Greetings from Calgary, Alberta! Etec 533 will be my 10th and final course in the MET program. In terms of electives I have completed:
- Ventures in Learning Technology, project focus on tele-presence
- Text Technologies – The Changing Spaces of Reading and Writing, project focus on African drum languages
- Special Course in Subject Matter Field: learning technologies – selection, design and application, project focus on using google classroom and google sites for facilitating a Science 6 course
- Planning and Managing Learning Technologies in Higher Education, project focus on insitutional readiness for e-learning and e-learning challenges in rural/remote areas
- Technology in the Arts and Humanities Classroom, project focus on virtual field trips
In the core course I have also had an opportunity to complete work involving augmented reality, social cognitive theory, and computer based assessment of rhythm skills.
Having most recently completed ETEC 565A where I focused on creating an online course for a unit of Science 6, I am hoping to continue to flesh this out with 1 (or more) new units. In the previous term, the focus was on tools, techniques, and design. This term, I am hoping to change my point of view to incorporate technology based pedagogy that is specific to science.
I currently teach just outside of Calgary in a K-8 school of about 600 students. Though I am teaching a Science 6 course this year, my training was in music education (at U Vic) and general music and concert band course make up the majority of my time table. I also have the opportunity to teach outdoor education, programming, and robotics. My technology skills have mostly revolved around creating efficiencies in my teach due to the massive number of different students I see each week (14 course a term, ~375 unique student enrollments). I have also had the opportunity to work with feedback/coaching programs in music that allow me to spend more time helping students find ways to improve and less on assessment and error recognition.
As far as work history goes, I am still at the school I began at and they will probably have to wheel me out on a stretcher some day before I give it up. I’m very fortunate to work with some great kids and family’s in a very well supported program and school.
Outside of my work life, I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking and camping. My wife and I also ballroom dance as often as we can get out.
Hi Daniel,
What a small world: two ESQ kids reunited! You have been very busy since your Victoria days— I will pass on your introduction to Jenn, as I am certain she would love to know how you are doing. 🙂
I am very envious of this being your final course. The projects you have chosen are really fascinating, as well. You are fortunate to have been permitted to dive into Google Classroom for your 565– I tried and tried to convince my prof to allow me to explore GC but I was not allowed. Now that I have been using GC for the last year, it is indispensable to me. I suppose that the silver lining to exploring Moodle was that I always believe that it is equally important to know what you don’t prefer, haha!
Cheers, Dana
It did sound like this was the first term that Google Classroom was allowed and that it may have been prompted by previous student interest in it 🙂 I found that it really needed to be supplemented with Google Sites to make it work. I have a video tour of how I used it if ever wanted to have a look.
– Dan
HI Daniel,
I look forward to working and learning with you again this term. I agree it was fantastic we were able to use google classroom in 565A. I am glad to see a great group in this class and I have to admit I am happy so many of us are in the elementary panel. Great learning comes from exploring new things.
Catherine
Welcome Daniel. Yes, your Science unit would be useful for developing further. There will be a number of opportunities to lesson plan or build activities with digital technology, including the final assignment. All the best, Samia