Reading Assignment #2: My Reflections on ISTE NETS Standards

  One of the categories of the NETS for Teachers Standards is that of Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences.  This category involves planning and designing an environment that is supported by technology.  Teachers are supposed to use technologies in ways that will enhance the student’s ability to learn.       
             All teachers need to be able to show a competency in this category because it provides a base for using the technology appropriately in the curriculum.  Teachers have to first know what is developmentally appropriate for their students and whether research supports the technology or not.  Technology can be a great tool but if it is too advanced or too easy then it will not be helping the students to learn.  Research can help teachers decide which version or form of technology will be to their advantage to use.  Studies might say that a computer math game does not help improve skills without the teacher guidance through the game.  If teachers are unaware of the research and do not use the technology properly, the students will not benefit. 
            Teachers must also be able to plan how they will incorporate the technology into the classroom so that it provides the students with meaningful experiences.  If a computer sits in the corner of the room and is never touched, then it may as well not exist.  The same goes for a videos and CDs that can enhance learning in a social studies class.  Teachers need to think about how they are going to use each piece of technology in their teaching as they plan. 
            There is so much technology available to teachers that they must be able to demonstrate a competency in this category so that the students can benefit and not lag behind their peers in terms of educational experiences.  A teacher could demonstrate competency by evaluating their current technology at the beginning of each school year.  If things are out dated or no longer useful, they should be updated.  This also requires teachers to look at their current technology and think about how they will use it when teaching.  Teachers could also demonstrate competency in this area by looking at the students and deciding if there is any technology that may help the wide range of learners. If one student has very poor vision, what technology is available to help this student so that he or she is not left out of any of the activities?  In this case, it is also extremely important that a teacher keeps up on the latest technology to help with poor vision throughout the year. 
            The teacher standards focus a lot on what technology should be in the classroom and having the teacher make sure that the technology is appropriate.  The student standards are focused on how the students will use the technology and what they should accomplish with the use of the technology.  The student standards are ultimately preparing the students for the future so that they can use technology in an efficient way throughout their lives. 
             The fifth category, Technology Research Tools, is one of the most important categories for students to be able to demonstrate competency in.  This category requires that students use technology to evaluate, collect, process, and report information.  Students must also be able to decide whether or not a new technological resource would be appropriate based on the task. 
             Students need to be able to show competency in this category because it shows that they really understand how the technology that is available to them can be used.  Using technology as a research tool shows that students can use the resources around them to gather information and assemble their thoughts.  Throughout their education, students will be required to use a variety of technologies to gather information and develop conclusions from it. 
            When students can use technology as a research tool, they will be able to carry these skills with them throughout their lives.  They will know what to use to determine where a restaurant is located or how to find the best banana bread recipe.  Students not only need to know how to find information but how to find accurate information and how to report their findings.     
            In order to help students develop a competency in this area, students might be given a topic like clouds and asked to go research the topic.  The students would be required to decide which technology would best fit their needs.  Should an encyclopedia be used or a professional science website?  Which piece of technology is going to give them the best results? 
            Another way to ensure competency in this area is to have students use technology tools to record data.  When students are learning how to measure they might make a graph of the height of the students in the class.  Instead of using paper and pencil, the students could be asked to use a computer program to plot the data. 
            Once students are introduced to the different kinds of technology available to them and how to use each tool, they can then decide which piece of technology is most beneficial to them.  Students will be able to pick good websites by themselves and no when it is appropriate to use a computer graphing program.  Ultimately, the standards prepare the students for the real world, allowing them to use their technology skills beyond the classroom.