Oh, hey! It’s me — Ian!

This is my first EdTech class.  I might even go so far as to admit that it is also my first masters class.  So far, so good–I think Tuesday night got me hooked.

As a  construction teacher, I don’t really integrate much EdTech into my class.  In fact, This is luddite laptop is about as high-tech as things get in the shop… just kidding (also, would someone actually pay that much for that thing?)  I am a believer in the benefits of technology in the classroom and integrate it whenever possible.  Recently, I’ve been into using google classroom as a component of most of my construction classes.  The construction classes that I teach are often project classes integrated with other courses, like one I taught last year that combined Construction 10, ELA A10 and Foundations of Math 10, so there is ample opportunity for the use of educational technology, especially for keeping students organized.

Photo Credit: adam THEO via Compfight cc
In addition to being the construction teacher at Scott Collegiate, my position also includes being the the school-based facilitator for Following Their Voices, where I work with other teachers to analyze and develop our teaching practice to help increase First Nations, Metis and Inuit student success rates.    I’m always on the lookout for ideas and resources to share with the staff at my school and I think that I might get a few out of this course.

So what  else should I tell you about who I am?  I am a father of a wonderful young lady named Elizah-Jayne.  She’s five,  just finishing up Kindergarten and likes to keep me busy.  But who am I kidding —  I keep myself pretty busy.  I’ve got a second job as a bartender, am a bit of a night owl, am pretty much always working on some renovation in my 100 year old house and I sit on a few different boards and committees.  I like to travel when I’ve got time and money and have lived all over Canada.  My partner’s name is Allison and we recently got a Devon Rex and named him Leonard Nimoy.    Some might consider him to be a cat.

I look forward to connecting with and learning from all of you over the next few weeks.   I’m really excited about this class and I promise I will try not to fill every post with pictures of woodworking and cats.  Please feel free to connect with me on twitter @MrIanTemple