Portfolio

Portfolio Components

Purpose

This EDTECH Portfolio is to demonstrate the cumulative knowledge and skills gained during Boise State University’s Master of Education in Educational Technology. My overarching goal during and after completion of this program is to learn the theories, practices, and research regarding Educational Technology and integrate accessible theories, practices and research to create a more inclusive experience for people with disabilities.

Below is an image that demonstrates the differences between exclusion, separation, integration, and inclusion. I strive for inclusion whenever possible.

image depicting exclusion - Colored dots are scattered outside of the circle. image depicting separation -Colored dots are gathered in a small circle outside of the big grey circle. image depicting integration - Colored dots are inside the circle but clustered together. image depicting inclusion -Colored dots are scattered within the circle.

Special Focus: Accessibility

“Accessible means that individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same timeframe as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.” -University of Montana Office of Civil Rights settlement agreement, 2012

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. (2013). Resolution Agreement between University of Montana and the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Retrieved October 31, 2016 from http://www.umt.edu/accessibility/docs/FinalResolutionAgreement.pdf.

Given my professional expertise, I chose to take an accessible lens to projects within the EDTECH program. Why? Because equal access is something I am passionate about. Learning is as unique for someone as is their physical, genetic, social, cultural, sexual, and religious makeup.

Continuum demonstrating how tasks like read, see, hear, walk, communication are on a spectrum of able to not able.

I intentionally created my projects and assignments in a way so that viewers whom identify as having a disability can have a positive experience.

About Krista

Profile of woman about 5'5 with brown hair and great smile standing in front of bush wearing a blue dress and peacoat.

Krista Greear is an Accessibility Strategist working with government and higher education institutions to incorporate inclusive practices as they deploy Blackboard Ally. She has over 12 years of experience in higher education, accessibility, and technology in various leadership positions. Her expertise is in document and video accessibility, using data and best practices to build partnerships, implement thoughtful strategy and improve experiences for people with disabilities.

Before working for Blackboard, Krista managed the accessible documents and accessible video programs within disability services. Having directly managed a staff of 26 student and temporary employees, Krista knows how to meet program objectives, build positive team dynamics, and stay exceptionally organized. As an assistant director, she partnered with departments across campus to find common pain points, then collaborated to establish sustainable, inclusive-focused changes. Serving a variety of students with disabilities cemented Krista’s desire to increase inclusivity in educational ecosystems.

As part of her professional repertoire, Krista studied in Boise State’s Educational Technology program. The master’s program focused on the AECT standards, which exist to improve instruction through technology. This experience, combined with her accessibility background, has positioned Krista uniquely to help higher education and government institutions improve accessible on both a course- and organizational-level. She has directly supported over 100 organizations with implementing Blackboard Ally.

As an Accessibility Consultant, Krista will be a friendly and knowledgeable resource regarding accessible and instructional solutions. She will work to understand your organization’s ecosystem and help to identify ways to incorporate inclusive practices that impact student success.

Key Info

  • Passionate change agent leader in educating multiple audiences regarding inclusivity/accessibility
  • Expert knowledge of accessibility, inclusivity, instructional design, and educational systems
  • Experience in various leadership positions within Higher Education
  • 11+ years’ experience designing and delivering accessible solutions
  • Master of Education in Educational Technology from Boise State University