Networks and Studios

Only a few hours left until I begin the long haul out of Shanghai back to North America. This has been an excellent trip for so many reasons. I have had gracious, generous hosts and have had the opportunity to meet fascinating people as individuals, hearing some of their stories. I still need some time to think about the conference itself, that will come soon. But as I'm getting ready to leave this place, I wonder about some of the things I've seen here.

Shanghai is a city on the move. It is th… Continue

I made it. After a few long days and several long flights, I made it to Shanghai. A great few hours walking around the city last night with Jeff Utecht and later with Alan Levine. This morning I'm wondering about international education, global collaboration and problem solving. I was lucky enough for the first two years of my teaching career to work in Abu Dhabi. An amazing place and the experience truly changed my life; helping me to understand much more about cultural differences and the impo… Continue

And so it begins again....

Twenty years ago this week I threw up the blind in my residence room and watched more people walk across the grassy quad, getting off of the buses at the University of Manitoba for their first day of school than lived in my hometown.

I was scared and excited at the same time.

Fifteen years ago this week I began my first teaching job and welcomed my first class of 25 grade three students at the Abu Dhabi International School where my wife and I moved three months aft… Continue

Not having started another blog since I began writing Remote Access a few years ago, it's interesting writing here. It's like a chance to reinvent yourself. I think that is why a lot of people like writing online. You can be anyone. If you wanted to, you could write anonomously and tell complete lies to the world. This is an important lesson for kids to learn. They have complete control over their digital footprint online and really can use it anyway they please. We hope they will use it honestl… Continue

The end of July approaches and I wonder about the beginning of the new school year. While this is still a month away for me, it seems that as soon as the calendar moves towards August, my brain wants to head back to school. I begin wondering about the plans I had started in June for the next school year. Will they work? Will the changes I envisioned happen? Will I be able to do what I thought I might? What has changed over the summer that I need to be aware of?

I've spent the last three days bu… Continue