Hi everyone, My name is Ranvir and this is my 3rd MET course (same as Sophia!). I come from a software development background with progressive experience in business analysis and project management especially in the eLearning industry. I am an independent consultant and enjoy exploring new educational technologies with an “instructional designer” lens! You can […]
Continue reading Hello from Ranvir @Surrey, BC Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi everyone, My name is Melissa Ayers and I am a New Zealander currently based in Montreal. I am relatively new to the education and educational technology domains (aside from 4 completed MET courses). My background is more technology related; I have a degree in Computer Science and have worked as a software engineer for around […]
Continue reading Bonjour de Montréal Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Pardon the delay. This month looks to be exceptionally busy as I am in transition between cities, with the aim of landing in Vancouver sometime beginning or end of October – I’ve never been. You seem like a brilliant and experienced bunch and I feel privileged and somewhat intimidated to be in this class with […]
Continue reading Salute from Ottawa, Toronto, and coming to.. Vancouver: Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi there, My name is Joel Tremblay and this is my third course in the ETEC curriculum and as the title suggests, I was a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the school year like most teachers and students tend to be. As such, I’m just now getting to the instructions etc. for the course […]
Continue reading Intro. Better late than never Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Joel,
Welcome. I was overwhelmed last week, too. There’s a lot to assimilate the first week.
How did you become a teacher in the areas you teach? Do you need some kind of BC certificate? I ask, ’cause someone I know is moving to Vancouver and is interested in teaching web design.
Good luck this week.
Adriana
Hi all, my name is Paula Poodwan. I am originally from Bangkok, Thailand and I have lived in Vancouver for almost 10 years . This is my last course in the MET program and I intended to keep it for last hoping that this course will give me some ideas to start up my venture […]
Continue reading Hi all, my name is Paula Poodwan. I am o… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Paula,
Pretty sure we have been in a few classes together. Last course for you, sounds wonderful! Posting in this public space does take some getting use to.
Hi Paula,
Yes, it would be pretty odd taking one more class after finishing ETEC 590, but you are so close to being done! This is my fifth course, so I will be at the half way mark in December. Good luck and look forwards to working with you.
Lisa
Hi Paula,
I’m also interested in language training, and when not in Mexico, I’m in Vancouver. I look forward to working with you and sharing ideas on possible language ventures.
Congrats on nearly graduating.
Adriana
Hi Everyone, I’m Adrienne. This is my 4th MET course. I’m also taking ETEC 531. I’ve been working for the VSB since 2009 teaching all grade levels. My high school teachable is English. I taught grade 6/7 last year. This is the first year that all three of my own children are in school! (Quite […]
Continue reading Hi Everyone, I’m Adrienne. This is my 4… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Adrienne,
Welcome to ETEC 522. The summer course you took, “Recurring Questions in Technology” sounds interesting in name alone. I am curious- how did you find it? what was its main focus, main topic(s)? Was it also a UBC course?
Thanks,
Melissa
Hello All, My name is Lisa and I currently live in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Today it will be a balmy 30 oC here. I have been working at Dr. Knox Middle School for the past 7 years and teach Science 8 and 9, as well as Math 9. This is my fifth MET course. I […]
Continue reading Hello from Kelowna, BC Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Afternoon Lisa,
Great to be in a course with another OK’er. Looking forward to learning with you –
PC
Hi Lisa,
kudos to you for doing tow courses at once. I am sure it will be nice to take one course while you are back to work.
I felt the same way about this course. It is definitely a different concept then the other courses offered and will help us all to have a different vantage point for educational technology. I look forward to interacting with you in the course.
Nureen
Yeah, two courses was enough for me (especially while starting them at the end of the school year), but I did have July off to work on them. Good luck in this course,
Lisa
Hello again Lisa,
Yes its back to one again for me also and I share your sentiment for this course too.
See you around.
Patason
Hey Patason,
We seem to be on the same education path! Good luck in the course and nice to interact with a familiar person.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I grew up in Kelowna and my dad used to teach @ Knox… say Hi to Leo and Marlon for me.
