Paige LaBarr Paige LaBarr

Paige LaBarr

Computer Science | AI | PRODiG+

Using AI to lower the floor for entry and raise the ceiling for innovation.

Hi, I'm Paige.

I teach Computing Sciences at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY. Before that, I spent years teaching high school math and CS, then moved into administration, where I developed a systems-level view of education and a fluency for how all of it really works — both of which followed me back into the classroom. That realization quietly reshaped how I approach everything: course design, classroom expectations, who gets access to CS education. It also changed how I talk about failure in a classroom, and what I expect learners to do when they hit a wall.

AI didn't change what I care about. It just raised the stakes.

I've found that AI hasn't made thinking less necessary; it's made it more visible. When a tool can generate an answer in seconds, the focus shifts from the output to the inquiry: Is this the right question, and do I actually understand the result? Used thoughtfully, AI lowers the cognitive load of getting started, clearing the noise so the productive struggle can begin. AI is a surprisingly effective mirror for metacognition; the learners who excel with these tools aren't the ones who trust them most, but the ones who know the difference between AI lowering the floor and raising the ceiling for what they can achieve.

Recent Presentations


  • 3/11/2026: Panelist — AI and Student Learning Outcomes: Opportunities, Challenges, and Classroom Strategies.
  • 3/11/2026: Facilitator — AI Lab Work Session on Teaching and Learning Day. Guided faculty across departments from AI-curious to AI-capable through hands-on, WCAG-compliant LMS interactives.
  • 3/19/2026: Tech Guide — Facilitated informal, rapid-fire demos of Google Vids for regional workforce participants, translating AI theory into practical industry fluency.

Current Collaborative Endeavors


  • Spring 2026: Member of FLCC AI Book Club. Discussing ideas connected to Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT and Empire of AI.
  • Spring 2026: Pedagogical Spark Community. Exploring AI in Higher Education.
  • Spring 2026: FLCC Pilot Project on AI-Enhanced Learning. Increasing personalization in CSC-117: Python.

Innovation & Artifacts

AI Lab - FLCC Teaching & Learning Day

Watch on Drive

Google Vids Demo - FLX AI Hub

Watch on Drive

AI Lab Handout

Guide for faculty during the AI-enhanced learning lab.

Open Google Doc →

Spectrum of AI Use

Classroom activity for navigating academic integrity.

Open Google Doc →

Academic Leadership

Current FLCC Courses

Python, Java (CS1 & CS2), Tech for Educators, CS Portal

Focused on differentiated, AI-scaffolded instruction for all learners.

AP CS Reader


Previously an AP Computer Science Principles Reader & Table Reader for the College Board. Shifting to the AP CS A Reading in Summer 2026!

print("Let's Collaborate!")