Virtual Schooling

After completing his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a major in Political Science and a minor in History from  Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario), Michael returned to Newfoundland where he received a Bachelor of Education (Intermediate and Secondary) from Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, Newfoundland). He then went on to complete his Master of Education (Teaching and Learning) with concentrations in Literacy and Computers in Education , also from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

At present, Michael has submitted the practicum component of his Diploma in Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University (Antigonish, Nova Scotia) and is also a third year Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia), currently completing his dissertation - a case study examining the nature of web-based learning with secondary students that seeks to explore the factors that may affect performance.

Prior to his doctoral studies, Michael was a teacher at Discovery Collegiate for four years.  During this period, he served as a classroom teacher, web-based distance education teacher and held district-level positions.  These positions included the Partnership Development Co-ordinator for the Vista School District and the Web-based Initiatives Facilitator for the Centre of Distance Learning and Innovation in District 8.

As a classroom teacher, Michael was active in the field of providing Advanced Placement courses to secondary students at his own school and throughout North America in an asynchronous, web-based format through the Centre for Advanced Placement Education.  As the Director of this research centre, he was responsible for research into various e-teaching methods and different learning styles, student use of instant messaging and asynchronous discussion forums (and how the latter affects student performance), and retention rates in both classroom-based and web-based Advanced Placement courses.  The Centre and Michael’s contribution to e-teaching Advanced Placement courses received international attention, as evidenced when he was invited to develop and team-e-teach a course with the Illinois Virtual High School.  Michael has also designed and/or delivered courses for Aventa School and the Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation.

Approximately two years ago, Michael joined with a group of educators to form St. Brendan’s College, an incorporated virtual entity devoted to offering web-based Advanced Placement courses to students worldwide.  At present, the St. Brendan’s has completed the pilot testing of it delivery system and is currently populating its course offerings.