Katrina Lifer's Blog

For a technology plan to be effective, we should analyze the stakeholders involved. Students and families/parents will play the most crucial roles in ensuring the success of my initiative. Students will be directly impacted by the ease with which they can complete assignments outside the classroom. This will allow them to have a better learning experience and keep up with classroom assignments. Families will also be key due to the responsibilities placed upon them. They will support students’ use of technology at home, care for the devices, and provide the necessary support to their children. When developing this plan, it is of utmost importance to involve students and families in providing insights into how the technology will benefit them, ensuring the plan is effective. Current initiatives in the school system include increasing technology access for students. With the issuance of grant money to assist with these technological improvements and the implementation of STEAM-related ser...

What do you notice about the experiences and path(s) taken by the interviewee(s) that result in their elevation to decision-making roles and educational technology experts? Several of the interviews I read through the person was someone who was active in the educational community and they were either placed in a situation that made them have to learn more about technology or they were given opportunities to utilize technology and they quickly realized the benefits. Most of them worked from a much smaller role and morphed into a role that has given them a bigger voice over time. The article I focused the most on was an interview with Elizabeth Thomas. She speaks of how her path to becoming a technology expert began with a classroom experience, a true love for technology and from being willing to learn and accept these new challenges. She began as an 8th grade teacher in math and science and with the introduction to technology in her classroom from a piloted program of having iPads she b...