Standards for Technology in the Classroom

Technology standards inside the classroom are developed by ITSE. ITSE stands for the International Society for Technology in Education.  This group is made up of global leaders and teachers and their main goal is to improve teaching and learning by using technology correctly.  They also helped developed the 21st Century Skills with the collaboration with 21st Century Education System Task Force.  In order to gain the 21st Century Skills needed, ITSE created their National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S). This helps teachers to define and incorporate 21st skills into the classroom. ITSE breaks NETS-S down into these six 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

In order for teachers to develop these in their students, ITSE developed their National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T). The NETS-T contains five steps needed to to help develop NETS-S.

1.  Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

2.  Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

3.  Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

4.  Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

5.  Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

It is important that all teachers and educators take these and develop 21st Century Skills in their students by using technology as a tool and not a crutch. 

TPACK and 21st Century Learners

What is TPACK? Have you ever heard of TPACK? I hadn't until just recently. TPACK stands for Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge. It is the use of technology used properly to fit the pedagogical and content of the teacher and the subject matter. When the three are used correctly, the students in the class will become better learners when using technology correctly. However, it is important to know your content and how to use your style of pedagogy while being able to use the latest technology.

When TPACK is done correctly students become better 21st Century Learners. Research has shown that regardless of what a students plan is after completing high school, whether college or work, it is important they know 21st century skills. These skills include 21st century themes, learning and innovative skills, information and media skills, as well as life and career skills. Without these skills, a student can not be successful in a world where more and more technology is used everyday, so it is important for teachers and educators to incorporate both 21st century skills and TPACK into the classroom.

Using Computers Effectively in the Classroom Part I

In my textbook, Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom, Chapter 1 is about rethinking how to use computers the most effective way to help our students learn. The chapter goes into detail about how current technology, whether that is a computer or iPad or some other form of technology, is beneficially when used the correct way. Many teachers feel that displaying notes and assignments on a computer in the classroom is enough, however, that does not teach the student how to use the computer to increase their 21st Century Skills. Computers need to be used as an extra tool for the students to help enhance their learning. An example from Chapter 1 of incorrect use of a computer was when a biology teacher had his class playing an interactive computer game that did not allow the class to collaborate with each other or explore their own learning. There was also an example of correct use and that was when a teacher gave the class a problem to solve on their own using technology as tool for research and exploration of the topic. Allowing the class to have freedom to do their own research allowed the students to learn how to use a computer to do research and make a deeper connection to what they were learning.

Chapter 3 talks about the different digital tools that can be used in the classroom on a regular basis.  These four tools are computers, mobile devices, peripherals, and data storage devices. Computers are well, computers. They are either a tower and monitor or laptops and the two most popular are PCs and Macs. Mobile devices are much more than cell phones. Other mobile devices include mp3 players/recorders, e-books, cameras, GPS, calculators, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), and personal response systems (PRS). All of these devices are common in today's world. However, I feel that PDAs for the most part have been replaced with the tablet because they have larger and colored screens and are also used the same as PDAs. A PRS is like a polling tool or known as a clicker that is used very commonly in many college classrooms. While mobile devices are important to use individually or in small groups, peripherals are important attachments to computers. Some peripherals are microphones, headphones and speakers, smartboards or interactive white boards, printers, projectors, scanners, and web cams. Data storage devices are external hard drives, flash drives, and storage cards. 

A classroom that uses computers, peripherals, storage devices, and mobile devices in an effective way are more successful than classrooms that do not use them at all. Today students are so used to these types of technology and they are able to make deeper connections to their learning when these familiar tools are used.