Welcome to the course!
John
Hi John,
Did your dad end his career at RSS? If yes, then I know who he is. I will definately say hello to Leo and Marlon for you.
Lisa
That’s him… enjoying the slacker retired life in the Gulf Islands now.
John
Hi Lisa,
Nice to meet another Kelowna teacher here and congrats for reaching the half way mark of the MET program. My two sisters live in Kelowna and I always go visit them and I had a chance to drive by your school many times. Such a nice campus! It is a challenge to teach grade 8th and 9th I guess, especially with the Math subject where things start to be difficult for them.
Hello Everyone, My name is Catherine Ranson from Toronto, Ontario. I have been teaching Dental Hygiene for the past 22 years in the college system in Ontario. My background is science, oral health, access to healthcare and I have a undergraduate degree in Health Administration. I am currently a full-time faculty member at George Brown […]
Continue reading Hello Everyone, My name is Catherine Ran… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Catherine,
Nice to see a familiar name here. Yes, we were together in ETEC 510 and we almost had a chance to work together in a design project before we decided to split the group into the smaller ones. Looking forward to learning alongside with you.
Hello, My name is Bryan and I am in my fifth year of teaching at the Surrey School District (SD36) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. I have a B.A. in History from the University of the Fraser Valley and a B.Ed. with a minor in Educational Technology from Simon Fraser University. I am currently teaching […]
Continue reading Hello, My name is Bryan and I am in my f… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Bryan,
Its nice to read that you have positive feedback about integrating technology into the classroom! I look forward to hearing more about your experiences during the course
Melissa
Hi, my name is Sophia and this is my third MET course. I have taught English and business administration at the secondary and post-secondary levels. At present, I am an education and youth services manager with a non-profit organization that provides many services to at-risk youth and the adoption community. I am a Jamaican Canadian […]
Continue reading Hello from Surrey, BC Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Sophia,
I did my first degree at uwi mona and l loved Jamaica. So it is very nice running into you here.
Patason
Hi Patason,
Thank you. I did my first degree and first masters there. Ah, fond memories.
Sophia
Great to get back into the swing of things this fall – I am quite keen to participate in the blog environment that frameworks this course. My name is Patricia and I live on the shores of Okanagan lake in the beautiful Sylix traditional territory. I am a Geology/Aboriginal teacher by trade but dabble a […]
Continue reading Great to get back into the swing of thin… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hello, I look forward to working with you in this course.
Bryan
Hi Patricia, I see we’re in another course together. I hope you enjoyed your time off in August. I know I did. Looking forwards to working with you again in this course.
Lisa
Great to be back with you too Lisa. August was busy but great. Are you taking two courses this semester? It will be my first time trying on a second course… should be interesting.
Take care,
PC
Hi, My name is Shaun. I am currently travelling and taking 3 MET courses. This will be my second, third, and fourth courses of the program. I enjoy songwriting, music composition, sports and travel. I will be teaching english in Shanghai starting in October and have previously taught at an Island Pacific School on Bowen […]
Continue reading Hello from Europe. Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
HI Shaun,
All I can say is that this is the right place and time for someone like you.
I look forward to working with you.
Patason
Sounds like a busy schedule of learning and traveling (which will most likely expand your understanding of technology and society by viewing it from a more global sense). Can’t wait to reflect on your insights.
Tom
Hi Shaun,
You seem to have the right idea, travel & online education is a great combination.
Catherine
Hello all, This is one of my first MET courses and I’m excited to get started. My name is Rebecca and I am writing to you from the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia! I’ve been teaching for about 4 years, 2 of which have been here in Powell River, 1 in Australia and the rest on Pender […]
Continue reading Hello from Powell River Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Rebecca,
I am glad to see there is another “newbee” to MET in this class. Are you taking any other courses this term? I am also taking ETEC 511, which I haven’t had time to delve into yet. Thank goodness the weekend is fast approaching when I will have more time! I hope you have a had a great first week back at school and are enjoying all of your new roles. Best, Jen
Hey Jen,
Yes, I am taking 511, 512 and 521. I, too, am looking forward to having more time to devote to the readings now that my bulletin boards are all sorted at the school 😉 Regards, Rebecca
Hi Rebecca
Welcome to MET and good luck to you with your courses, You seem so well rounded that I have no doubt that you will have fun as you succeed at your MET endeavors.
