About

A few words about SNiCK

Many of the people that call western Canada home, came from other parts of the country, but I’m a true local. In fact, my whole family is. My wife Lynn is from small town Vancouver Island, and our son Kirin was born in North Vancouver. We still call the Vancouver area “our home base” despite living overseas since 1998. Our daughter Jasmine is from Chongqing, but she now calls herself Canadian, eh!? I grew up in Kitsilano (the Greek part of Vancouver), which wasn’t all that easy, being the only Chinese kid in my class.

In 1998 we moved to Turkey and spent 3 wonderful years living and working in Istanbul. Everyone who has lived there agrees that Turkey gets into your soul and never leaves you - it has a magnetic pull that is hard to explain. We have since spent 8 years teaching & learning in Beijing, exploring my family’s roots, adopting our daughter and trying to learn some Mandarin. My brothers and I never learnt Chinese as children, except for the odd dimsum item in Cantonese, as our parents wanted us to be “Canadian”. Living in China has been both amazing and very rewarding for me and my family. Both of my children have been able to connect with their heritage, learn the language and explore the culture and history with which they have many family ties. We are now happily ensconced in Europe, living in Warsaw, Poland. Leaving the smog and dust storms of Beijing behind has been a welcome change for all of us and has done wonders for our overall health. Now we can ride bikes to school, get out into green spaces near our house, play tennis outside and go Nordic skiing out our front door in winter.

The following pages highlight some of my work as a teacher of computer science and technology, particularly over my 5 years at the Western Academy of Beijing and in my role as the HS Technology Coach & Coordinator and PreK-12 Co-Director of Digital Learning at The American School of Warsaw. I have almost 30 years experience teaching technology and computer science, I am an Apple Distinguished Educator (2007) and Alumni (2008), Google Certified Teacher (2013) & Innovator (2015), Google Educators Group founder and Leader (GEG Poland), and have served as an examiner for both the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Computer Science Programs.

Please have a look through my educational technology blog as well as these extra pages and you will find some examples of student work, videos of school projects & presentations, some of my ADE project work, and links to some of my photography. You can see a synopsis of my international teaching experience below, or by going to my LinkedIn profile.

My philosophy surrounding educational technology is simple – technology is a tool that can enhance teaching and learning in and out of the classroom, to effect local and global collaboration and communication, and to engage students in the process of learning in an authentic way. Students need to be critical users of technology and should utilize digital tools in the creation of learning products, which can be published to create a lasting legacy. When working with faculty, I endeavour to build a culture of communication, collaboration, innovation and professional sharing with and through educational technology.

One of my past colleagues and supervisors once told me that what I do best is "keeping it real." Being realistic, reflective and grounded in the present are all qualities which I bring to my work every day. I have never been a technology evangelist - far from it. Technology should be integrated and used in the classroom where and when it enhances teaching and learning. Technology acts as a magnifier of good and poor teaching practices - simply employing technology in the classroom will not improve a lesson or student understanding. When used effectively under the appropriate conditions, educational technology can be truly transformative for teaching and learning. But just the presence of technology in the classroom will not transform teaching and learning - the pedagogy must also change with the technology. Transformative learning through the meaningful integration/immersion of technology is what I strive for as a technology coach - it's all about finding the right balance with technology in the classroom.

Teaching Experience

Singapore American School (2017 - Present)

Singapore
HS Computer Science and STEM Teacher (2017 - Present)
Head Coach - HS Junior Varsity Girls Badminton

German European School Singapore (2016 - 2017)

Singapore
Educational Technology Coach - Secondary Schools G6-12
European (International IB) and German Sections

The American School of Warsaw (2009 - 2016)

Warsaw, Poland
PreK-12 Co-Director of Digital Learning (2015 - 2016)
HS Technology Coach & Head of Department (2009 - 2016)
IB DP Computer Science HL/SL Teacher (2009 - 2011)
Head Coach - MS Girls Tennis (CEESA Champions 2015)
Head Coach - HS Varsity Girls Tennis (CEESA Champions 2015)
Asst Coach - HS Varsity Boys Tennis
Asst Coach - HS Varsity Boys Softball (CEESA Champions 2012, 2013)
Asst Coach - MS Girls Tennis (CEESA Champions 2011)
Warrior Walkabout trip leader (Istanbul 2012)

Western Academy of Beijing (2004 - 2009)

Beijing, China
MS/HS IT Coordinator, MS/HS Technology - ICT Head of Department, MS/HS Learning Technology Coordinator
IB DP Computer Science HL/SL & MYP Technology - ICT Teacher
Head Coach - HS Badminton Team (ISAC 2005-09, China Cup JV 2007-08 and ACAMIS Varsity Champions 2008-09)

Beijing BISS International School (2001 - 2004)

Beijing, China
G7-12 IT Coordinator & Webmaster
IB DP Computer Science HL & MS/HS ICT Teacher
China Studies trip leader

Robert College (1998 - 2001)

Istanbul, Turkey
Educational Technology Coordinator
AP Computer Science & HS ICT Teacher
Head Coach - HS Badminton and Floorball teams

Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School (1989 - 1998)

Surrey, BC, Canada (public high school)
Information Technology Department Head
AP Computer Science & HS ICT Teacher
Head Coach - HS Badminton Team (District, Regional and Western Conference Champions)
Overseas Fieldtrip Program Leader

Education Background & Accomplishments

Learning 2 Conferences Leadership

Learning 2.017 Europe at ASWarsaw - Conference Organising Committee Member, Cohorts Facilitator
Learning 2.016 Europe at ASMilan - Conference Organising Committee Member, Cohorts Facilitator, Pre-Conference Workshop Presenter
Learning 2.015 Africa at AISJohannesburg - MS/HS Technology Leaders Cohort Facilitator & Workshop Presenter
International Community School of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Learning 2.014 Africa Conference Organising Committee Member & Workshop Presenter
Learning 2.014 Asia at NISThailand - Curriculum Leaders Cohort Facilitator
Learning 2.013 Asia at UWC East Campus Singapore - Workshop Presenter

International Baccalaureate Organisation

Combined CS & ITGS Curriculum Review - Basecamp Participant 2015, External Review Committee 2015
ECIS 2015 Technology Conference Presenter - Technology in the IB Programmes
Technology in the IB Basecamp - Participant 2014
Technology in the IB Working Group - Participant and Author 2014

Google Certified Teacher & Innovator, Google for Education