ISTE Standards

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has developed a group of standards to be used in the field of education for helping students to learn and develop the necessary skills for learning, working, and surviving in the modern digital age.  These standards, known as the National Education Technology Standards (NETS), have been developed for use by students, teachers, and administrators, to systematically guide the use of technology in schools. 

            Educators have always had the responsibility for preparing students to develop the necessary skills to become productive members of society, yet now that task has become more complex with the rapid development of technology.  All stakeholders in the field of education need to adapt to this rapidly changing world, as well as prepare students to continue to adapt.  The NETS provide a comprehensive set of guidelines and benchmarks for helping to ensure that students will be prepared for the challenges of the future.

            In each of the different sets of standards, a variety of key components are addressed, such as analytical skills, communication, and digital citizenship.  While the purpose of the standards is to continue to advance the skills of students, the standards very specifically address the need for teachers and administrators to be fully competent integrating technology into the learning environment.  It is essential for teachers to adapt to and implement these standards in their curriculum, regardless of their comfort level with the technology.  This may be difficult for some teachers, in particular those who did not have to depend on or use such technology when they were in school.  Many teachers do not have the comfort level or confidence with technology to be able to fully implement these standards without a considerable amount of support. 

            Administrators, likewise, have the responsibility to create and promote the use of technology in the learning environment, including allocating resources for technological equipment and providing professional development for teachers.  This begins with the development of a shared vision, promoted throughout the learning community and shared by all stakeholders.  Just as the teachers need to be fully prepared to empower students to reach their fullest potential with the use of technology, administrators will need to do the same for teachers. 

            While the development of these standards clearly will help to drive the learning and develop very necessary and critical skills of the students of the 21^st century, I feel there are several questions about the realistic implementation and practical applications of these standards.  For example, what supports and resources are in place to help assist all schools in reaching the goals of the NETS?  What types of training are available for teachers to not only become competent in meeting the teaching standards but also to fully assist students in meeting the standards?  Is there any process of evaluation to determine if enough efforts are being made to reach the standards in schools, and if not what is the accountability?

While the NETS provide some excellent guidelines for moving the field of education in the right direction for the future, there are still many obstacles to overcome for all students to be able to reach these goals, particularly in lesser funded urban areas.