805Today

Learning requires failure

Welcome to my website at Pearson Ranch Middle School.  I am thrilled to share this exciting world of engineering,  business, and technology with you and your student.

One thing your student will hear often in my class is that failure will happen... a lot.  Learning anything new requires risk, frustration and YES, failure, and plenty of it. Because, when it comes to learning, failure is not only an option, but a prerequisite.

Watch a child learn to walk, and you will see her fail again and again. With a little practice, she gets good at standing while holding onto something. Soon, she attempts to move her feet, still holding on. She takes two steps forward, and falls backward. She pulls herself up again. She learns from the last fall what not to do this time. Soon, she is walking unassisted, though she still falls. She is laughing more than crying now. Because she’s got this. And falling isn’t so bad. And failure is her best teacher.

What I Teach

I am here to work with your 7th and 8th grade students in one of several classes I teach.

Gateway to Technology is an  introduction to engineering and technology.  It engages students in activities that not only build knowledge and skills in areas including computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, but also empower students to develop essential skills such as problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and perseverance. Learn more about this national program here at PLTW's Gateway to Technology.

Business Information Management is a comprehensive, skills-based course using Microsoft Office. Students use their computer applications skills to produce professional business documents while learning today's needed business soft skills. With a strong focus on workplace readiness and communication and writing skills, students reinforce their touch typing skills, create word processing documents, develop spreadsheets, design desktop publishing documents, and make digital presentations using the appropriate software for the task at hand.  Students also explore the vital role technology has in the workplace, including the importance of managing information systems.

Technology Applications is the utilization of tools that allow  students to make informed decisions by understanding current and emerging technologies, including technology systems, appropriate digital tools, and personal learning networks. As competent researchers and responsible digital citizens, students use creative and computational thinking to solve problems while developing career and college readiness skills.  The technology applications curriculum has six strands and performance indicators

• Creativity and innovation

• Communication and collaboration

• Research and information fluency

• Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making

• Digital citizenship

• Technology operations and concepts

Students work independently and collaboratively with each other to develop a variety of projects. Some topics we will cover in this course includes: proper keyboarding techniques, appropriate online behavior and etiquette, internet research, copyright and fair use, file transfer/sharing, graphic editing, and desktop publishing. We will use a variety of different hardware, software and web 2.0 tools.