#MAKERSPACE AFICIONADO & ADVOCATE
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​Who is Paul?   (resume)

I began college as a Computer Science and Engineering major at the University of Toledo before I even touched a computer.  I had heard about them and thought "these things will be the future."  After a few years of never asking my advisor any questions (silly me), I decided I did not want to be a programmer for the rest of my life.  I could do it, just did not want to.  Since I never spoke with my advisor I did not see all the other avenues a CSE good follow.  So I switched to another interest, Nuclear Engineering.  Technically my degree is B.S Engineering Physics, Nuclear & Systems Theory.  Big title.  But I did love taking all of the Physics classes possible and my Senior Engineering Project was in Physics, helping plan & build a linear accelerator.  I wish we had gotten it done before I left.

I went to work in the Nuclear Power Industry, working at plants in Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, Arizona & back to Alabama.  I liked it and I liked seeing parts of the country.  I had been coaching football since I graduated high school and had the idea of teaching rumbling around in the back of my mind.  When I was in Alabama and we were between engineering contracts, I substituted at the high school to see what I thought.  I liked it.  I can do this, but not yet.   Life throws things at you, and I needed to move back home. So upon moving back home I enrolled in Kent Stat University's Master of Arts in Teaching program.  It is a 1 year accelerated program for second career people.  But I don't think I was ready yet, so i worked to get back into the Nuclear Industry (not an easy industry to get in to) and got a job at Perry Nuclear about an hour away from home.  A month or so into that, life threw another wrench.  Mom had died shortly after I moved home, now Dad & I were living together and he had recently retired, but his health was failing him & he was heartbroken from Mom.  He just didn't have it in him to go on.  So it was good that I had to come home. I got to spend time with them at the end.  With him passing I had things to do and couldn't be an hour away at a job.  So, time to become that teacher.

I substituted at a few schools for a while and finally got a job (thanks to the wife of a former high school teacher of mine) at Stark State College teaching Physics, Math, and Environmental Science.   I spent all day at school either teaching or exploring this new thing called the World Wide Web.  Oh my gosh.  I could find anything that I wanted to know.  I could read magazine articles without getting the magazine. But I really wanted to teach at a high school.  I enjoyed the interactions & the extra-curriculars.  I finally got a high school position at a school 10 minutes away.  Awesome.  Things were going well.....parents loved me, students loved me, the Superintendent loved me....the Principal (& probably a few teachers) did not. So it was off to another school.  I landed at a school about 45 minutes from home.  I was there 15 years.

I have "taught" high school for most of this time, Physical Science, Algebra, then Physics and Geometry.    I know my style has changed over the years. Less "homework". Fewer "grades"  , and more towards Standards Based Learning and "maker".  I like more & more hands on, building, creating projects.  I keep integrating more technology tools to enhance the learning or document and display their learning.  I am the resident tech geek.  I try to find things that my students can utilize and have them see if it helps.  I helped bring Google Apps to our District.  I worked with the sound system in our auditorium, have video'd the school events and made DVD's and helped get it on our cable station.  Recently I went to the Junior High to start a STEAM program with Project Lead the Way Automation & Robotics and Design & Modeling.

Now I am looking for where I really fit in the Education world.  Maybe it will be running a STEAM MakerSpace or Maker Bus.  Maybe it will be helping others to incorporate STEAM Maker into all aspects of learning. Maybe it will be....
You can find me on :
Twitter  @shirky17

email paul@paulshircliff.org
Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulshircliff/
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  • Home
  • the journey
  • me
    • Resume
    • playtime
  • Presentations
    • microbit
    • MakerSpaces
    • LowCostLowTechMakerMaterials
    • MakerMarketSchool
    • ScreenCasting >
      • what is it
      • examples
      • why do this
      • how to make them available
      • recording tools
      • microphones
      • web hosting
      • iPad options
      • tips
      • resources
    • StudentVoicesForAssessment >
      • Why
      • StudentVoicesExamples
      • Tools to Create
      • TurningInTheWork
      • TechnicalIssues
      • OtherIdeas
      • YourTurn
    • Tweet Yourself Right
    • EducationalVision
    • Wearables
  • MakerIdeas
    • MakerResources
    • LowCostLowTech
  • Coding&Robotics
    • MakeCode
    • microbit
    • Makerbit
    • bitbooster
    • CRICKIT
    • kittenbot
    • CircuitPlaygroundExpress
    • Edison
    • FiriaLabs
    • VEX
  • Maker Van
  • resonance
    • books
    • videos
    • education & science issues