I initially trained as a teacher of Design and Technology and have made every effort to keep up with educational theory and practice. Even as a teenager I was into the latest technologies, transistor theory, remote control and radio astronomy. I enjoy learning new things and sharing relevant findings with colleagues.
From my earliest days of teaching I have always held a high view of professional development and have attended hundreds of minor courses of study as learner, deliverer or organiser.
It was through such activities in the Educational Institute of Design Craft and Technology (EIDCT) that I moved through the echelons of Branch and National Executive, becoming President in 1987. Alongside such activities it was my ‘leading edge’ use of IT in my capacity as a Senior HoD in Design & Technology that provoked the LEA Inspectorate to invite me to become an Advisory Teacher for IT in Croydon - working for six years in different schools, installing networks, configuring software, developing curriculum outlines and providing staff training.
I was appointed as Director of Technology (Senior Teacher Scale) to Emmanuel College, Gateshead, in 1989. This was an immensely satisfying period of my career, enabling me to start, literally, with a blank sheet in designing the internal layout of the College, its resources, staffing and curriculum both for Technology and IT & Business Studies. The OfSTED inspection (1995) severally identified our work as ‘outstanding’.
Since then I have worked in a number of schools, helping with an application for Technology Schools status, re-designing a whole-school network installation which included the installation of IWBs in every classroom.
Throughout my years in ICT my work has always been coloured very much by my approach to Technology and ‘problem solving’. Obviously, I believe that the synergistic use of ICT throughout all subject areas is a key to raising whole-College standards but that this ‘key’ needs to be in the context of effective teaching and learning environments.
Since 1981 I have been providing staff support both formally as an employee and also trading as a Freelance Consultant long before ICT became the popular acronym it is today. Even in those days my 'masthead' was 'MAXIMISE - Excellence in Education'.
Recently I was asked to put together my thoughts on Technology & Innovation. The attached personal history elucidates some aspects of what is required for technological innovation. In particular the summary on page 7 might be of some interest.
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