About me

An unexpected journey

The best journeys are the one's you weren't expecting. 

I began my Minecraft journey shortly after it's original release, and from my first encounter with it, I was hooked. It is literally the game I was waiting for my whole life, one that I didn't know I desperately needed. 

My girlfriend remarked: "I don't know how you can spend 5 hours a day playing that game." (I was spending A LOT more than that!) 

Well, what I can tell you now is that I was developing important skillsets and expertise for my future career. It is the best canvas for creativity, a versatile platform for experimentation, a playground for exploration, accessible, basic skillsets easily mastered, the ideal application where learning, creativity and adventure can meet, a meeting place for socializing, competition, cooperation, an escape where you can return to your childhood where creativity and adventure are excititng again and a mental health life preserver. 

In reflection, I've actually discovered that many of these skillsets had already been seeded and growing even prior to Minecraft. Exposure and time spent exploring building with Lego, and later video games of the 70s, 80s and 90s (particularly the early "3D" text/graphic adventure games from Sierra Online). But I digress and this observation deserves it's own separate blog entry!

That said, other games come and go, but Minecraft has remained a constant in my life, and it's been the outlet and an anchor for all these creative needs!

The big turning point in my journey was in 2016. I was fortunate enough to be hired by the WCDSB, a school district in Canada. I joined as an IT technician, but soon after invited to support their Minecraft Education pilot deployment and assist their consultant, not only in a technical capacity, but also as a Minecraft enthusiast. This was still very much the early days of Minecraft Education, and there wasn't a lot of supporting materials available yet, so having an experienced Minecraft player in our classroom workshops proved to be essential. We all learned a lot in very short period of time on how to best integrate Minecraft into classroom activities and lessons. Once the pilot ended, I became the Minecraft Education Lead, working with educators to create Minecraft lessons, workshops, supporting materials and new content, while delivering Minecraft Education crash courses and getting educators excited about utilizing Minecraft in the classroom. 

It was around this time that I joined the official Minecraft Education Mentor program (which evolved into the Minecraft Ambassador program), and began supporting Minecraft through the official support site as a moderator. It was an exciting time, connecting with other passionate Minecrafters in the education sphere, learning and sharing all sorts of new tools and techniques. 

By late 2021, I had made a bit of a name for myself and I was being approached by a number of third parties to create Minecraft content and conduct workshops and PD. It was enough extra work that I had a difficult choice to make at this time... continue with my day job, while undertaking some limited outside Minecraft projects, or leave my stable day job, and commit myself entirely to a new career focused on Minecraft. 

Ultimately, as you can guess, I took that leap of faith, and I haven't looked back. Minecraft has provided me with a venue for my unique blend of skills; the WCDSB who started me down this new path, the Minecraft Education community, and the organizations I work with have provided me with the support to be a success. I feel like I've finally arrived in a career where all of my skills, goals and dreams are in alignment. 

Those of us involved or that use Minecraft Education do so for two main reasons: It's the best platform for engaging students, building skills and confidence for the 21st century across pretty much any subject you can think of and additionally, it is a uniquely enjoyable product that brings positivity and happiness to all those that work with it.

For someone who started his working life as a video store clerk, moved into the music industry, then onto IT, and finally into Minecraft, it's been a series a unexpected twists and turns. 

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Shout-out time! 

I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for the extraordinary support of the friends, connections, employers, supporters, the team at Minecraft Education and the amazing Minecraft Education Community of educators, enthusiasts and developers, as well as my wonderful roster of clients. 

I would name everyone individually, but in the interests of time and space, let's just say I acknowledge and truly appreciate everyone's support and interest over the years. You know who you are and you all will be featured in a dedicated blog at some point! 

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Ok, the short official spiel: 

A longtime enthusiast of all things Minecraft, I'm a full time Minecraft Education consultant, developer and content creator. Using my unique skill sets and understanding of the application, I assist educators in harnessing the power of Minecraft Education in the classroom, through PD, and workshops for students. 

As a developer and a content creator, I create detailed custom content and unique Minecraft experiences (some of which you can find in the Minecraft Education Library under Logics Academy, but more coming from other organizations). 

I'm also a Minecraft Ambassador, and a moderator at the official Minecraft Education Support Site, and the Minecraft Education Teacher's Lounge Facebook group. I volunteer actively in Minecraft Education communities, providing support and assistance for educators on their own Minecraft Education journey, and you can find me every year volunteering my experience and knowledge at the Minecraft Education booth at BETT (one of the world's largest Education and Tech conferences).

I also regularly create Minecraft Education focused videos on my own YouTube channel to support the work and techniques I cover, while also producing a Toolbox Tuesday series on the Minecraft Education Teacher's Lounge, tuned specifically to educators and students needs. 

Finally, I'm also a Director at Creative Active Lives CIC, a non-profit providing Minecraft experiences to special needs students in the UK. As part of my activities at Creative Active Lives, I run a weekly Minecraft Sunday Club for some of these students. 

Peace, Love and Happy crafting!