ISTE Standards

It seems that technology is growing in leaps and bounds and many teachers want to use new technology simply to catch their students’ attention. However, it is important to have a goal when using technology in our classrooms. Using technology should not be focused solely on raising students’ test scores or interests, however, it should be focused on preparing students for technological use to better their lives and improve learning (ISTE, 2015). The implementation of technology was seen as an opportunity to help our students flourish in a newly technologically-driven world. Because there was little in terms of proper implementation and practice, the ISTE standards were created to helps articulate what technology integration is, and what it is not (International Standards of Technology in Education, 2015).

Not only do the ISTE standards help supports teachers and shows them how to integrate tech in class to support learning, it also sets learning goals for students, and educational leaders (International Standards of Technology in Education, 2015).

Below, I have shared an image I created that gives a brief explanation of the ISTE standards taken from the International Standards of Technology in Education’s “ISTE” (2018) website.

Check out this link for a closer look at the ISTE standards and indicators.

Application of the ISTE standards:
One example of using the ISTE standards for students could be:

Create a lesson for students to create a group media project. Have each group work in a collaborative space like Google Docs, and begin collaboration (Standards achieved: Knowledge constructor, creative communication). During this collaboration time students discuss, research and share information they find appropriate. Once students find the information they are looking for; have students create a project using the technology of their choosing to demonstrate their knowledge of the material (Standards achieved: empowered learner, Computational thinker and digital citizen). The end project could include video projects, blogs, Google Slide presentation, or any other media that would be beneficial to students’ presentation (Standards achieved: Creative communication and knowledge construction). Students could also share online in a global community to collaborate and find new information on their topic (Standard achieved: Global Communication)

In this example of using technology in the classroom, students are not only learning about the content of the class, but developing important digital skills needed to be a successful digital member of society.

References

International Standards of Technology in Education. (2015). ISTE standards: Preparing students for the digital age. [VIDEO]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beb45Q4dsig

International Standards of Technology in Education. (2018). ISTE Standards. Retrieved from: https://www.iste.org/standards