See you around.
Patason
We spent a week and a bit on the Sunshine Coast last summer and absolutely loved it, especially Powell River and then our time exploring the waters/marine life in Desolation Sound.
Hi there Rebecca,
My uncle and aunt actually teach in Powell River so I’m curious as to how many schools there are up there as if there are as many as I think, it’s possible you might know them? Don and Anne Nelson? Anyways, take care and good luck with the course.
Joel
Hello, My name is John Cunnian and I am a science and French teacher at an independent IB school on Vancouver Island. This is my 8th course in the MET program and I plan on finishing by August of next year. Between teaching and my Masters program, I am also into running and rock climbing. […]
Continue reading Hello from the island! Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hey John,
I would love to pick your brain about IB schools. I’ve been interested in them for some time. I’m currently working in a public school in bc, but have always wanted to do more teaching internationally and have heard good things about IB schools in general.
Cheers,
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
I just made the move to this school after teaching in the public system for the last 7 years. So far the learning curve (whatever that is) is quite steep, but I can already see the value of it. Please feel free to pick my brain, but maybe wait a couple moths for things to ‘congeal’ in my mind a little more.
John
Hi John,
As a parent of two kids myself, I was wondering if you could share some advice on how you have handled your previous MET classes. Last year I spent one or two nights doing my readings and then on the weekend I attended my six hour Masters class every other Saturday (if you read my intro you will see I wasn’t in MET but another department). The “off” Saturday I would do my Master’s work and spent Sunday with my family. Understanding that this online platform is quite different than attending a class, do you find it is better to do some work each night? Or can I check in each night and then do the majority of work/study/readings on the weekends? I am just a bit worried as this week once I have put my kids to bed and completed necessary work for my daytime job, I have not had much time left. Any advice would be appreciated… Thanks, Jen
I have no real method… I work on it when I have any spare time; usually after the kids are in bed. I usually check in on some postings during the day and kind of mull them over until the evening. The asynchronous nature of this program, to me, makes it much more manageable. That said, there have been many late night along the way. You’ll find a rhythm soon.
Hope that helps!
John
I’m reposting this as I think it went to the wrong place the first time: Hi, My name is Suhayl Patel and currently reside in Calgary Alberta. This is my 6th course in the MET program and am looking forward to working and learning through out this term. I have never taken a course that […]
Continue reading I’m reposting this as I think it went t… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome fellow Albertan. Sounds like an interesting role you have in the CBE. Hope we could share some idea’s.
Tom
Hi Tom,
This is absoutely an amazing role. A lot of work that I currently do is directly related to new initiatives that we are trying to implement as a board and a lot of it requires us dealing with corporate partners like Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc. I am definitely gaining a more corporate/business experience as opposed to the classroom experience that i’ve had in the past.
Hi Suhayl,
I think we were in ETEC 530 together. I haven’t taken a course that is offered from a weblog but have created sites on this weblog in a few other courses. Gives you an opportunity to go back and re-visit some of your old work and look at it with a fresh view and edit.
Catherine
I’m almost certain we have take 530 together. Welcome to the course. I look forward to working with you again!
Hi everyone, I’m Jenny living in Calgary, AB. I am actually a student with the Adult Learning and Global Change Masters and am taking this course as one of my electives (it is going to be a busy fall). This is my second MET course and I am excited to dive in as I really […]
Continue reading Greetings from Calgary and ALGC Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Jenny,
It is nice to meet a fellow Calgarian! Your work sounds very interesting! How nice it is to live so close to the moutains, biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. I also frequently take trips to the mountains for hiking excursions in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.
