• FAMILY: First and foremost, I am a "humanist" valuing life. It goes without saying that I respect and appreciate the many gifts in my life. I feel very fortunate to be blessed with my family --- my spouse (& personal trainer) Karen is the 'hardest working elementary school educator' in the world!!; she is an Elementary School Principal (classroom experience galore ---12 years Primary, 7 years Junior, 2 years Intermediate); she should be considered a saint for having put up with my "roller coaster" life over the past 23 years. Karen & I are blessed to have the most beautiful daughter a family could ever ask for; Maddie-T is completing grade 8; she is a budding artist, an aspiring scientist, a fun-loving sportsperson ... she misses her friend Sheena (we all do)... the Miracle Dog!

• TEACHING: It is both an honour and a privilege to be a member of the Faculty of Education at Nipissing University; My current work with Dr. Sharon Rich (Dean of Education) and the iTeach Team (Professor Rob Graham et al.) plus my past work with both Dr. Ron Common (former Dean of Education, now President of Sault College), Dr. Ron Wideman and Dr. Ron Weeks, the founding "Fathers" of the laptop initiative, have affirmed that Nipissing's program is
  The BEST teacher education program in the nation.
  
• My main teaching duties are anchored in the field of educational technology guiding new teacher candidates from the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions (Grades 4 to 12)  through a series of learning activities intended to provide "constructivist" experiences allowing each participant a series of opportunities to "test drive" technology as a classroom resource to support teaching, learning and student success.
  
• As the iTeach Laptop Learning Program Coordinator, I work directly with a wonderful "inner core" team of colleagues (Rob Graham, Mylae Costello, Joanne Kmiec, Leslie Vanderburg) to plan and deliver the best Educational Technology Laptop Learning / Pre-Service Teacher Education Program in Canada.
• Arrived at Nipissing in August 2000 as a part-time sessional instructor - teaching Computer Science electives
• Completing my 7th year (full-time) as an Assistant Professor teaching Educational Technology

• It's a pleasure to maintain a meaningful connection with the practitioner field of the teaching world as I have represented Nipissing as a Practicum Supervisor in the following regions:
  2009-10: Near North District (North Bay & Region)
  2004-2008: Eastern Ontario (Kingston, Brockville, Perth, Cornwall and Regions)
  2003-2004: Southwestern Ontario (Kitchener-Waterloo and Region)
  
  Conducting Pre-service Teacher Assessments in various elementary and secondary schools in the Upper Canada DSB, CDSB of Eastern Ontario, Limestone DSB and the Algonquin & Lakeshore CDSB, Near North DSB, Nipissing-Parry Sound CDSB, Waterloo Region DSB and the Waterloo Catholic DSB. Truly, I feel that it's very important that I maintain a close relationship with today's classrooms in order to appreciate "what's going on in the REAL WORLD of Education."

• co-researcher with Dr. D.Brackreed, Dr. Julie Corkett & Dr. Mumbi Kariuki in a project investigating the assistive technology applications in the K-8 environment
• co-researcher with Professor Robert Graham on a project investigating the pre-service teacher's practicum experience in the area of educational technology integration
  a) Fall Practicum Educational Technology Inventory
  b) ISTE NETS Report Card
  c) Teaching with Technology Experience Profile

• co-researcher with Professors Gerald Laronde and Katarin MacLeod delving into a project investigating the wii-mote whiteboard technology use during practice teaching experiences

• Principal Researcher with the "Connecting Chapleau Project" (sponsored by Bell Canada Enterprises & Nortel Networks: summary PDF)

• 2006-2007

• Principal Researcher with the "Connecting Chapleau Project" (sponsored by Bell Canada Enterprises & Nortel Networks: summary PDF)

• 2005-2006

• Principal Researcher with the "Connecting Chapleau Project" (sponsored by Bell Canada Enterprises & Nortel Networks: summary PDF)

• SCHOLARSHIP: I'm a doctoral candidate completing dissertation work at the University of Calgary pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership; My thesis focus centers around a mixed method investigation of "Professional Learning Practices" of alumni from the iTeach Laptop Program

  An Investigation of the Influence of a Faculty of Education's Mobile Computing Program on In-Service Alumni Teachers Professional Learning Practices regarding Educational Technology Integration
  
• It's a honour to be a doctoral student at this "World Class" University; my cup runneth over as my supervisor/advisor is Dr. D. Michele Jacobsen -- she is an accomplished academic, an extraordinary researcher/publisher and is the current editor-in-chief for the Canadian Journal of Learning & Technology. I also have the privilege of receiving guidance from two distinguished U of C academic researchers on my supervisory committee - Dr. Sharon Friesen (co-founder of The Galileo Educational Network) and Dr. Jennifer Lock (former Gallagher-Galileo Doctoral Fellowship recipient)

• I am a former high school teacher (taught for 13 years with the Near North District School Board); nine years with the Nipissing Alternative School creating and delivering "non-traditional" programs for youth enrolled in grades 10, 11 and 12; several years of experience teaching in summer "residential programs" (e.g., Eco Camp, Outdoor & Adventure Leadership) at the Canadian Ecology Centre; also taught at FJ McElligott and Chippewa Secondary Schools.
  
• Prior to entering the field of education, I was an Exercise Physiologist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute ; coordinator of the Nepean Cardiac Exercise Program;
  
  - completed advanced certification via the American College of Sports Medicine in the area of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology (e.g., ACSM Exercise Specialist);
  
  
  - taught for McGill University in Northwestern Quebec (Science for Native Educators)
  .
  

• I find inspiration in poetry;"Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann (1920) is my grounding device because it reminds me that, with all things considered, this really is a beautiful world. I'll read it whenever I begin to waver in my daily life in the areas of optimism and opportunity. When I need a recharge and a reminder about my responsibilities to my soul in terms of contributing to my destiny, I reflect on the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley..."I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."
  
  
  
• Often, I reflect on the writing and words from Dr. Randy Pausch (author of The Last Lecture); his verve for living life head on with a positive attitude inspires me daily.
  

          

• Not a single day goes by that I do not reflect on my "grassroots" upbringing in Southwestern Ontario --- growing up in the small town of Palmerston (pop. 1500), I attended Norwell District Secondary School; my father (George - Teacher/Educator/School Principal 34 years) and mother (Dorothy - Nurse -although officially retired after 30+ years is still in action!) - my brothers (Peter & Thom) and sister (Kathy)...they survived my antics and shared many special times together...I am blessed to have them as my family! They are my core inspiration...They are my "real" HEROS.
• Check out this retro photo from my "biking & fishing" days in my youth --- can you pick out which one is me? When I showed this photo to my daughter, she exclaimed "Dad...I can't believe you wore those pants...what were you thinking?"