My first experience with computers as a tool in the workplace, was when I took a computer course at Sheraton College in the early 80’s. Desktop computers had recently made inroads into the office workplace, and this course taught the basics for office use, such as word processing (Wordstar* and WordPerfect), spreadsheets, and programming languages such as BASIC and Fortran. I loved learning the tricks of word processing and this was valuable later in life when Microsoft Word became the default program. I also remember being completely baffled by Fortran, however, a little more competent at BASIC. I loved the way I could program the computer to do something I wanted it to do, but got extremely frustrated when it didn’t work because I missed a step in the command sequence. Fast forward to today, and I see similar frustrations and elations when my students are coding using programs such as Scratch. It gives me pause to reflect on how far we have come in making it easier for people to create using computers, and how similar the learning experience is now as it was for me then, and I wonder what programs or platforms we are using now that might become obsolete, and what the advances might be for use in the classroom.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
Hello from Richmond!
Hi everyone,
My name is Lawrence and I live in Vancouver, BC. I currently work in Richmond teaching secondary Science and Math. This is now my 8th MET course, having finished the required ones (500, 510, 511, 512, 520), and some electives (530, 540).
As a math and science teacher, I have a lot that I’m hoping to gain from this course. I feel that I’m rather fluent in technology and I’d like to see it become better integrated into my teaching. I’m hoping that more insight into how technology is developed and used will be very helpful in identifying useful, innovative technology.
In my past, I spent two years living in Japan which was an amazing experience. And as hobbies, I’m interesting in technology (computers and the like), photography, and running.
I’m looking forward to working with everyone and (most likely) seeing some familiar names again!
-Lawrence
Hello from Calgary
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.
What is the student café?
This is a general location for you to share announcements, queries, requests, etc. that you think other students from the course might be able to enjoy or help out with. It is similar to sharing in the hallway for example and is an optional student space to visit.
Hello from Saskatchewan!
Hi Everyone! My name is Stephanie Ives. I currently live in the very small rural town of Kyle, Saskatchewan, but my weekend and holiday time is spent in Saskatoon where my boyfriend lives. I get the best of both the rural and urban worlds. I was born and raised in Ontario, but have been in Saskatchewan since August 2012. I teach in a K-12 school with a total of 72 students. My current teaching load is Social Studies 6/7 and 8/9, History 10, Law 11/12, Math 10/11/12, and Art 6-10. My university education was in history and math.
This term I am taking my fifth and sixth MET courses. I am also currently enrolled in 510 and have previously taken 500, 511, 532, and 512.
After teaching grade 5-8 math for four years and transitioning into senior math this year, I am hoping that this course will help me become better able to engage my senior students in meaningful and new learning experiences. I have 5 different courses happening in one classroom with a total of 11 students, so I am always looking for new approaches and ideas to add to my repertoire.
Greetings To All
Hello everyone, my name is Anne Winch and I live just north of Barrie, Ontario. I am an intermediate teacher (7/8) in the Simcoe Country District School Board and have been a classroom teacher for 15 years. This is my 9th course in the MET program, so just one more and I will be done! I am hoping to complete this and be done by the end of this year. As I work with older students in an elementary setting (I teach all the subjects) I am hoping to find ways to integrate science and mathematics into other areas as well as integrating technology within the subjects. Over the years I have found many programs and ideas that have helped me move my teaching practice forward with this, and that have engaged the students in their learning practice.
Teaching is a second career for me. I am married with two adult children. I love to learn new things in different ways, read copious amounts whenever I can, enjoy the outdoors – both summer and winter – and have a variety of hobbies from oil painting to crochet. I am looking forward to meeting new people, seeing familiar classmates, and continuing my learning.
Greetings From The United Arab Emirates
Hello! I am originally from Montreal, where I taught grade 7-9 Science as well as Biology and Chemistry.
I have been living in the UAE for the last four years. I teach Grade 8 Science for the Abu Dhabi Education Council, I work in a remote desert school were most students do not have internet at home, so that can present some challenges. Most days are a challenge, but there is never a dull moment and I would not change any of the experiences I have had for anything in the world. I teach Science in English to students whose first language is Arabic. This is my LAST class in the MET program (!!!!) and I am amazed how quickly time has flown, as well as how much I have learned in such a short period of time. I am an avid traveler and I am lucky enough to have been to some amazing places on this beautiful Earth. My last adventure took me to Phuket, Thailand for a few days and was blown away by its beauty and the kindness of the people. The photo above was taken in Dubai and you can see the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in the background.
I would like to focus in teaching Math and Science as a second language and acquire more tools to help me improve my students success using technology, with the little resources we have.
I am excited to catch up and continue on my MET journey. Can’t wait to connect with you all.
Hello from the Kootenays
My name is Allison Kostiuk. This is my 9th MET course! I have taken ETEC 500, 510, 511, 512, 521 (Indigeneity), 531 (Arts & Humanities), 540 (Text Technologies), and 565A (Learning Technologies).
I live in Cranbrook and teach in Kimberley in the beautiful East Kootenay region of BC.
I have taught grade 3 for the past five years and taught K-5 music before that. I am in my sixth year of teaching and am looking forward to completing my Masters this year. The learning I have engaged in and encountered during my time in the MET program has been hugely rewarding and I look forward to gathering more resources and experiences with technology in the classroom from this course.
As you can see above, my hobbies include yoga, as well as cooking and crafting (making homemade cards and scrapbooking). I have been taking 2 MET courses at the same time as working full time throughout my time in the program and look forward to having only one course this semester to hopefully achieve some sort of better balance in my life.
Looking forward to learning with you all!
Away We Go!
Hello classmates! I’m Josh Elsdon from Victoria, BC. I am halfway done the MET program, having completed 500, 511, 522, 532, and 540…nice to start to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
I am a middle school math teacher, so I am keen to bring as much of my learning as possible into my teaching practice.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my amazing wife, Katie, playing with our three kids, and surfing whenever I can.
I’m looking forward to learning with you all!
Josh
Commodore 64
My parents bought our first computer, a Commodore 64, when I was 16 years old. My time on the computer was limited because I shared it with my three siblings and my parents. The computer took up most of the space on our desk in the basement. I remember the floppy disk drive and the joystick, as well as the clunky keys and the monitor that looked like our television set. I spent my time on the computer playing games like Pong, Pacman and Frogger. Prior to the Commodore 64, my only experience using a computer was over a couple of months in grade nine when we were introduced to coding while I was taking a business course. I remember sitting in a small area at the back of a classroom, and three of us sharing one computer for a limited time period each class. I had very limited access to the computer, and did not learn anything about coding in that class. When I reflect on my experience as a student trying to learn coding, I remember my students faced the same accessibility and technical issues when I taught at an inner city school. How can schools effectively incorporate technology into the curriculum if they do not have the means to support the students?