Paul Kopco's Teaching Website

Professional Info - Biography

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Sarasota, Florida when I was five. I grew up in Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in mathematics.

I was a professional musician in Florida, New York City, Virginia, and Delaware, before moving to the Black Hills in 1994. I sang and played lead guitar and bass guitar in a number of bands playing a variety of music — rock, standards, country, and originals. I also play drums and keyboards.

I have done computer support, training, and desktop publishing for my own company as well as other companies back East.

Upon moving to South Dakota, I wrote and recorded Black Hills Gold, an album of instrumental music based on the legends and natural wonders of the Hills. I also had a "virtual album" of country music on MP3.com until it went out of business.

I have been teaching computer graphic design, web design, desktop publishing, and multimedia at Black Hills State University since 1996. I completed my Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction degree in the summer of 2000. I was the BHSU Webmaster from the fall of 2000 to the fall of 2006.

I continue to operate my own businesses: Dakotah Records, through which I market my albums; Knowledge Of Personal Computing Onsite, through which I do one-on-one computer training; and Digital Designs, through which I do graphic design and website development.

I am also the creator and host of The Real Deadwood Podcast, a variety show from the real Deadwood in the Black Hills of South Dakota for fans of the HBO Deadwood series combining interviews, entertainment and news from both Deadwoods.

I wrote a computer education column, Knowledge Of Personal Computing Online, in the Black Hills Pioneer newspaper, and also wrote a monthly technology column, Digital Discourse, for the Rapid City Journal. I perform blues and R&B music in local Black Hills venues.

A more detailed resume can be found here.