MY BIOGRAPHY


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Mark Wickens  B. Ed., M. Ed.

Master of Education Focus

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) 
I focussed on researched based pedagogical practices that post secondary instructors could implement into their course lectures to improve their skill in engaging their students.


QUALIFICATIONS

Academic Qualifications:
- M. Ed. from Brock University   2017
- B. Ed.  from OTEC                    1978
- BA from McMaster University 1978

Administrative Qualifications:
- Principalship Part 1 and Part 2 

Specialist Qualifications:
- Physical Education 
- Environmental Studies
- ESL - Teaching English Language Learners 

Additional Qualifications:
- Special Education  Part 1
- Entrepreneurship   Part 1
- Guidance               Part 1


CAREER PATH 

Halton District School Board
Teacher and Administrator - 1977 to 2008

Taught 31 Years In Halton DSB
- K to 8                                     for       15 Years   
- Special Education Teacher    for         6  Years
- VP                                         for         7  Years
- Acting Principal                    for         3  Years


Faculty of Education, Brock University 
Faculty Instructor and Cohort Advisor - 2008 to 2023

Courses I taught at Brock University from 2008 to 2023
Teaching Assignment Synopsis:
- Methodology Strategies
- Foundations of Curriculum
- International Education
- Special Education Part 1
-  ESL Part 1/2/3
- Cohort Advisor - Field Placements in Ontario
- Supervisor of the International Teaching Block Placements in China
- Supervisor of the International Teaching Block Placements in South
   Africa
- Special Support Cohort Advisor 

                 
International Initiatives - 2010 to 2023

South Africa:
- Supervisor New Teacher Candidate Field Placements
  for Faculty of Education, Brock University

China:
- Supervisor of the ESL Part 1/2/3  -  Field Placements
   for Continuing Teacher Education Centre, Brock University

China, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, India:
- Teaching Chinese Teachers Oral Communication and 
   Western teaching strategies 
- Private Consulting Initiatives

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AWARD RECOGNITION FOR TEACHING


Special Education Recognition Award (2005)
Halton District School Board, Ontario, Canada

Award of Merit for Special Education (2007)
Halton District School Board, Ontario, Canada

Award of Distinction for Special Education (2008)
for developing "Special Athlete Track Meet"
Halton District School Board, Ontario, Canada

Faculty of Education Award for Teaching Excellence (2013)
Faculty of Education, Brock University, Ontario, Canada

Clarke Thomson Award for Pedagogical and Technological Innovation (2013)
Brock University, Ontario, Canada

Nominated for the Don Ursino Award for Excellence in the 
Teaching of Large University Classes (2022)
Brock University, Ontario, Canada

Nominated for the second time for the:
Clarke Thomson Award for Pedagogical and Technological Innovation (2022)
Brock University, Ontario, Canada



INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION 
Private Initiatives

Founder & Managing Director                - 2017 to Present
Inspiration International Education Ltd., Burlington, ON
- Teacher Recruitment for South England 

Teaching Teachers in China
- Western Teaching Strategies
- Oral Communication Fun
 

Tours for Chinese Teachers and Students
- Local Sites in Southern Ontario
- ESL International Education Initiatives 

Co-Founder and Managing Director           - 2017 to 2022
Nobleton Education International Ltd. 
Recruited students from China to attend the following:
- Halton and Niagara District School Board
- Conestoga  College

Chinese Student Summer Camps
- Registered Students at McMaster University Summer Programs 
  Sports Camp and or Engineering Camp
- Tours to local sites in Southern Ontario

Tours for Chinese Teachers and School Administrators 
- Tours to local sites in Southern Ontario
- Tours to Universities (McMaster, Brock and York)


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MY PEDAGOGICAL FOCUS

I have been influenced by highly renowned researchers.  
You will find their work under various tabs on this web page. 
These sites continue to influence my professional practice:


     - Michael Fullan's work: 
       "New Pedagogies for Deep Learning for Global
         Impact" (see website)

         The 3 C's: (see website)

     - Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity and the Future of  
       Education (TED Video)

     - Alfie Kohn's work on Assessment (see website)

     - Robert Marzano's work on Researched Based High  
       Yield Strategies (see PDF Chart)

     - Daniel Goleman on Emotional Intelligence (see website)

     - Parker Palmer on Teaching With Heart (see website)

     -  Nel Noddings on the Ethics of Care (see article)

     - Jim Cummins on Language Learning Theories (see video)

     - Howard Gardener on Multiple Intelligence's (see article)

     - Rita Dunn on Learning Styles (see PDF)

     - Nancie Atwell on Readers Writers Workshop (see this study)

     - The Peace Learning Centre: 
Tribes has evolved!   


