Brief Bio
Ronald J. MacDonald has been a junior and senior high school science teacher in Nova Scotia and Ontario, Canada, for 15 years. He has also been an information technology integration specialist and professional development facilitator. He currently teaches science methods and other courses in the Faculty of Education at the University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada. His PhD dissertation addressed the intersections between teacher attitudes toward Information Communication Technology, leadership and professional development for ICT integration. His current research focuses on the development of communities of practice for supporting science teachers who want to increase student inquiry through the integration of ICTs, such as data logging technologies. Other research being conducted address the following topics: possible gender differences in attitude toward science brought about when technologies are integrated in the classroom; how New Learners (first year university students) learn with new technologies; and how to improve the link between university coursework and the practicum.
UPEI Faculty of Education Teaching (2005 – present)
ED444M: Middle Years Science Methods
ED446SI: Senior Years Science Methods (I)
ED446SII: Senior Years Science Methods (II)
ED474/ED473: Communications/Information Technology Integration
ED616: Action Research in Education
ED495: Introduction to Teaching and School Experience (Practicum supervision)
ED496: General Teaching Methods and School Experience (Practicum supervision)
ED497: Issues in Teaching and School Experience
ED445E: Early Years Science Methods
ED612: Quantitative Research Methods
ED626: Technology: Leadership in Learning
Email: rjmacdonald@upei.ca
