Tyler Wiebe has been teaching science with OVS since 2014 and has helped hundreds of students earn OSSD credits in that time.
Keep reading to learn more about the man behind the screen as we share our recent interview with Mr. Wiebe!
First off, where are you from and where did you grow up?
I grew up in Blind River, Ontario, which is about 2 hours west of Sudbury.
When did you realize you wanted to become a teacher?
In my early 20’s, I did some work with trip leading and outdoor education, and found that I really enjoyed working with young people and being a part of guiding them into a flourishing adult life.
Where did you go for post-secondary and your teaching degree? What did you study?
I did my undergrad at Guelph, and teacher’s college at Lakehead. My undergrad degree is in Physical Science with minors in Chemistry and International Development. My teaching credentials are in chemistry, environmental science, general science, and math.
How long have you been teaching in total? How long have you taught with OVS?
I have been teaching for 10 years and have been with OVS for 7 years now.
Do you prefer teaching online or in a classroom? How do they compare?
There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and I do both. What I do love about online learning is that students can work at their own pace, and have the freedom to do that anywhere in the world.
What about this career do you find rewarding?
I find it very fulfilling to teach new content in an interesting way, and to be able to interact with students; the biggest thing, though, and my “raison d’être” for teaching, is that I just like seeing young people succeed and step into becoming everything they were made to be.
What are some of your favourite pastimes, aside from teaching?
Cycling, paddling, philosophy, literature, travelling (once upon a time), playing guitar and piano, and most importantly, spending time with my family.
If you couldn’t be a teacher, what career would you most like to have?
A field limnologist; I love the idea of doing science and spending my days around forested lakes (at least for the windows of time between freezing cold temperatures and swarms of mosquitoes).
Who is your favourite singer?
Blanco White is my favourite artist.
What do you like to read?
Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky; 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and any poetry by T.S. Eliot
Finally, what is one piece of advice you would like to share with your OVS students?
The “big picture” can only be as good as the small pieces that make it up. Commit to doing the little things right, and doing them consistently. Schedule a time every day to tackle another lesson, to invest in a relationship, to get exercise, and to do the things that give you a sense of purpose. If your OVS course is part of your daily routine, you won’t get to a point where you’re having to sacrifice every other area of your life to get it done in a stressful, mad rush.
What Our Students Say About Mr. Wiebe:
Mr. Wiebe currently has a 4.5-star rating, based on anonymous student feedback gathered at the end of each completed credit.
His former students commonly describe him as “helpful”, “kind”, and a “knowledgeable teacher”.
Here are a few examples of comments shared by his SCH4U students:
Mr. Wiebe was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, he helped me 24/7 and explained things clearly. He would even go so far as to follow up to make sure I understood the concepts that where being taught, as well as extremely easy to get in touch with and speak to. – SCH4U Student, July 2020
Mr. Wiebe is an excellent teacher. He explained every wrong answer I received so I can improve – SCH4U Student, July 2020