How a website is Beneficial in a Teaching Career

Thanks for stopping by,

In today's technological world everyone in some capacity is connected.  We all have our favourite websites we like to visit whether it is for business or pleasure.  Having and making your own personal website is very easy and inexpensive.  I found out personally lately how easy it is and I look forward to implementing a website into my classroom.  

A website can be a multitasking tool.  I would use it to present my personal background, education, interests, course guide, curriculum, expectations, grades and many other things to help myself, students, staff and parents.  It can also be used as a tool for an online portfolio.  This is key because it is the easiest way for an employer to look at your history and that is beneficial for both sides.  I don't know a lot about having your own website at the moment but I want to continue to learn more and plan to use one in my future career.  

Until next time I'm Rod McLeod.

Using Skills acquired from a Conference

Hello there and welcome.

I have just got back to Brandon from a very unique and absolutely fulfilling expierence at the PHE Canada student leadership conference around Ottawa, Ontario.  I learned so much, met some amazing people and got information that is going to help my career moving forward.  This camps aim was leadership and I want to touch briefly on some mentors and a specific touchstone who use technology in their classroom and has seemed to engage and benefit students using it.

I had two specific mentors and I got the best of both worlds in this regard.  Jacki Nylen the PHE President has been through the trenches and taught 37 years in Manitoba.  The other was a younger fellow by the name of Justin Oliver from Nova Scotia and he is starting his 6th year and he is whom I want to speak about.  Justin finds that using modern methods and involving some type of technology engages todays student.  In his pe classes he uses music technology and smartboard to help get students heads in gear.  Dance class can flow easier using itunes and newer, up to date music.  The smartboard can get students involved in discussions of health related topics.

The touchstone speaker was an older gentlemen by the name of Colin.  He comes with a wealth of experience and engaged all of us from the beginning not only with his knowledge in physical education but in technology.  He said and I quote "If you spent 15 mins a day and work with the new technology you will always be up to speed and will never fall behind."  He was a very interesting and tech savvy individual.  His background is very in depth and at one point was one of the most knowledgable in the world in the paraolympic wheel chair racing.  He is newly retired and taught 35 years at Memorial University in Newfoundland.  He had came there from the UK on a 2 year term and ended up making it his home.  He has taken many risks over the years and has gotten involved in many projects with no regrets.  His presentation and in talking to him personally was truly amazing.  A very smart and fun loving man with a heart of gold and a mind geared around new technology.

What a Summer 2013 was!

Hello folks and welcome to my first blog.

Like most of us I am excited to be starting a new year of school and even that more excited to be entering a new program that being education.  Before this gets going I'd like to share and review some of my highlights from the summer.

Let's start off from the beginning.  I got a full-time position when I finished my phys ed degree as a route sales rep delivering chips for Frito Lay Canada.  Now what I like to say is I slinged chippies out to the open market for people taking summer holidays.  I was all over western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.  I spent a lot of time living my weeks out of a hotel and my weekends consisted of social events all over from Portage, Brandon, Clear Lake, Winnnipeg and Morden.  Although I didn't travel far I still had one of the most memorable summers of my young life.

My Top Five Highlights:

Two weddings one in Brandon and one just outside Portage at Delta Beach
Two Slo-pitch tourney's May long in Treherne and Morden
Senior Baseball for the Portage Padres winning our first playoff series in our 3 year history
Every Weekend at Clear Lake
Country Fest

I'm not going to get in too much detail on those events, just let it be known it was all memorable.

Anyways, Until Next Time, I'm Rod and this is my blog.