About Me
I’m a passionate educator who works primarily in Digital Technology. The beginning of my time in tech was quite some time ago, but I’ve found that with the incorporation of AI into my practice I’ve been able to be more productive and efficient. I’m hoping to share some of my thoughts and resources here. When I first started teaching in DT I had limited resources and needed to (what felt like) beg, borrow and steal resources from friends and colleagues to make the early stages of my career easier.
I’m thankful I got the opportunity to work with people like Steven Tucker and Tim Bateup (I’ve linked to some of their repositories of resources) who have been so generous with their time and sharing to really help me along!
My Work History
Current - The Southport School
Head of Department - Technologies
It has been a fun experience leading the Technologies Department at The Southport School. In my short time as the leader of this department we have transitioned to new jobs in the workshop, incorporated a new fleet of 3D printers in our Design subject and also added a new laser cutter into our curriculum.
Specifically in Digital Technology, we started with a curriculum change into Software Applications developed in Python, but after surveying students found that Web Applications were the direction the boys wished to study. As such it was another pivot of the curriculum to Web Applications which is where you should find most of the resources focused for Digital Solutions on this page.
Responsibilities Overview:
* Overseeing QCAA General Subjects – Digital Solutions, Engineering, Design
* Overseeing QCAA Applied Subjects – Industrial Technology Skills
* Budgeting and Purchasing for all subjects including resources and stock for the workshop which runs wood and metal.
* Development of units of work Year 7-12 Digital Solutions
* Developing assessment samples for endorsement for Design and Digital Solutions
* Collating and providing student assessment samples for QCAA Confirmation Digital Solutions
* Test administration for NAPLAN
Previous Work History:
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority:
Confirmer & Lead External Exam Marker - Digital Solutions
(Aug 2020 - Dec 2023)
During the early stages of the implementation of the new QCE system, I worked with QCAA in the roles of Confirmer and Lead External Exam Marker (as well as a general marker role). I would recommend undertaking these two roles specifically for anyone starting their career in Digital Solutions as it gives you a huge amount of professional development and valuable insight into the process for both confirming students marks across the state, but also the external exam process
Varsity College (Education Queensland)
Secondary Digital Technologies Teacher
(Jan 2020 - Oct 2021)
During my time at Varsity I taught Year 9-12 Digital Solutions along with 7-8 Technologies. This role included planning, developing and facilitating the Digital Technologies curriculum across the year levels as well as redesigning the Year 7 curriculum for our subject offering and developing TLAPs for Digital Solutions. I facilitated Year 9 NAPLAN.
The other part of my role at Varsity College that I found very rewarding was being a part of the teacher led team that produced professional development and strategy for the school’s response to the COVID pandemic and online learning requirement while students were at home. This allowed me to reflect on my instructional design background from Caterpillar (Hastings Deering) and Queensland Health to provide insight into the best approach for teachers. Quickly, we produced online learning materials, quick reference guides and video tutorials for staff on how to use the school’s LMS and how to produce content suited for online learning.
Tamborine Mountain College
Secondary Digital Technologies Teacher (Jan 2018 - Dec 2019)
Primary Teacher (Year 5) (Mar 2017 - Dec 2017)
At Tamborine Mountain College I held two roles. I started my time returning to teaching in a classroom role with a group of Year 5 students. This role was very rewarding and a step outside my comfort zone as I had not worked with primary aged students before. I worked alongside another amazing teacher Sarah who had the other Year 5 class to develop an effective teaching and assessment plan for all Key Learning Areas as well as running Physical Education classes for both groups. We were also responsible for facilitating NAPLAN for our class.
At the end of that first year working at TMC, the Senior Digital Technologies teacher left the school and I was asked to step up into Secondary. This was the same time that the new Digital Solutions subject was offered coinciding with the new QCE syllabus being implemented.
I was instrumental in developing a gender based values program for Year 7-9 students working in conjunction with colleagues who offered a program to our female students.
I had social media management responsibilites for the College, developed College promotional materials and developed/facilitated Staff Professional Development activities for digital pedagogy.
Queensland Health - Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
Senior Learning & Development Advisor
(Aug 2014 - Mar 2017)
This role was a fun step into Health and was a chance to continue to develop as an Instructional Designer. My role was primarily focused on the development of online learning materials for the Electronic Medical Record for the GCHHS and working with the team from the statewide Integrated Electronic Medical Record as the systems were linked together.
My role was not online only as I was also responsible for delivering high-quality face to face training for Medical, Nursing, Allied Health and Administration staff as well as running Orientation session for staff new to the HHS. During Go-Live events (when new functionality was released) I was responsible for providing face to face training on the wards during night shift and providing phone support to staff as a member of the call center.
I was responsible for User Acceptance Testing of new functionality from both a participant and collation of data perspective. My skillset here was used prior to wider UAT being conducted where we were jokingly described as being locked in a room and told to break the system in as many ways as possible noting each thing down so that our developer team could rectify any issues.
I was also present for the opening and role out of the iEMR to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (now called Queensland Children’s Hospital) and the day one go live at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane which was the first large scale digital hospital in Australia.
Hastings Deering (Caterpillar Dealership)
Learning and Development Advisor
(Feb 2013 - Aug 2014)
During my time at Hastings Deering I was responsible for the role out of training for the Parts Department. I took this role after I needed to leave education as a family member was sick and this meant I needed to urgently move home from Emerald. This required a role-specific Training Needs Analysis for every role within the Parts Department.
The findings of this TNA were completed and then a role specific training program was developed for all new hires and internal promotions which aligned to the individual roles and company requirements.
This role also gave me the opportunity to travel to many of the Hastings Deering Business Centers to run training and interviews across QLD and the Northern Territory.
Education Queensland
Information Technology Teacher (Jan 2011 - Jan 2013)
Physical Education Teacher (Jan 2010 - Dec 2010)
Across two different schools I really started my career. At first it was at Wynnum State High School. This time was very valuable for me as I got to learn from some very experienced educators. I was able to implement a number of behaviour management strategies and learn my craft.
After the first year at Wynnum, I moved to Central Queensland to complete some rural service at Emerald State High School, I was given an opportunity to teach in my other teaching area; Information Technology and from there have never really looked back. I’ve constantly been working in an IT space since.
