Virtual Learning Network

I am a technologist with a strong interest in education and educating.  My background includes teaching at the tertiary level along with private organisation training and development.  I enjoy seeing that "aha!" moment when the light-bulb switches on and understanding happens.

More recently It has been great introducing kids to Scratch and how quickly they learning and are ready to move onto more complex development tasks and environments. Throw ia RaspberryPi, an Arduino and a selection of "bits" in front of a group of kids and watch the magic happen.  A fan of tinkering with things, building electronic gadgets or larger structures.  While these days I only code small projects I have Python back on my "To Learn" list.  

I have been enjoying the more relaxed Wairarapa lifestyle for more than a decade now and loving it.  I have a varied background covering ICT, strategy, marketing and branding, project and programme management. With an interest in using technology not simply as a tool but as an enabler for the more important things in life.

I have been involved in small and large projects as a lead and as a resource.  I enjoy the variety of one year working with a team to develop workforce projection tools to assist with the funding and planning for a whole sector or implementing a sector wide identity management system to working one on one with my daughter putting together small electronics and art projects, or taking a small group of students and working through a range of science experiments and discussions. 

I am a fan of Richard Feynman and one of his quotes is my favourite. ”I don't know anything, but I do know that everything is interesting if you go into it deeply enough.”

I would like to work with schools in the technology area to help enable a more interactive and engaging style of education delivery. I am also interested in assisting with the more mundane side of school ICT infrastructure to assist with a more reliable base to work from.