I look forward to working with you,
Jhodi
Hi Jenny and Jhodi:
Hello from another fellow Calgarian. I too live for activities in the mountains both summer and winter. I have never been in a MET course with so many from Calgary, I see there are others as well.
Jenny are you the Jennifer Brown from Health and Public Safety at SAIT from a few years back?
Doug.
Hi my fellow Calgarians 🙂 It sounds like you are both enjoying the mountains as well.Doug, I am pretty sure that I’m not the Health and Public Safety person from SAIT you are thinking of, the only involvement I have had there was assisting another inspector with a special project (Serving Safer Food) related to their commercial kitchen.
My name is Ben Cooperman and I am currently working at an international school in Hong Kong as a Technology Integration specialist. I teach a few Design & Tech classes as well. It’s a pretty fun job, since I get all over the school and have a chance to work with most of the teachers […]
Continue reading Hi from Hong Kong Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Ben,
Sounds like a great job! How long have you been working there? I’m also curious if you have taught anywhere else and if so, how it compares?
Julie
Hi Julie,
This is my second year in Hong Kong. I spent 6 years at a school in Beijing before this and 5 in Taiwan before that. I did a semester at a school in India before that, but negotiated my way out of what was a pretty bad contract and situation there. I taught in Toronto for a couple of years after I finished my teacher training.
i have specifically targeted IB schools because, for the most part, I like the structure of their curriculum. It’s one of the better examples of Constructivist pedagogy in practice on a large scale–particularly the approach they take to teaching Technology. i spent most of my career with little ones though. I just made the jump to secondary a few years ago for a change.
Beijing was a good place to live a very comfortable life and save a bunch of money. Hong Kong allows for a better lifestyle (except that you live in a shoebox-sized apartment) but it’s tougher to save.
I have a knack for selecting the sorts of schools where you get to go out on a limb a bit, which is certainly more fun, but it also usually means that they are still working out the kinks and don’t really have their curriculum in order. I always seem to find myself writing curriculum from scratch. Good PD I suppose, but I think I might go for a big school that is better established for my next post. (In fact, I would love to return to Canada at this point, but the job market isn’t looking good from what I hear. Perhaps this course will inspire me to try a different path!)
Welcome Ben. It sounds as though your background and approach to teaching will be well suited for this course. Have a great term!
Ken
Hi Ben —
I vividly recall a conversation with several architects and engineering friends speaking about the upcoming promise of 3D printers. Is your school planning to purchase one? Are you seeing them in more schools?
— Jonathan
My school is dragging its feet over the 3D printer. I put one in the budget for 1200 bucks but they turned it down and asked me to wait a year. I decided to start teaching towards that anyways, so I have students doing a unit where they produce the model and i will get someone else to print it for us. In the meantime, I am also doing a unit where they design and create a model in SketchUp and using a plugin I found, will be able to ‘unfold’ their 3D models flat so they can be printed on paper, cut out and refolded up into 3D paper models. I’m just starting to flesh out the unit, but you are welcome to see it here:
http://wiki.teacherben.net/3d-paper-model-toddler-toy
And I met a guy here in HK that, after trying to build a 3D printer from a kit and getting very frustrated, decided to invent his own, better one. He started his own company and has shared every step of the way on his blog, including the 3D designs. I guess the product will be open source in the end, but I’m not sure. In any case, he figures it should retail for only 350 USD! I will grab one of these as soon as I can.
Here’s the step-by-step of his process:
http://www.makible.com/products/makibox-a6-1
and here’s the main site for the product:
http://makibox.com/
Hi Ben, it’s great to see you again! I would love to learn more about your experience teaching with 3D printers and microcontroller boards. Looking forward to the things we’ll be learning together this term!
