INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to Tangents in Technology, a blog exploring the intersection of teaching, adolescence, mathematics, educational technology, and the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Image Source: Facebook Profile Picture

ABOUT ME

My name is Pete Drinan, and I live in Downers Grove, IL, with my wife, Katie, and our two children, Charlie (13) and Maggie (9). Our family stays busy with school, cross country, theater, basketball, Irish Dance, and volleyball. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors (golfing, biking, boating, and hiking), reading, and listening to podcasts. One of my favorite destinations is Hilton Head Island, SC, specifically, the Sea Pines Resort. My family has vacationed there since I was a toddler, and Katie and I have continued the tradition by alternating each summer between Hilton Head and a new destination. We have traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado, Scottsdale, Arizona, Austin, Texas, New York City, Galena, Illinois, and we’re currently planning a trip to London, England and Paris, France for the summer of 2026.

Image Source: Facebook Photo (Arizona)

EXPERIENCE

I am in my 21st year of teaching mathematics, with three years at the junior high level and eighteen at the high school level, all within Catholic education. As a product of Catholic schools myself and a parent of children attending a Catholic school, I strongly believe in the value, impact, and unique opportunities that Catholic education provides. I have taught a range of courses, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus, at both the college prep and honors levels. Currently, I teach Honors Algebra and Honors Advanced Algebra Trigonometry.

Over my career, I have witnessed and adapted to the evolution of classroom technology, from chalkboards and overhead projectors to document cameras, graphing calculators, iPads, and digital learning platforms. Transitioning from a paper-and-pencil environment to a fully 1:1 iPad classroom has been both exciting and challenging, but it has reinforced my commitment to engaging, innovative, and effective instruction.

Image Source: Benet Academy Website

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN EDUCATION

As technology continues to shape the educational landscape, I am particularly interested in how emerging tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), learning management systems (LMS), and social media, can enhance both instruction and student engagement. Currently, our school uses Blackbaud as our LMS, which offers expanded features and improved functionality to better support our school community. In my classroom, I use Blackbaud to organize and disseminate information, including posting guided notes, homework assignments, screencasts, and videos. Additionally, I incorporate Notability for guided notes and homework, ALEKS for personalized learning and assessment, DeltaMath for targeted skill practice, and TI-SmartView for calculator applications.

Integrating technology into a Catholic high school setting presents unique challenges. Limited resources mean that we do not always have access to the latest tools, and professional development opportunities focused on ed tech are scarce. Additionally, the deeply rooted traditions of Catholic education can make change slow. However, I believe that progress requires adaptability, creativity, and a willingness to take risks. Tradition, after all, is simply innovation that worked. This perspective fuels my excitement for this course on social media and emerging technologies. I look forward to exploring new ideas, tools, and strategies that will shape the future of education.

I have always found social media to be an interesting and powerful tool for communication, connection, and learning. While I like social media and appreciate its many benefits, I don’t use it very much in my daily life. Currently, I have a Facebook, X/Twitter account, and a LinkedIn profile, but that’s about it.

That being said, I am not opposed to social media by any means. I recognize its value in networking, staying informed, and engaging with different communities. I am open to trying or starting on other platforms in the future, especially as I continue to explore its role in education and emerging technologies.

Image Source: www.gifer.com

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT ME

Hello and welcome to Tangents in Technology, a blog about teaching, adolescence, math, ed tech, and anything else I find interesting.

Image Source: Personal Photo

My name is Pete Drinan and my wife, Katie, and I have been married for 17 years and live in Downers Grove, IL. We have two children, Charlie (12) and Maggie (8) that keep us very busy with school, soccer, cross country, theater, basketball, dance, and softball. In what little free time I have, I like to travel, spend as much time as I can outdoors (golfing, biking, boating, and hiking), reading and listening to podcasts. One of my favorite vacation spots is Hilton Head Island, SC; specifically the Sea Pines Resort. My family has been going there since I was a toddler and Katie and I have started a tradition of each summer alternating between Hilton Head and somewhere new. Two summers ago we went to Breckenridge, CO and this past summer was Hilton Head so we are in the process of finding somewhere new for next summer if anyone has suggestions.

Image Source: Personal Photo

EXPERIENCE

I am currently in my 20th year of teaching mathematics. I taught junior high for 3 years, and am starting my 17th year of teaching high school. All 20 of these years have been spent in Catholic Education. I am a product of Catholic Education, my kids go to a Catholic School, and I am a firm believer in the important role that it plays in education along with the the positive impacts and unique opportunities that it provides students. I have taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, and Precalculus at both the college prep and honors levels. Currently I am teaching Honors Algebra and Advanced Algebra Trigonometry. 

Throughout my career I have used a multitude of technologies including chalkboards, whiteboards, overhead projectors, document cameras, graphing calculators, iPads, Macs, PC's, and projectors. I have gone from a paper/pencil classroom to 1:1 iPad classroom all while trying to keep class engaging, challenging, and informative. It has been an exciting and often exhausting journey, but one in which I have thoroughly enjoyed! 

TECHNOLOGY

The learning management system (LMS) that we are currently using is PlusPortals by Rediker Software. However, we are considering making a change next year to Blackbaud. I am very excited about this potential change because the new system seems to offer many more features than our current system which would benefit our school community. In my classroom, I use Google Classroom for organization and management, Notability for guided notes and homework, and the TI-SmartView for presenting calculator applications.

Incorporating and integrating technology into a Catholic high school math classroom can be challenging for a couple of reasons. First, resources can be scarce. We don't always have the best, brightest, or newest equipment, software, systems or applications and rarely do we spend professional development time on ed tech. And second, change comes very slowly. The word tradition often gets thrown around, but all to often what is really meant is "because that's how we have always done it." However, this shouldn't stop us from moving forward. We must forge ahead, be creative, take risks and continually remind ourselves that tradition is simply innovation that worked, which is why I am excited about this course.

Image Source: www.gifer.com