679 - Introduction Blog

Welcome to my USF Blog

  

My name is Paige Schoolman,  I am in my 22nd year as a Technology Teacher at Minooka Community High School.  I teach mostly 9th and 10th graders but will occasionally be given some sections with 11th & 12th graders.     Most of my schedule is filled with an Introduction to Computer Applications course.  This course is designed to be an introduction to all the technologies available at MCHS.   I am always looking for new and innovative ideas for this course.   In addition to I.I.T.  I also teach an Google Apps course as well as Microsoft Certificiation Prep.

As a technology teacher I have a high level of comfort with old and new technologies.  As an 22 year veteran I have seen technology change and have learned to be a life-long learner when it comes to teaching technology.   Each year is a new adventure and  look forward to the challenges and discoveries that we make in my classroom.

My current favorite tech tool is Google Classroom.  Our school transitioned to a google school 6 years ago.  I had the pleasure of piloting the use of Google Classroom and Google tools in my IIT classes.  I have found this tool to be an amazing way to communicate with students  as well as to distribution center for assignments.

Our School is not yet a 1:1 school.  Our feeder districts have become 1:1 and it is the goal of the IT and Administration departments to become 1:1 in the next 5 years.  Currently we are overhauling the technological infrastructure that would necessary to support 1:1 with our 2600+ students.

In 22 years, I have daily failures and successes with Technology Education.  Mostly I have learned that something is bound to go wrong sometime in the semester and I have learned to adapt and overcome with almost any situation.  In reality,  if a technology fails in my class, it won't be the end of the world.   We simply learn to work with what we have and collectively find an alternative to accomplish our tasks. 

I look forward to learning from my classmates and the materials in this class.