Hey everyone! Very interesting reading about all of you…quite a diverse group. My story is that I am from Richmond (noticed that a couple people teach there) and went to UBC where I studied Geography and International Relations. After about 4 years of work and travel I decided to get into education and have thoroughly […]
Continue reading Hello from China! Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Mike! I’m in Hong Kong–not too far away. I’ve been in the area for a while–Beijing before this and Taiwan before that. Has Wuhan been a good experience for you? I just Googled your name and Wuhan out of curiosity (hope that wasn’t prying too much) and it looks as though your school is somehow accredited by the BC Ministry of Education or something like that. What’s that all about?
yah its not a bad deal. they pay BC salary and cost of living is pretty low. we deliver a bc curriculum and at the end of grade 12 the kids get a bc diploma which obviously helps them do post secondary over seas (mostly in Canada). Wuhan is kind of a dump, nothing compared to HK. your gig sounds pretty good too. You guys get holidays off like mainland China? I love the holiday structure, it sucks working over xmas, but it rocks having 5 weeks off in february and january.
Hi Mike,
Interesting story about how you got into education; I actually have a similar one in that I was working as an event planner for a few years but after a while the hardships in the industry got the better of me and I decided to back to education; since then I too have been happy with it.
I am always interested to hear about teachers experiences abroad and would like to hear more about what its been like for you in China.
Julie
Yah Julie, sometimes you just gotta go with what works. Event planning is a very cyclical type of business too. when the economy is down, they tend to throw less parties. It is frustrating with the lack of upside economic rewards in education, but there sure are a lot of other rewards. China is kinda crazy, tonnes of people, tonnes of cars, all that. The language is super tough to pick up compared to other ones. The school I am at is a BC school with about 70 western teachers so I am certainly not lonely over here. I was just back in Canada for the summer which was great and we get a holiday over chinese new year where we gallivant around asia for 5 weeks, which of course is great. Students are very different as a whole compared to Canada, in good ways and bad too.
Im gonna creep on your intro now to learn a little more about you!
Hi Mike. That is an interesting story. I did a round about way into education…but all during my undergrad. Started in Science, then Psychology, then a BA in Arts, to then take my BEd at Queen’s. How far are you in the MET program? Best of luck this term.
Ken
Hi Mike I too fell into education as one of many side tracks in my career. This is my third time at post secondary: first as a lab tech, second as a remote sensing scientist through geography and now working in education and taking MET as an educational catch-up to the position.
Doug.
Hi Mike,
I’m Jen and have just begun my first year as an FA at UBC. I was happy to read your story because today when I met my group of Teacher Candidates that I will be supervising they asked if any of last year’s group had been hired. Unfortunately none were… not because of lack of skills but lack of jobs. Our CITE cohort mentioned to them that there are many opportunities abroad so I will be happy to report back to them next week that there are some BC run schools in China that have hired many Westerners. Do you use the BC IRP’s? Best, Jen
Jen —
I graduated from the CITE cohort! You’ll have to say hello to Steve for me. Catching up with graduates in the past 4-5 years has been a bit depressing. I know there are great candidates going through the program but I know that the hiring rate has been less and less. Those that have been unsuccessful have definitely gone abroad to find other opportunities and have been successful in their endeavours.
— Jonathan
Hello and greetings from Surrey, B.C. This is now my 6th MET course and it feels great to be past the half way point. I currently teach at an alternate secondary school in the Surrey school district with ‘at risk’ youth who range from 15 -19 years of age. I have been teaching here for […]
Continue reading Hello and greetings from Surrey, B.C. Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome Manny,
Congrats at being past the half-way point. A class set of iPads, that will be interesting. For some reason in our district the head IT guy really does not like Apple products and it is a fight to get any approved. I do have 6 Macs in my classroom but that is rare. My wife is an OT in the elementary schools and there are times when she will encourage the use of iPads and other devices to improve accessibility to learning. Have a great term.
Ken
Hi Ken,
Macs definitely posit their own set of challenges as they are not friendly when it comes to cross platform applications. I was always more of a PC guy myself but our district seems to be taking the Mac direction right now. I guess it’s all personal preference at the end of the day. iPads are of course new and exciting but also have their limitations. I wish you the best of luck this term and look forward to working with you.
