A Gamer, a History Buff and an Extreme Type A…Equals the PC eLearning Team?

By Jamie Guillaume

If I examined the faculty and staff of Perry Central to try to put together a team, I can honestly say that prior to this year, I would not have said, "Let’s put Phil, Kris and Jamie together. " However after working, learning, reading and attending conference upon conference with this team, I have discovered we actually make the perfect trio! 

Kris, our gamer, is fantastic at fixing any electronic device that is not working properly and could very easily be described as an Apple whisperer (the electronic, not the fruit). He has mastered video editing and has helped bring coding and app creation to life at Perry Central and these are only a few of his various projects. 

Phil, the history buff, is a My Big Campus (MBC) genius!  He understands the program and uses it in his social studies classroom as a content platform.  Project-Based Learning (PBL) is also one of Phil’s many strengths.  He has become a model for PBL classrooms and has coached other teachers into becoming proficient PBL and MBC users. 

Then there is me, the extreme type A personality.  A role of mine has been to sift through our learning and push out ideas and coach teachers on webtools and programs appropriate for their classrooms.  Another one of my contributions to our team has been keeping us focused on the goals of our grant we are working under, to ensure we are completing the tasks listed and keeping our schedules and agendas organized and fulfilled.

Although it would appear the three of us have nothing in common, the shear fact that we all love our jobs, have a passion for being a mover and a shaker in education and want to see Perry Central do what’s best for our students, has made us a compatible and effective team.

Earlier editions of Techy Tuesday have explained the new roles Kris and Phil will take as one school year ends and another begins.  I am excited to convey that I am going to have the opportunity to work with one of my closest friends whom I highly respect, Sarah, in a 5^th grade setting.  She and I will split the day in a 5th grade classroom blending our strengths and passions together to guide the learning of 5^th graders. 

The other portions of my day will be spent as an eLearning Coach and Media Specialist, residing in the High School Media Center.  I have big hopes and dreams of the Media Center transforming from a place that students use only when required to a place where students want to be. I envision a setting where resources are discovered and utilized in an environment equipped with the technological tools needed to work, study, learn and collaborate in a welcoming and comfortable space. 

As I reflect on this school year I am thankful for all I have learned. It has been the steepest learning curve of my career and I look forward to continuing that learning incline!