
Lana Peterson
Director of Community Engagement
Dr. Lana Peterson is the Director of Community Engagement for the L+T Collaborative (LTC). She is a community-engaged scholar with one foot in academia and another in K-12 teaching and learning spaces. Her research interests include equitable K-12 computer science education, online learning, and technology integration. She leads LTC's research practice partnerships with local school districts to solve mutual problems of practice. In addition to her work with K-12 schools, Dr. Peterson serves on the steering committee for CSforAll Minnesota, supports professional development for online school leaders with the Minnesota Department of Education, and co-leads the K-8 workstream for the Minnesota Technology Association.
Education background
- PhD Learning Technologies, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
- M.Ed. Learning Technologies, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
- B.AS. Elementary Education, University of Minnesota- Duluth
Awards
P.E.O. International Scholar Award, 2019
College of Education and Human Development Outstanding Student Leadership Award, 2018
- CI 5307 Technology for Teaching and Learning
Peterson, L., Scharber, C., Avadhanam, R., Faruqi, F. (2022, May). Prioritizing the development of computing identities through a middle school computer science integration program. Experience paper presented at annual conference on Research in Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT). Virtual.
Peterson, L. & Skadsem, H. (2022, April). Building a district-based online school. Presentation at the Consortium for School Networking 2022 Annual Conference. Virtual.
Blended, Hybrid, to Distance Learning and Everything Between: Designing Instruction During COVID-19. (2020, August-October). Series of professional development workshops presented to Ellis Middle School, Southgate Elementary, and Woodson Kindergarten Center teachers in Austin Public Schools.
How Does Theory Inform Practice in K-5 Online Education? (2020, August). Professional development workshop for elementary online educators in Bloomington Public Schools.
Computational Thinking in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. (2017, 2018). Professional development workshop presented to Woodson Kindergarten Center, Neveln Elementary, and Southgate Elementary
Publications (selected)
Peterson, L. & Skadsem, H. (2022) Elementary online learning: Designing and building virtual education, grades K-5. Routledge.
Peterson, L., Scharber, C., Barksdale, S., Wilson-Vazquez, A., & Cozzolino, T. (2022). Code savvy educators: A professional development model for inservice educators. In Mouza, Yadav, & Leftwich (Eds.), Professional development for inservice teachers: Research and practices in computing education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Scharber, C., Peterson, L., Baskin, K., Cabeen, J., Gustafson, D.& Alberts, J. (2021). A research-practice partnership about K12 technology integration: Technology as a catalyst for teaching learning through failure and creative risk-taking. Tech Trends.
Scharber, C., Chang, Y., Peterson, L., Barksdale, S., & Sivaraj, R. (in press). Possibilities in K-12 computer science education: Computing as critical literacy. Pedagogies: An International Journal.
Peterson, L., Scharber, C., Thuesen, A., & Baskin, K. (2020). A rapid response to COVID-19: One district’s pivot from technology integration to distance learning. Information and Learning Sciences. 121(5/6), 461-469. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2020-0131
Peterson, L., & Scharber, C. (2018). Learning about makerspaces: Professional development with inservice educators. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 34(1), 43-52. doi: 10.1080/21532974.2017.1387833
Chang, Y. H., & Peterson, L. (2018). Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of computational thinking. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 26(3), 353-374.
Peterson, L., & Scharber, C. (2017). Supporting a 1:1 program with a student technology team. International Journal of Information and Learning Technology [Special Issue: Research Trends in Instructional Technology], 34(5), 396-408. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-06-2017-0049
Peterson, L., & Scharber, C. (2017). Lessons from a one-to-one laptop pilot. Computers in the Schools [Special Issue: One-to-One Technology Learning], 34(1-2), 60-72.