Why This Site?

I created this site as an evolving resource for teachers and administrators interested in integrating and using technology in education.

It features what I consider to be the important services that should be offered on any educational web site. Wikis, blogs, podcasts, a course management system called Moodle, a password-protected Intranet section and other FREE platforms useful for education are included.

The most recent addition to the site is a groupware service called Google Apps. GApps for HiTechHall incorporates Google Mail, Calendar, Docs, Sites, Talk and other "cloud" applications into the domain. I administer 500 accounts to the service, and can create a yourname@hitechhall.com account if you'd like to take a look for youself. You'lll then join the community of HiTechHall members with access to this powerful collaboration suite. Schools are increasingly turning to GApps for an excellent and free staff/student groupware solution.

What I Do

As an educational technologist, I work with administrators, teachers and students to develop and manage a broad range of school projects, programs and services, including:

• School IT Coordination
• Technology Integration & Facilitation
• Technology Applications Teaching (including IB MYP and DP-ITGS)
• Professional Development Training
• Project/Program Management
• Installation and Management of SIS/CMS/LMS systems
• Google Apps Solution provider of Software as a Service
• Web Site Development
• Graphic Design
• Computer Support and Repair (including Remote Service)
• Network Installation & Administration

Who I Am

I began this site in 1999 while working on my Master's degree in Educational Technology and teaching full-time. At the time, I was also employed as an air-courier for the IT industry, flying electrostatically sensitive packages to some far-away places, but that's another story… (Those long weekend flights to France, Israel and Malaysia did allow me plenty of time for coding and learning about new technologies though).

Around that time, schools began to invest heavily in computers, networks and the Internet, without giving much thought to the maintenance of these complicated systems. As user-frustration levels at my school grew, I recognized a need for someone with a teaching background who also understood the underlying technology, and could solve the problems associated with it. I certainly didn't have that expertise then, but knew someone at the school needed to have it, so…

I decided to pursue technology training and certifications on my own. Over the course of the next several years, I studied for and passed the exams leading to the CompTIA A+ Hardware, A+ Software, Server+ and Network+ professional credentials.

Today, when I am not teaching or tech coordinating, I work as a technology consultant in schools. With an education background, professional experience in Web design, and several IT industry-recognized certifications, I now possess the credentials that allow me to develop, troubleshoot and manage a range of educational technologies and services.

As things have evolved over the past decade, educational technologies remain exciting to me because of the ever-increasing capability of these tools to provide and communicate ideas, express creativity and showcase knowledge to a worldwide audience, using inexpensive and "relatively" simple tools. I think that this is powerful stuff that educators and their students should be encouraged and helped to use. As a teacher and user of these tools myself, I look forward to helping other educators and students realize what they can do.

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