Manny
Hi Manny, I work over at CLC I believe you work at one of the other learning centers in Surrey?
Hi Colin,
I’m over at the GLC. It’s nice to have someone who shares similar experiences in the same course. Look forward to working with you and I’m sure our paths will cross soon.
Manny
Hi Manny —
Fantastic and exciting opportunity for you to deploy iPads into the classroom. You’ll have to keep me posted on the progress. While I am an Apple guy in my respects, I have found the limitations within the lab (with regards to some of the applications) to be quite frustrating. I’ve used one (personal) in my classroom for a few years, but this year I will have an extra to give to the students as well. What apps have you loaded onto the ipad or how do you plan to use them?
Cheers,
— Jonathan
I would agree with you John in that it can become quite frustrating. This biggest problem I face is that it is a personal mobile device and the problem occurs when you try to share it between students in different classes. Furthermore, it is so difficult to find effective educational apps. I would be more than happy to share my list of apps that have worked for me thus far, just send me your email addy and I will compile a list.
Manny
Frustrations — I can probably add to it –>
keeping the students on task with the iPad when there is so much to do. They are so comfortable with the platform that they know how to head out to the main screen, play with Photo Booth, and amuse their friends. At the same time is this because the task isn’t interesting enough? I’ll be excited to see what the new iOS feature will be, to allow us to control the experience some more (shudder, sounds so Apple).
Email.. thanks for sending the list along: jtang@sd38.bc.ca
Hi Manny,
Nice to meet another Surrey teacher! I look forward to working with you.
Bryan
Good evening new friends! I am Jen and live in a lovely, quaint little village called Ladner. It is located 30 minutes outside of Vancouver. My journey to MET is likely much different than many of yours. Last September I began my Masters in Language and Literacy in a Surrey Cohort. I […]
Continue reading Nice to meet you… Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome Jen,
Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like you will have a very busy term. Have you taken ETEC 540 (Text Technologies: The Changing Spaces of Reading and Writing)? I am just starting in now. It sounds like you might be interested in the topics covered there. Although I am just beginning I have found it very interesting. Best of luck this term.
Ken
Hi Ken,
No I haven’t taken ETEC 540. Currently I am taking ETEC 511. This week there was a lot of theory and I have been struggling to unpack the articles. I do hope to take 540 as an elective in the spring/summer or the other class that is connected to math and science. I see you are taking three course… brave! Best, Jen
Hi Jen:
I have heard of Ladner, My Wife’s Aunt and Uncle live there. Great story about your transition into MET and quick adoption of technology into your life. Look forward to working with you.
Doug.
HI Jen,
We met briefly at the RQT summer institute. Glad to hear that you’ve made the switch and I look forward to working with you again!
John
Hi John,
Yes, I took the plunge. My stress levels hit the roof on Thursday when I was trying to navigate ETEC 511 on Connect. It is going to be a busy term but am glad I have a few people I can call on for help. Talk soon, Jen
Hi Jen —
Good luck in your new role and good for you for switching to a newly found passion. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time as a faculty advisor! Look forward to working with you!
Jonathan
Hi Jen,
I love your story. It seems that you have awaken the ‘techo-geek ‘ in you.
I know it would be fun having you here.
Patason
Hi Jen,
Great story! Thanks for sharing. I look forward to learning with you.
Sophia
Hi Jen,
Nice to see you again. We shared a table in the summer course, if you remember. Great hat! Eva
Good evening everyone. My name is Patrick and I live in the Ottawa region. ETEC522 and ETEC565 will be my 7th and 8th courses in a thrilling ride across the MET program. I am a high school information technology teacher and run a specialized focus program where students from the Ottawa region come to our […]
Continue reading Bonjour from Ottawa Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome to the course. I was in Ottawa a few weeks ago. My wife’s family lives about an hour from there (Westport-a small cottage/farm town). We spend a couple of weeks there each summer. The three points you listed are very important. Good luck this term.
