In profile: Eric Jensen

Can you tell us about your role and current projects?

I’m Radford’s Digital Learning Coach. My role involves working with teachers and students to implement technology in ways that enhance their learning. Sometimes I’m co-teaching, and sometimes I’m working with teachers to design learning sequences that use technology effectively, and sometimes I’m just helping to fix something that’s not quite right with some technology.

What do you like best about your role?

I love everything about my role.

One of the things I think we really miss as teachers is watching other people at work in the classroom. In my role I get to see amazing teachers working with our students every day and join in with their lessons. It’s instructive, inspiring, and great fun.

I also get to connect with incredible people in similar roles, starting with the amazing Lisa Plenty in the next office, and extending to teachers on the other side of the world through different professional communities. These are among the best people in the world in my role and getting to pick their brains is always a great experience. In my Media teaching role I also get to learn from the incredible Tim Minehan, who is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge.

I get to work with learners all the way from Pre-K right up to Pre-Retirement (sometimes on their last day to tidy up loose technology ends), and generally people seem grateful for my help, which is immensely satisfying.

Most importantly, I learn something every day. I often learn lots of things, and often from our students. Things change so quickly that there’s always more to learn. I try hard to find this exhilarating rather than exhausting.

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

I grew up in Canberra but moved to Melbourne for 20 years where I completed my teaching qualification and taught at a government girls’ college, finally becoming their first Leading Teacher – Learning Technologies. I graduated as a SOSE teacher but had taught in every faculty except HPE by the time I left. My Year 7 Italian classes were short-lived, and really not good for anyone.

What do you enjoy outside Radford?

Anyone who’s heard me play will be surprised to learn that I’m a keen musician. I’m truly terrible, but I’ll have a crack at anything. My retirement dream is to fill our house with instruments that I’m learning to play. My family can’t wait for that. Obviously I’d choose my family and dog over the piano accordion, but I’m hoping they won’t ask me to make that choice.