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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS WHILE WITH HALTON DSB

The Special Athlete Track Meet (Founder)
My Legacy to the Halton District School Board 

I am best known for being the co-developer and co-ordinator of the Halton DSB, Special Athlete Track Meet for Physically Challenged Athletes', for a total 30 years 
(1987 - 2017). 

This started as a competitive meet in 1987, based on the "Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled" guidelines.  Later we incorporated physically challenged athletes who also had a cognitive challenge.

My inspiration in 1977, was Frank Hayden, the Director of Physical Education at McMaster University, when I was a graduating student.  He and Harry "Red" Foster had initiated the "Special Olympics" in Toronto in 1969.  

In the summer of 1987 I had just completed my "Specialist" in Health and Physical Education, at the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto. I had taken an "Adapted Physical Education Course" and from there the idea developed.  I called Haltons, Physical Education Coordinator, Sue Amos that summer and discovered that in the June of 1987, she and Linda Leppek had started a running  event with 12 physically challenged athletes during a Halton Junior Able-bodied Track Meet. 

Mark Wickens, Sue Amos (Phys. Ed Coordinator) and  Linda Leppek (Parent of Special Needs Athletes) started the Special Athlete Event event in the Spring of 1988 in Halton.   It would run as that event for 30 years. Mark and his entire core team retired from the running the event in 2017. 

Mark received the Halton Award of Distinction in June 2008 upon his retirement from Halton for his work on this event. 

Mark still attends and supports the event every June. 

It will now morph into a different kind of event under the leadership of new individuals that bring their ideas forward. 

My Core Leadership Team
These wonderful leaders deserve a huge amount of credit for making this event what it was.   These incredible Halton colleagues were truly gifts to me and all of the students that participated in the event for 30 years.  

Corinne Stratford -  Field Event Director
            Corinne was released by VP Susan Busby and started to support me in 1992
Leslie Davis - Field Event Director
Barry Koepke - Field Event Director
Alison Pabst - Bocce Ball Director
Steve Morrison:  our amazing announcer in our final 5 years. 

Special thanks also goes to:
Deb Wood - Coordinator of Special Education
Brenda Kearney - Superintendent of Special Education
The Whole Special Education Department - Everyone helped!
The secretarial staff at the Halton Board office. 
I can never thank you enough for the endless time and effort you put into the event. 

Here is a link to the EVENT in 2017.  https://youtu.be/MssK_CZLvq4

Thank you to Jason Misener for creating this Board Video
Jason Misner is our Communications Officer, with the Halton District School Board 




Barbara Coloroso Professional Development Conferences  
and Parent Nights (Founder)
Focus: Behaviour Management 
Another professional highlight for me was initiating and 
coordinating conferences for the local boards of education, on behaviour management, that included Barbara Coloroso as our main program presenter.  

I initiated and chaired this conference with a wonderful committee called the "Community and Parent Partners", (CAPP) that was facilitated by secondary Vice Principal, Heather Stewart.  

With the support of Instructional Coordinator, Deb Wood, we developed a professional development day for teachers for Halton and the surrounding school boards. 

With the CAPP committee support, I developed a public presentation at night for parents and educators that sat 1000 guests. 

I coordinated professional development events with Barbara Coloroso for 3 years. 


River Oaks Experimental Technology School
Halton District School Board

Staff Member 1991 to 1997

River Oaks School was the school of the future.
It was one of the most advanced technological schools created in Canada at the time (1991 - 1997). 

To this day in 2024, I have not seen a more advanced Public or Private School setting.

I have posted about this futuristic school experience under the 21st Century Education Tab. Check it out to get ideas. 

It was an honour and an incredible experience to be hired to this new  high-tech school by principal Gerry Smith. The focus of this school was educational technology applications for all students from Kgdn. to Grade 8 and beyond. 

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