Ken
Hi Patrick,
You are two courses ahead of me in MET. You seem to have your hands full both at school and at home.With your experience I know I can learn an lot from you and I look forward to working with you.
Patason
Hi Patrick,
What beautiful children. 🙂 I bet a few minutes with them makes you forget about all the other work you do. Sounds like you have your hands full with work.
I look forward to working with you this term.
Nureen
Hi Everyone! I’m Eva, from Toronto. I’m working towards my PhD in the ISGP program at UBC and many of my courses are in MET. This will be my second MET course. My research interests are “Developing a Learning Model for Online Film Education.” I am also very interested in using Machinima as a learning […]
Continue reading Hello from Toronto Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome Eva. You have a very interesting background. Your current work sounds fascinating. I agree with your position that an online film education is something that could be marketed. Teaching Media Studies (having never worked in media) has been very challenging. I look forward to learning from you. I love film and television and had I not chosen education I think I would have loved a career in media. Have a great term.
Ken
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the response and your kind words. I return the comments – your work sounds very interesting too. It’s nice to find people with similar passions in the course. Perhaps we will be able to collaborate on something film/media related in this course. That would be great. Have you ever worked with Machinima? I have not, but would like to try very soon. I’m sure we’ll connect again soon, Eva
That sounds great! I have not heard of Machinima. It sounds very interesting. I will be sure to check it out. 🙂
Hi Eva,
Nice to meet you. Film industry, very interesting! I am sure you are attending the Toronto Film Festival this week-end, any suggestions?
Catherine
Hi Eva,
So nice to see a familiar face! I remember our week long course well. I assume you are back in Toronto. How many courses are required for a Ph.D? I am also taking ETEC 511. Have you taken that one before? I am struggling a bit with all the theory. I find I have to read and re-read the articles to unpack them. Anyway, great to talk to you again, Jen
Nice to hear from you, Jen! ETEC 511 is a tough one, but very rewarding in the end. Keep at it.
Hi Catherine, sorry, I did not get back to you, as I was likely in the midst of taking care of start up at the college where I work also. Are you in Toronto I guess? Did you see any films?
Ken, if you want more info on machinima, please email me and I will give you lots of links. I posted my essay on it on http://www.evaziemsen.com (under UBC etec 511). Check it out if you like.
Hello, My name is Nureen. I live in Calgary, Alberta. This is my 10th and final course in the MET program. I am currently working as a special needs teacher in a Paced Learning Program. This is my 6th year working in Special Ed. I tend to use different technological tools to help with individualization of […]
Continue reading Hello from Calgary Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Hi Nureen – Congrats on starting your last class! It will be an honour to help you finish your journey. I believe we’ve met in an earlier course? I would love to hear of some of the assistive technology tools you’ve found helpful – we are always looking for good first-hand experience with what works, and what doesn’t.
Peggy
Hi Peggy,
I believe you are right we have taken a class together before. I look forward to working with you also and sharing some of our experiences.
Nureen
Nureen/Peggy —
I’ll have to second Peggy’s comments on a lot of this. Finish strong on this last course and congrats! I’m really curious to hear what types of tools you have found to be especially effective (say top 3?). I would say every other year a student on the Autistic spectrum is part of my classroom. While I have found successful strategies it would be great to hear from someone that is working directly with the students everyday.
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
In all honesty I find that any tool that is interactive and very visual is fantastic with kids on the spectrum. Anything that will keep them engaged and that will help them to explore and express their ideas. Learning in the age old manner is very daunting for a lot of these kids because they are not able to express themselves that is why visual tools provide them with more avenues to communicate.
I look forward to interacting with you this semester.
Nureen
Couldn’t agree more with your perspective. What’s a favourite right now? Trying to populate the school’s iPad apps with good ones.
Jonathan
Welcome Nureen. My wife is an OT in the elementary schools and she is often advocating for the use of various technologies to help students engage in their learning. I look forward to hearing more from your experience. Congrats on being near the end.
