My Joke Blog

Nico Baird, a son of Kimberley, was one of the first graduates in South Africa to complete his B Tech degree in Language Practice at the Central University of Technology, Free State.

After completion of his studies, Nico specialised in communicative media, including graphic design and video production. Focusing on effective academic communication in both poster design and instructional video production.
Nico started his professional academic career as Director of Multimedia at the University of the Free State's, Faculty of Health Sciences. During this period he completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education.

After joining the CUT (Central University of Technology, Free State) eLearning and Educational Technology team in 2004 he started as Instructional Designer at this institution. He returned to his alma mater to train the trainers in the use of technology in teaching.

During this period he did not rest on his laurels, but specialised in the integration an utilisation of the web as educational medium/platform, investigating new innovations in Learning and Teaching, paying special attention to the Web 2.0 and Learning 2.0 movement. His current presentations and research revolves around collaboration in education.

During the past five years he has become a regular on the education and technology conference circuit with innovative and pioneering talks. He, inter alia, expanded his vision online by establishing a number of Internet based companies.
Nico's specific skills and interests include: Professional online publishing, Online collaboration tools and technologies, Innovation in Education, Information design, Internet video, Podcasting , Online business models and marketing strategies and usability and accessibility of online educational resources for people with disabilities.

Nico also writes a weekly technology column in the BloemNews, which is also being published in a number of regional community newspapers across South Africa. His newly created blog (www.nicobaird.com) serves as a platform for his constant search for innovation in eduction. The end of October 2009 will also see the first publication of Edumio, an collaborative online educational newsletter.

His aims for the next few years is to provide each person with the knowledge and ability to expand their horisons online.

Through the innovative work and his dedication to learning and especially learning in a changing world he was selected as one of South Africa’s first Apple Distinguished Educators in 2007.

Nico is a Director of Dreamagineers International.

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