ABOUT ME
Jonathan Nalder People . Tech . Learning
Over my 23 years of experience leading education and training projects, I have yet to lose my spark for guiding others to towards high performance that is made possible by a focus on people. I pilot this process with careful use of technology, while fostering the collaborative and individual strengths of adult learners, co-workers, students and Educational organisations. This often means focusing on elements like ‘play’, ’empathy’ and space-focused ‘Overview Effect’ thinking that are vital skills for the fully digital future, but often get missed.
I've coined the term 'Edunaut' to best describe the type of Educator I want to be - someone who dares to go beyond, to try new things, to fail but get back up and share what I have learned.
EDUCATION
LEGO® Therapeutic Studies Certification, Progressive Play
Authorised Apple Education Trainer certification, Apple
Masters of Learning Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
Bachelor of Education, Christian Heritage College, Brisbane, Australia
Bachelor of Arts, Christian Heritage College, Brisbane, Australia
Commercial Pilots Licence (non current), Challenge Aviation Academy, Gold Coast, Australia
Certificate of Freelance Journalism (online), Australian College of Journalism
FORMAL EMPLOYMENT
Jonathan the Edunaut, 2024 +
Senior AI Writing Evaluator, Outlier.ai, 2024
Chief Futures Officer, STEM Punks, 2020-2024
Writer, SpaceAustralia.com 2021
Director FutureWe.org Community, 2016-2021
Founder/ Facilitator First On Mars, 2016-2020
ICT Training Coach, St Peters College, Brisbane, 2017 - 2020
Online Learning Advisor, QUT, 2020
Learning Designer, Brisbane City Council, 2018
Senior Education Consultant, TAFE English Language and Literacy Services, Queensland, 2014-2016
Principal Project Officer, Remote ICT projects, One Laptop Per Child, Learning at hand conference. QLD Education Department, 2010-2014
University Tutor in Digital Education Technologies,
QUT 2016, 217 | University of Sunshine Coast 2015
Teacher, Learning Difficulties, K12 Schools, 2004-2010
Teacher, History and Drama, K12 Schools, 2000-2004
PROJECTS SNAPSHOT
Space 2101: I developed and co-facilitated this 5 day ‘space camp’ experience for high school students that featured an Astronaut and a story-based design challenge that went on to run in 4 countries and be part of a Guinness World Record.
First Kids on Mars: This program visited schools around Queensland to take students on an interactive journey to Mars featuring STEAM, design, team and soft skills. The program was endorsed by the Mars Society of Australia and featured NASA experts.
STEAM Facilitator: I have spent over 7 years delivering programs into primary and high school classrooms across Australia, all with an emphasis on adapting the learning to engage as diverse a range of students as possible.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Aerospace Australia Training Award with STEM Punks, 2024
Crew 270, Mars Desert Research Station (NASA funded), 2022
Global Teacher Award 2022
Big Innovation Awards Winner with STEM Punks 2021
Arizona State University ShapingEdu, USA, Australia, 2018
Advance Queensland Digital Community Champion, 2018-2020
New Media Consortium Henderson Prize, Portland USA, 2015
Learning Without Frontiers Innovation Award, London UK, 2010
Apple Distinguished Educator, 2009-22
Smart Classrooms Award DET, Brisbane, 2008
SPEAKER
Ipswich Libraries, guest speaker, ‘Demystifying AI’, 2024
Week of AI presenter, 2023, 2024
Guest Speaker, QUT Mentor Program, 2022
Museum of Australian Democracy, featured speaker, 2022
Young Space Explorers Conference, Sydney, 2022
University of Technology Sydney Learning Designer Course, 2021
ISTE Online STEM Playground, 2020
Keynote, National Education Summit, Brisbane, 2019
BOLD Summit, San Diego, 2019
2 day Master Class - MakeXR, Hanoi Vietnam University, 2019
New Media Consortium Summer Conference, Boston, 2017
Beijing Smart Education Conference, 2016
COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR/ ADVISOR
Rosebud AI Ambassador, 2024
Mars Society Ambassador, 2022 +
AI in Edu community via LInkedIN 2023
HundrEd Academy Advisor (Finland), 2020, 2024
iWorld Australia STEAM Ambassador 2019-2020
ASU ShapingEdu “Education and Work” team, Arizona, 2018-19
COSN Ambassador USA, 2018
CoSpaces Edu AR/VR Ambassador, 2018 +
Advance Queensland Digital Community Champion, 2018 +
CONTENT CREATOR / AUTHOR
AI Chatbot Mars Desert Research Station via Rosebud.ai, 2024
Museum of Australian Democracy VR project, 2022
STEMPunks.com classes and STEMPunks.tv shows 2020-2024
Asian Education Foundation Bridge Program VR, 2019
JNYXZ.VISION social media, photography, video and design agency, 2016 +
Make XR - Extended Reality (AR, VR, 360, 3D) mini eBook, 2018
First School on Mars Playbook - eBook, 2018
State Library of Queensland ‘Conscription in WW1’ eBook, 2015