Week 5A Reading Summary

NETS for Students

            The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-S) and Performance Indicators for Students include a wide range of technology related skills that students should have.  These skills fall into six different categories:

1.     Creativity and Innovation

2.     Communication and Collaboration

3.     Research and Information Fluency

4.     Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

5.     Digital Citizenship

6.     Technology Operations and Concepts

With the wide range of skills included in each of these categories, students will be well prepared to eventually enter the 21^st century workforce.  They will be able to use technology to create processes and products, communicate and collaborate with others, effectively evaluate and use information, apply critical thinking skills to solve problems and make decisions, practice legal and ethical behavior, and apply knowledge of technology systems to select and use applications effectively and productively. 

I believe that the skills listed in these standards are very important for today’s students.  In order for students to fully develop these skills, teachers must be prepared to lead them toward proficiency in all of these areas. 

NETS for Teachers

The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers include a wide range of technology related skills that teachers should have.  These skills fall into six different categories:

1.     Technology Operations and Concepts

2.     Planning and designing learning environments and experiences

3.     Teaching, learning, and the curriculum

4.     Assessment and evaluation

5.     Productivity and professional practice

6.     Social, ethical, legal, and human issues

With the skills included in each of these categories, teachers will be well prepared to lead students in the development of the skills they will need in order to eventually become productive members of the 21^st century workforce.  It is important for teachers to keep up with current and emerging technologies so they can guide students in using them.  Teachers must also be able to effectively use technology to maximize learning in the classroom, and assess the learning that occurs in all subject areas.  In addition, teachers should use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice, and act as models for ethical use of technology.