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Portfolio & Miscellany

About John

I reside in Rockville, Maryland, though my early roots are in Pennsylvania.  Ask me where home is and I'll tell you about four places that are all within 200 miles of each other.  Travelling, reading and communing broaden my perspective.  The Internet and genuine handshakes extend my network.   

Click here for a more comprehensive summary of my professional life.  Or not.  Here's the gist:  At times, I’ve been a teacher, writer and editor, researcher, mapmaker, educational technologist, information designer, web producer, teacher trainer, coach, management consultant, project manager, salesman, bicycle tour guide, waiter, stadium sweeper, lawn mower & snow shoveler, newspaper deliverer. I am a hopeful cartoonist without artistic talent.  Here are three things that I am now:

smiley5

Teacher / eLearning Geek
I have taught courses in U.S. History, World Civilizations, Civics, Writing, and a variety of technology applications.  I apply technology to facilitate learning.

Students in my courses have used information technologies to research, document, write, design, photograph, process data, communicate, develop e-portfolios, and publish. In the process they learn how to better communicate, make decisions and take on leadership roles.  I'm happy to learn right along with them.

pluginglobe

Web Guy (Citizen, Content Producer, Publisher)
I appreciate good writing and good design.  Tools that combine writing and design are well-worth learning.  So, I dabble in web publishing and social media/networking  for fun and to connect with my personal and professional learning communities.  By the way, I never liked the term "webmaster" but can appreciate its versatility.... maybe "apprentice" more aptly describes my own status. 



volleyballnetgraphic

Volleyball-ist
For fun, I coach volleyball teams at Wootton High School and maintain a website and newsletter to share some of the teams' good work.

Did you know I was an NCAA Division 1 athlete, and competed in the 1983 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival and in international matches?  I started a website and newsletter for the Penn State University Men's Volleyball Alumni, where we post occasional stories and artifacts to serve as therapy for my glory days syndrome.  For people who need to know such things, I maintain a portfolio of my volleyball related information.