Information Technology & Business Electives

Welcome!

My name is Lisa Boettcher and I teach the Information Technology and Business electives at Lakewood High School and the West Shore Career-Technical District including: Computer Applications, Digital Media, Entrepreneurship, Intro to Programming, Personal Finance, and Tech Trends (formerly Exploring Technology).

My Background:

I joined the Lakewood City Schools in 2008 as West Shore's Communication-Career Development Specialist and moved into teaching in 2013. Prior to joining the district, I worked as a networking analyst for American Greetings and a senior telecommunications specialist at CBS/FOX Video. I hold a BA in Telecommunications and English from Michigan State University and an MA in English from Cleveland State University and completed the Career Technical Teacher Education Program at Kent State University. I enjoy integrating my business and industry experiences into the classroom and working with students to identify the many education and career opportunities in information technology and other career fields including the trades, apprecticeship programs, community college, and traditional four-year universities. There are many pathsto success for our students following graduation.

Overview:

The experiental learning in the elective courses provides students a first hand opportunity to pursue an interest or hobby while enriching their high school learning experiences.

The Information Technology and Business elective courses are work force development classes that provide students an opportunity to enhance their understanding and use of information technology while encouraging them to gain experience and confidence using a variety of computer applications and explore the many post-secondary career and education opportunities available to them. Students learn, practice and develop employability and college readiness skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, time management, technology literacy, leadership, initiative, and productivity.

College, Trades, & Work Force Readiness:

The elective courses are designed to be hands-on, relevant, and student friendly while supporting the district's Vision of a Lakewood Graduate. A recent Edutopia article Career-Technical Education and the Demands of the Moment noted “CTE courses, when combined with core courses, help students see the relevancy of their instruction and further develop their problem-solving, research, and critical thinking skills." Upon completion of an Information Technology and Business elective course, students will understand the relevancy of computing and hands-on learning in their academic studies, work, and personal lives. In turn, they will feel empowered and confident to successfully navigate our complex digital world.

Pathway to West Shore Career-Technical Programs:

The elective courses also provide our students a pathway to enroll in one of the two-year career-technical programs. We will work with and support the elective students to pursue an interest in one of the career-tech programs including shadowing, applying to a selected program, and letters of recommendation.