Week 1, Assignment #4
ISTE STANDARDS
International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE standards) are important standards that
are being used in regards to technology and learning. They form a productive guideline and framework for:
· Students
· Educators
· Administrators
· Coaches
· Computer science educators
They
create the base for innovative learning environments.
The ISTE Standards consist of five sets of standards
and provide a framework for amplifying (or even transforming) digital age
learning, teaching and leading.
Those five sets of ISTE Standards work in concert to support students,
educators and leaders with clear guidelines for the skills, knowledge and
approaches they need to succeed in the digital age.
It is important to mention at this point that in order to create
the ideal learning environment, the ISTE has developed a list of essential
conditions: steps that must be taken by administrators and policy makers so
that teachers can effectively run a NETS friendly classroom. Among the
conditions required are adequate funding and support from the school, which
covers everything from ongoing learning courses to accountability and
incentives. The plan cannot succeed without a top-down vision and plan for ISTE
implementation; specifically principals and teachers should meet and agree on
the practices, staff, and technological tools needed in every case.
The teacher’s role is quite important here: teachers are
expected to not only create a certain environment for the students, they are
also required to model that behavior. As we know, educators, in many
situations, are a student’s first exposure to digital technology. They do have
a responsibility to present knowledge and showcase ethical behavior. It is
scary somehow how the new generation is faced with almost unlimited access to
information and media; and it is here where the teacher can play an important
role on how to also teach them about intellectual property and piracy as they
learn how to cite their sources. Teachers also, they enjoy lifelong learning by
keeping current with new technologies and show students that education is a
process, a process that should never end.
Reading through ISTE, we can locate several learning models that
tie together technology and creative thought:
- ·
Real world problem solving
- ·
Unique teaching tools such as games, videos, and interactive
presentations
- ·
Collaboration and group planning
- ·
Pursuing curiosity and answering questions through digital media
- ·
Online testing and writing assessments.
In our days, we can clearly see how digital tools enhance and
add to student’s inherent creative skills. By creating a safe online space for
exploration for their students, teachers can encourage students to try new
things and innovate.
For some of us students and educators, the ISTE standards can appear
imposing at first. But considering them an important tool in our classroom, we
can engage the students in real world issues and problem-solving techniques so
that they are being prepared for real life situations and scenarios that they will
face in their lives. It is extremely important for the teachers to be
comfortable and fluent in the technological field and to inspire their students
to use their critical thinking skills in all areas of their lives, and
technology is a quite helpful tool in that field too.