Ken
Thank you Ken. I would love to hear about some of her experiences as well. It is great to exchange such learning experiences.
Thank you so much. I am looking forward to some down time once I am done.
Nureen
Hi,
Congratulations on your last course! How nice it must be to think of all the free time you are about to open up. It is always nice to meet a fellow Calgarian and I look very forward to working with you this term. Your work sounds fascinating and like you have been able to make the most of your technological skills.
Jhodi
Hi Jhodi,
Thank you so much fellow Calgarian. 🙂 I am looking forward to being able to start doing some leisure activities again once I am done.
I look forward to working with you.
Nureen
Hey Nureen,
Sounds like you have some great information on effective technology. The district that I work in is very supportive of new ideas in technology and I would also love to hear what has worked well for you. My class last year had about 6 students with written output difficulties and they are still in our school. Have you tried any good speech to text, or alternative, programs? We’ve found Dragon Naturally Speaking to the be the best for the kids but still have difficulties getting it to be effective.
Glad to have you in the group!
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
I have found Audacity to be helpful when working on literacy skills with my students. I have also used tool such as kidspiration, etc, that would allow for them to use other modes of communication rather than written text.
I look forward to working with you this term.
Nureen
Hi Nureen. Welcome to the course. I see that you mentioned that you work with students in the Paced Learning Program, that seems like an interesting experience. I’ve never worked with special needs students and as a result, I know very little about what it must be like.
I also live in Calgary and work for the public board. Do you work for the public system or is it private?
Last class!!! Wow that’s exciting.
Look forward to working with you.
Hello Everyone! A little bit about me- I am currently a high school teacher in Calgary, AB and this is my fourth MET course. I am currently in my second year of teaching and I am loving my job! I love to run in the summer and practice hot yoga and snowboard in the winter. […]
Continue reading Hello from Calgary! Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Welcome jhodi (I didn’t see your name in the post). 🙂 I agree that this course will provide some interesting background on what makes an idea “successful”. There are lots of great ideas, but not all of them make it big in the markets. Have a great term.
Ken
Hi again Jhodi,
I share yours and Ken’s sentiment that this will be an interesting course and I look forward to working with you.
Patason
Welcome fellow Calgarian. What courses do you teach? Is it for the public system?
Suhayl
Ahhh, the day is done and the first day of school is over! A hectic and exciting day of Grade 4 is behind me and I now focus my attention on MET. Hi, I’m Kent Jamieson and this is my 3rd course and i’m looking forward to what ‘Ventures’ has to offer. I see some […]
Continue reading Hello from West Van Posted in: Week 01: Introductions
Kent —
Sounds like you have a really interesting role in West Vancouver. I’ve only heard good things about the district with regards to tech when Chris Kennedy moved in. My colleagues tell me of a time when he was in Richmond, but wasn’t able to implement his vision as successfully as he is able to do in your area. You’ll have to keep me a float of all the ideas that are going on with the iPad rollout. I’m doing some testing in my school with it, but it is very limited and in a trial phase.
— Jonathan
Hi Kent, glad to see someone else only on their 3rd course and taking 1 at a time. It will take me longer to finish but it is more manageable. I have a three year old and a 1 year old so they take a lot of my energy as well.
cheers, Colin
Welcome Kent. I am sure that our names will get mixed up often in this course. I am taking three courses right now, but only because I was granted an ed. leave. Otherwise I have been taking two and teaching. Many late nights, especially due to timezones. MET has been great. Have a great term.
Ken
Hi Kent.
You have an interesting role at school. This is something I wouldn’t mind doing and I am sure that you have a lot to share with us .
I look forward to working with you.
Patason
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Doug Connery 7:17 pm on September 12, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Welcome aboard Melissa. Career diversions are my specialty as I have done several along the way. Great way figure out what you want to be when you grow up, if ever ….
Look forward to working with you.
Doug.
Mike Rae 8:14 am on September 13, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
are you the Melissa in my group? (apps)?