Hi everyone. My name is James, and this is my 5/6th course in the MET program. I have a B.A. in Philosophy, a diploma in TESL, and a B.Ed. in Elementary Education at the intermediate level. I have worked with students from K to adults as an EFL instructor for 5 years in Taiwan, and am now concentrating on my studies in Vancouver full time.
I am new to the study of ventures, but am very excited to be a part of this course because I want to learn all I can about the process of getting my ideas on to the table in terms of the application of technology in educational settings. I wish to help students with their learning by finding the appropriate technology to meet their needs and be able to pitch my ideas to decision makers so that the technology can become used by the students who need them.
I look forward to learning with all of you in this course. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help collaborate with your learning on this journey.
Please contact me outside the course at james791009 AT yahoo DOT com DOT tw.
Thanks!
James
Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
kstackhouse 7:27 am on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Welcome James,
Your motivation to help students selecting technology is similar to mine. I have wanted to help students and my colleagues with this, which lead to my joining the MET program. Pitching to policy/decision makers is an important skill. Have you taken ETEC 520? I found that to be a helpful course related to decision making. All the best.
Ken
jameschen 8:01 am on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I’m going to take 520 next term. Can’t wait! I’ve watched Dragon’s Den, and seeing people pitch their ideas to the big companies really got me thinking about the skills I need to have in order to navigate through a tech driven economy. Looking forward to learning with you and everyone else in this course!
James
adi 12:29 pm on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi James,
I’m also in EFL and have found it’s not that easy to get fellow colleagues to use technology unless management is onboard; however, sometimes it’s management that is onboard, but teachers aren’t because of the time it implies to learn to use the tool in question. Perhaps creating and OER aimed at getting teachers onboard would be good.
I look forward to sharing our experiences in EFL.
Good luck,
Adriana
jameschen 7:22 pm on September 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think so too. Since technology is evolving at such a rapid pace, it can be intimidating for teachers to step out of their comfort zones and into the zone of proximal development in terms of technology integration using unfamiliar technology. An OER targeted to help educators and management streamline this process sounds interesting!
James
Peggy Lawson 6:54 pm on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
James! We meet again, after just finishing 530 this summer. I enjoyed, as always, the month long break. I’m looking forward to more of your great insight this semester.
Peggy
jameschen 7:27 pm on September 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Great to see you again, Peggy! Looking forward to the things I’ll be learning from you and everyone else in this course!
teacherben 12:02 am on September 6, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey, buddy! It’s great to see you again. I was wondering when we would share another class.
jameschen 7:38 pm on September 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Good to see you again too, Ben! I was wondering about that too. I am with Sheza and Rose in 512 this term. Looking forward to the things we’ll be learning together this term!