Energy Camp 2013
Alberta Team Profiles
Energy Camp proudly presents the profiles of the Canadian team at Energy Camp 2013!
Bob Ritter has taught biology and chemistry, served as science
department head, principal and senior administrator for Edmonton
Catholic Schools over a 32-year career. In 2007 he began a
second career at the University of Alberta, where he served as
Assistant Dean, Field Experiences. He is currently Director for
the Centre of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
(CMASTE) in the Faculty of Education. Bob has a PhD (science
education – assessment), MSc. (physiology) and
MEd.(curriculum development). He currently teaches a
curriculum course for undergraduate science teachers and coteaches a curriculum development course for graduate students in
the Faculty of Medicine and other health sciences faculties.
Bob has authored over 30-science textbooks used in Canada and the United States for biology and junior
high school science. In 1990 he received the Alberta Teachers' Association Award for Science Teaching,
and was awarded the first Prime Minister's National Award for Science Teaching in 1993. In 2006 Bob
was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal for his work chairing the Edmonton Community Drug Task
Force. This summer Bob and his wife Valerie celebrate their 40th anniversary.
.http://www.cmaste.ualberta.ca/.
At Energy Camp 2013, Bob will be the overall manager for the Canadian team, and will be an instructor
for teacher professional development course.
Duncan Buchanan has been a secondary science educator for twenty years in Edmonton, Alberta and
has a range of teaching experiences from Middle and High School through to Postsecondary Instruction
at the University of Alberta.
Duncan is currently Assistant Principal at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Previously, he has
worked as a science consultant for Edmonton Catholic Schools and was seconded to the University of
Alberta as a Field Experiences Associate. While at the University of Alberta, Duncan helped guide
Undergraduate Students during their student teaching. He also taught
courses in science education and an introduction to teaching.
Throughout his career, Duncan has also played an active part in writing
Distance Learning Resources in Biology as well as reviewing Provincially
approved curricular resources in Science. Duncan was also Department
Head of Science at his last high school placement before moving to the
University.
Duncan maintains a sense of wonder of the natural world. When not
spending time with his wife and three children, Duncan can usually be
found outdoors running and cycling through Edmonton’s river valley or
photographing the poison dart frogs and orchids that he maintains.
Duncan holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education and is currently pursuing a Master’s of
Education in Secondary Science Education.
At Energy Camp 2013, Duncan will be lead energy instructor Yellow Group, and coordinator of
resources for all class activities and academic program
Benjamin Oswald has been teaching Science since 1995. The majority of his
career has been spent instructing High School Physics and Chemistry using both
the Alberta and International Baccalaureate programs of study. He currently
teaches at Ross Sheppard High School where he serves as Science Department
Head. Previously, Ben by the University of Alberta as a Practicum Associate,
where he taught pre-service teachers in the Faculty of Education..
Several of Ben’s career projects centre on the interfaces between science, art and
philosophy. Ben holds a masters degree in Secondary Science Education and has
published work in both physics and art. Over the years, Ben has enjoyed
working with science centres, media organizations, and government funded
science innovation programs (such as Alberta Ingenuity) to grow public
awareness and appreciation of science and science learning. Ben loves to travel
internationally with his wife and children and is passionate about ideas, good food, and modern art.
At Energy Camp 2013, Ben will be lead energy instructor Blue group, lead Science magic, and
coordinator of resources for all science magic and science magic program
Tracy Onuczko has been a secondary science educator for the
past seven years and holds Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of
Education and Master of Education degrees. She has taught a
range of subjects at the secondary level, with a focus on Biology,
Chemistry and special education. While completing her Master’s
degree in Secondary Education, which examined how teacher’s
viewed incorporating Aboriginal perspectives in their delivery of
the Biology curriculum, Tracy developed and shared a number of resources to help teachers address this
topic. These resources were presented at numerous conferences and are currently on the CMASTE
website at the University of Alberta.
Currently, Tracy is on-leave from her school division, while working towards her PhD, in Secondary
Education, looking at the topic of cultural context of science education. While at the University of
Alberta, Tracy has assisted with and instructed pre-service teacher science curriculum and instruction
courses and has been involved in a number of research projects.
At Energy Camp 2013, Tracy will be Yellow group facilitator, lead on yellow group team building,
pastoral care, final project.
Stan Bissell has been a secondary science educator for over ten years in
both Edmonton, Alberta and in the United Kingdom. Stan is currently the
department head of science and mathematics at Lillian Osborne High
School in Edmonton. Prior to this, he spent four years working with the
Learner Assessment division in the Ministry of Education of the
Government of Alberta. In this role, he was responsible for developing
standardized science assessments for grade twelve students and worked
with teachers and school administrators from around the province to
improve assessment practices and interpret standardized test results.
Stan has extensive experience in science resource development and digital
resource development. He has co-authored two provincially approved high
school science textbooks. He has spent his past few summers doing professional development work with
teachers in Ghana and in Belize. Stan holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education and is
currently pursuing a Master’s of Education in Secondary Science.
At Energy Camp 2013, Stan will be Blue Group facilitator, and lead on blue group team building,
pastoral care, final project.
Robert Bechtel is the Associate Director for the Centre of
Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CMASTE) at the
University of Alberta. A former Junior High and Senior High School
teacher in Edmonton, Robert went on to complete his Masters degree
in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and worked in research for many
years at the Earth Observations Systems Laboratory and the Centre
for Mathematical Biology in the Faculty of Science. He also served as
the Research Facilitator for the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and
Environmental Sciences and served as Assistan Dean of Law. Robert’s
PhD focused on the discourse on caribou sustainability and
relationships between caribou and people. He is also an Adjunct
Professor and teaches pre-service science teachers in both the
Department of Elementary Education and the Department of
Secondary Education.
Kandise Salerno has worked in both elementary and secondary school
environments for the past nine years. She holds a Bachelor of Physical
Education and Recreation, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of
Education. Kandise has streamlined her educational practice to further
explore the emerging trends of digital-age learning, particularly in corecurricular subjects. She has spent the past year in Norway (Nes)
working collaboratively with school leaders and teachers in exploring
the potential of project-based learning in the fields of educational
technology and science education. One particular project, entitled
Oppfinnermesse i Nes: Unge Forskere - Unge Oppfinnere - Unge
Innovatører facilitated the opportunity for over 250 Norwegian
students to immerse themselves in the investigative and innovative
process of inventing a new product, while learning specific scientific concepts.
Currently, Kandise is also working towards her PhD in educational technology at the University of
Alberta. She is exploring the potential of video game construction programs in science
education. She has conducted some preliminary research with the Center for Math, Science and
Technology Education (CMASTE).
At Energy Camp 2013, Kandise will be an instructor for teacher professional development course.
Scott Onuczko has been a secondary school educator for 12 years and
holds a Bachelor of Education Degree. Throughout his career, he has
taught a variety of different subjects from Social Studies and Science to
Breakdancing and Photography. Scott is currently running the
Communication Technology Program at Spruce Grove Composite High
School in Spruce Grove Alberta where he helps facilitate students project
based learning using a wide variety of Media Technologies. His students
design projects in the areas of photography, videography, graphic design,
electronic layout, audio and screenprinting.