About Steve Colvin

Growing up in a small, wooded town on Vancouver Island, BC, I thought, at one time, that I would be destined to be a tree faller like my father.

However, after experiencing working retail and a thought-provoking accident, world travel and teaching certification allowed me to find a position at an international school in China, and meet the woman I would one day marry.

Now, after 20 years together, my wife Emma has earned a Phd from Peking University in Education Management, and we have, apparently, a fearless daughter who bungie jumps.

What a life.

Over the years, I have written curricula, sponsored three student teachers, taught English 10, 11, 12, (inc. Scholarship Zhou Enlai), become adept at online teaching, and most importantly, helped hundreds of students achieve their dreams of post-secondary education.

I have been reading science fiction from my early teen years, and I still have great affection for the early masters: Asimov, Heinlein, Niven, and a relative newcomer, Spider Robinson.

A more current writer that I thoroughly enjoy is John Scalzi. I have read (and listened via audiobooks) to the “Old Man’s War” series, and being a Star Trek fan, I heartily savoured “Redshirts”.

“I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”

― Robert A. Heinlein,

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

“The perversity of the Universe

tends towards a maximum”

― Larry Niven, Ringworld

“Scientific truth is beyond

loyalty and disloyalty.”

― Isaac Asimov, Foundation

“Hey Jake. I got an idea.'

'Be gentle with it,' the Doc grinned. 'It's in a strange place.”

― Spider Robinson, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

“Well, that's science fiction television

for you, though," Abnett said.

"Someone's got to be the red shirt.”

― John Scalzi, Redshirts

However, one of my favourite dystopian, futuristic stories is a graphic novel by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. I have had the pleasure of teaching that novel in English 12 over several years, and even after repeated readings, I still find subtle intertextual connections between it and poetry, popular culture, music, and more.

“Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.”

― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

This novel also lends itself to a number of activities including Tic-Tac-Toe projects and portfolios. One activity was to find music that fit with themes from the novel, explain how they connect, and create a CD cover.

Above is a student’s example.

About Steve Colvin

Personal Background