I am a Computer Applications Technology teacher. CAT is a subject I am very passionate about and I thoroughly enjoy teaching it. I have won awards and been to many prestigious events as a speaker and guest, ranging from various conferences in South Africa to overseas engagements to talk about Tech Teachers and my work.
I received the Microsoft Innovative Educator nomination from Microsoft and am also a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert since 2016. I won the Tech Teacher of Year in 2015 at the ISPA SuperTeacher competition and was a finalist in the 2018 competition.
I am, when I am not teaching, studying for my Masters in Education (ICT in Education).
I also excitedly await the publication of my first book this year (March 2019) entitled "The Digital Classroom Resource"
I am a Senior sub-examiner for Grade 12 C.A.T. NSC Practical and Theory exams. I was also the Gauteng Regional and the National C.A.T. Moderator for the IEB for 2016 and 2017.
I also enjoy playing drums when I get the chance and used to teach drumming professionally. I have an interest in West African and contemporary percussion and played professionally overseas for a few years.
Professional
- Educator
- Trainer
- Speaker
- Microsoft Minecraft Global Mentor
- Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert
- Certified Smartboard Trainer
IEB appointments
- IEB Senior-Examiner Marker - Gr12 C.A.T. NSC Paper 1 and 2 (2018)
- IEB Examination Marker - Gr12 C.A.T. NSC Paper 1 (2018)
- Gauteng Regional & National IEB Moderator – C.A.T PAT & SBA (2016 & 2017)
- IEB Senior-Examiner Marker - Gr12 C.A.T. NSC Paper 2 (2017)
- National IEB Teacher Conference convener – C.A.T. (2017)
- Cluster Leader (2016)
- IEB Gauteng Subject Forum Representative C.A.T. (2014 & 2016)
- IEB Senior-Examiner Marker – Gr12 C.A.T. NSC Paper 2 (2016)
- IEB Sub-Examiner Marker – Gr12 C.A.T. NSC Paper 1 & Paper 2 (2015)
Press & Media
- MIEExpert Spotlight #25: Matthew Hains – Schoolnet, Apr 2017
- Microsoft Virtual Academy Webinar : Digital Civility, Feb 2017
- “Microsoft MIE Experts bound for Canada” – Schoolnet, Feb 2017
- “Tech Teacher heads for summit” – Benoni City Times, Feb. 2017
- “He’s now a super teacher” – Benoni City Times, Oct. 2015
Achievements
- World Education Congress EduTech Leadership Award
- Finalist in the ISPA Superteacher 2018 Competition
- Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (2017/19)
- Attendee as 1 of 5 (out of 135 teachers countrywide) at the Microsoft E2 Exchange in Toronto, Canada (2017)
- Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (2016/17)
- CozaCares/ISPA Tech Teacher of the Year Winner (2015)
- The Tech Teachers site
Speaker & Workshops
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2019)
- Round table host and discussion Chairman at EduTECH Africa (2018)
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2018)
- Speaker at EduTECH Africa (2017)
- Speaker at SchoolNet SA Conference 2017
- Presenter at TeachMeet, Brescia House on Hacking coding (2017)
- Workshop speaker at “TeachMeet” at Brescia House on Google Classroom (2017)
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2017)
- Teach! Conference – Kingswood College, Grahamstown (September 2016) [pdf]
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2016)
- InSITE Conference – Tampa, Florida USA (2015)
- Study Opportunities IT & Delphi Day : Pretoria (2015)
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2015)
- IEB National Teacher Conference – Computer Applications Technology (2014)
Microsoft Educator
My Educator Network Profile page
Microsoft Virtual Academy
I have been a guest presenter in the following webinars:
- Digital Civility: Making the Internet Safer
- Physical Computing in the Classroom
- Using Kodu in the Classroom
Publications
Featured in : “Towards the Realization of the ICT Education Living Lab – The TechTeachers.co.za Success Story” (2015)
Coming soon: The Digital Classroom Resource by Matthew Hains
