I'm slowly starting to use Flickr to store my photos.
As of February, 2007 I will be leaving behind life as a faculty-based academic. I am now the Head of E-Learning and Materials Development at CQU's Division of Teaching and Learning Services. This includes the folk who fit what Wikipedia calls Instructional Design Coordinators.
With the start of 2006 I became part of the Faculty of Business and Informatics. Back to teaching, real soon now I'll be teaching in the information systems programs.
July to December 2005 I am seconded to CQU's Division of Teaching and Learning Services to help write CQU's plan for using information technology in learning and teaching.
I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Information Technology with the Faculty of Informatics and Technology. During 2004/2005 most of my teaching duties are connected with the teaching of 1st year programming.
From 2000 through 2004 I was involved in supporting the e-learning activities of the faculty. Including spending 2002-2004 as the Faculty Teaching and Learning Innovation Officer. This was an academic position (Senior Lecturer) intended to encourage the adoption of innovation within the teaching and learning practices of the Faculty.
This position is an extension of much of the work I performed since 1996 during my time as lecturer in computing/information technology. During this time I was awarded both the Faculty and University awards for Teacher of the Year (2000).
I started work at CQU in 1990 with the Department of Mathematics and Computing. Since then I have taught computing courses ranging from introductory subjects through to Honours level.
My current research interests are mainly in the realm of Web publishing/engineering/development and the use of online technologies in teaching in a University context. To me, this work is a mixture of both information technology (i.e. building the systems) and information systems (i.e. the organisational and people work required to get the technology used).
I'm currently trying to finish my PhD Thesis through ANU.
Products of this work include a book Building a Web-based Education System co-written with Colin McCormack, the Webfuse publishing system and RCOS.java a simulated operating sytem for use in teaching about operating systems.
My main interest is in the "how to implement" online teaching and learning (OT&L) rather than the "what to do" area. The main reason for this is the observation that much of the implementation of OT&L is very badly done and will create problems in the future. Consequently I have interests in the diffusion of innovations (mentioned in a number of my papers) and in emergent development and the various lightweight methodologies (e.g. Extreme Programming).
More information about this work can be gleaned from my publications and projects sites.
I've lived in Rockhampton (the original base of CQU) most of my life and attended local schools before moving to Brisbane to study at the University of Queensland. I left UQ with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in computer science and a major in philosophy (don't ask, it's a long story).
As mentioned above I'm in the writing up stages of my PhD thesis.
What spare time I get is spent reading, watching movies, drinking Southern Comfort and playing cricket (both indoor and outdoor). Every now and then I get to go on holidays.
Occasionally I can also be seen enjoying a round of golf with friends
As with most people I also happen to know a few folk who have the misfortune to be my family. Other family photos are also available.
1999 was a big year for this little black duck. Getting engaged and buying a 100 acres of land. And that was just a few days work.
In 2000 things have moved on a bit and we are living on the "land". This included our first experience of floods.
As the years progress we are gathering more animals and associate paraphernalia (electric fences, brands etc). Here are some circa 2001 photos of our cow herd and other misc. animals.
Cows need upkeep. This includes tasks such as de-horning, injections and branding. It also includes "maintenace" tasks such as cremation. Here are some photos and video recording some of those tasks.
May 2003 saw the family move from the 100 acres to 240 acres at Struck Oil
Entering 2004 Bambi, one of our hiefers, finally successfully produced some offspring (after an unfortunate incident involving giving birth up a hill, unsuccessfully). There are photos of the new arrival.
Also in 2004 we picked up a couple of new dogs