ITSE Response

“Children and young people are growing up in a vastly changing context. No aspect of their lives is untouched by the digital era which is transforming how they live, relate and learn” (Craft, A., 2012). Technology “has forever changed not only what we need to learn, but the way we learn” (http://www.iste.org/standards). Technology has been redefining education.

Learning has a different successful receipt for each one of our students. Learning in the school environment requires students to pay attention, to notice, to remember, to apprehend, to set goals and to accept responsibility for their own learning. These activities are not possible without the dynamic involvement and commitment of the learner. Teachers must help students to become active and goal-oriented by building on their usual desire to explore, to understand new things and to master them. Technology is helping teachers to expend beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways.

Student motivation, wide participation, improved student writing, content made easier to learn, and differentiated instructions are some of the benefits when teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. As more teachers integrate technologies into the learning/teaching process, programs are evolving to turn teachers/students educational technology experts. 

The questions out there are: what is the bad side on using technology in classrooms? How to use it? Which ones should be used? Which ones are the best ones? What are the rules, when using technology in school? Is there anything we should learn before starting to use a new technology?

The International Society for Technological Education (ISTE) “is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in improving learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. ISTE represents more than 100,000 education leaders and emerging leaders throughout the world and informs its members regarding educational issues of national and global scope” (http://www.iste.org/about-iste).

As a non-profit organization this web based resource has helped educators to understand the new technologies that can be used to improved the learning experience of their students. Not only that, but also keep teachers informed of how to use, when to use, what to use for, what are the regulations when using technology, the best way of using each tool, and so much more. 

Finally, it is crucial for each teacher to get engaged in this process of change. More importantly it is great that educators can count with a reliable resource such as ITSE, with so many great materials, to help us to understand and become proficient in the best way of using technology in our classrooms.