Category Archives: A. Introductions

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

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 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.

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.

 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.

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!

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

My name is Elizabeth, and I currently live in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada where I work as the coordinator of the NCME (Northern Continuing Medical Education) program within the local health authority. I primarily work with physicians to support them with accreditation and planning educational events/courses. I previously worked in the public school system in the lower mainland before transitioning to the post-secondary system where I worked for ten years. Prior to my current job, I worked at a college in Alberta for several years as their Educational Technology Services Facilitator. I implemented and maintained the college’s learning management system, worked with faculty on developing best practices as it related to incorporating technology in their courses, and collaborated with faculty to design their online/blended courses. I am really interested in course development and hope to return to work in post-secondary education this year as an instructional designer. This is my 9th course in the MET program. I have taken the following courses: ETEC 500, 510, 511, 512, 532,  540, 565A and 565G. I am looking forward to examining current research and exploring technology-enhanced learning experiences in math and science this semester.

Elizabeth

Hello! My name is Michelle Furlotte and this is my last MET course before graduation. I live in Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is in Northern Ontario, Canada. When taking this course I hope to gain further insights into incorporating technology in new ways in the science and math areas and I also hope to learn about new technology tools and how these are used to further explore science in our world. I also look forward to the wealth of ideas and experiences that are shared in this course. I have 2 children, Eden, 9 and Ariah 7 and a partner, Peter. I love to challenge myself, have adventures, travel, learn, laugh and I appreciate blunt, to the point people. I find it hard to summarize myself because I have many interests and I’m constantly changing my interests and myself as I move through life! I love walking in nature, skiing, dancing, good music, Barbados and anywhere with a beach, art, books, big smiles and positive vibes. Now I sound corny! Anyways…I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you and learn from you.  I do hope that I will get help working through this course as I teach elementary school (and have for many years) and from what I have read it is high school based.  That being said, I hope that the ideas explored can be modified to suit my teaching and professional practice. Professionally I am involved in several provincial committees, one of which explores professional development and curriculum and how these are implemented and how they affect educators and students, I teach grade 2 full time, I facilitate educators from across the province as they pursue action research projects, I recently published a research paper re: inquiry learning and I continue to look for opportunities to grow in my profession and help other educators. I am passionate about progressive education and also passionate about making sound choices and not just implementing new initiatives without debate and without sound research and self reflection. If you are interested in my professional pursuits I am on “Linked In”, and this space provides a more detailed summary of my career.  I look forward to getting to know you in this space!

Halloooo!

In an effort to be “creative”, I created my introduction using Prezi, only to realize that the UBC WordPress prevents code to be embeded.  It is entirely possible that it is possible to embed code, and I am simply unable to figure it out! In the meantime, here is a link to my Prezi…

Link to Prezi is here.
Cheers,
Dana 🙂