The Weblog of (a) David Jones

I’m a PhD student at ANU, a used-to-be information systems academic and a father, a grazier, cricketer and a few other things (especially if you ask some other folk).

Work history

From 1990, I’ve been working at CQUniversity (though it’s been known by a number of names in that time) in the following roles

• December, 2008 – now: E-learning and innovation specialist, Senior Lecturer
  CQU has restructured the Division of Teaching and Learning Services and as a result of that process I’ve been re-assigned to the position of E-learning and innovation specialist. It’s an academic position intended to encourage innovation in L&T at the host institution. More information about the position.
• February, 2007 – December, 2008: Head of E-Learning and Materials Development.
  In this role I was the head of the Curriculum Design and Development Unit which is part of the Division of Teaching and Learning Services. The unit was responsible for helping academic staff improve their teaching and learning by helping them with curriculum design, e-learning and resource development.
• Jan 2006 to Jan 2007 – Senior Lecturer in Information Systems
  I finally bit the bullet and left information technology behind and brought my research and teaching together by joining the information systems group at CQUniversity.
• July to December 2005 – Planning officer
  During this time I was seconded to the Division of Teaching and Learning Services to write CQU’s plan for using information technology in learning and teaching.
• 2004 – Senior Lecturer in Information Technology
• 2000 to 2005 – Faculty Teaching and Learning Innovation Officer
  I was seconded to an academic position within the faculty intended to encourage the adoption of innovation within the teaching and learning practices of the Faculty of Informatics and Communication.

  This position is an extension of much of the work I performed since 1996 during my time as lecturer in computing/information technology. During this time I was awarded both the Faculty and University awards for Teacher of the Year (2000).

• 1990 to 2000, Tutor and Lecturer in Information Technology
  I started work at CQU in 1990 with the Department of Mathematics and Computing. Since then I have taught computing courses ranging from introductory subjects through to Honours level.

Non-work stuff

The really important stuff includes

• Being father to 3 great kids and husband to a lovely and brillant lady.
• Running a few head of cattle.
• Playing cricket.
• Enjoying a drink.

On the land

For a number of years my family and I have lived out of town on small farms. Much to our delight.

We started with 100 acres at Nankin near Rockhampton. We lived in a combination hut/caravan which was constructed (under construction photos: 1, 2 by my father-in-law. There was a lovely view from the front veranda. Which also provided some interesting times when it rained a little bit more than normal.

In May 2003 we moved to 240 acres in Struck Oil. One of the advantages of the move was having an established house with some rather nice sunsets and other views (e.g. the feedlot in the mist) and some local wildlife (spiders and frogs) .