WHO / WHAT / WHERE / WHY

My name is Matthew McGuire
I am a 50 year old father of four that made a full career change at the age of 45.
Here is a picture of my family.

 After 25 years as a commodity broker/trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, I went back to school at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst IL where I double majored in Studio Art and Art Education. I wanted to combine all of my interests into one complete package. My love of sculpture, my love of coaching ( Swimming and Lacrosse) and my love of transforming kids.

I am entering my second year at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago.

 Last year I taught Intro to Art, Digital Photography, Art Studio Intermediate, and a Tech class. I will also be coaching both swimming and lacrosse this year so I have a full plate.

 

(These are stock photos I found)

It was the tech class and the photography class that pushed me in the direction of this workshop. I am beginning my Masters program here at NLU in Educational Technology and look forward to expanding my knowledge and skills. I believe that this is the a vital and important time in education and there need to be coaches and guides out there for the Teachers and Administrators.

For my Tech and my Photography classes I used a few Web 2.0 tools in my classroom. I used the flipped classroom technique where I posted power points and web instruction sites on a google drive and had the students go there before my lecture. They were able to ask more questions and I believe we got more accomplished. I plan on going 100% digital in my Art room this year posting on a web gallery all student work( I hope, fingers crossed) https://www.artsonia.com/