ISTE Standards & My Connections

The ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education. There are a set of standards for both teachers and students. For Teachers: Effective teachers model and apply these standards to their students in hopes of engaging students and improving their learning skills. Here are some text-to-text, text-to-self and text-to-world connections and how I believe being a digital learning teacher is doing just that...

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity- The web tools introduced throughout my blog were a few of many examples of tools teachers could familiarize themselves with and introduce to their classrooms. These tools inspire their young minds to learn and exercise their imaginative and creative skills. Tools such as bitstrips for schools is a great demonstration as the entire classroom is represented digitally; first hand representation of teachers modeling lessons to students as both teachers and students experience the tool together. Students are able to build on their prior knowledge as well; generating new ideas while incorporating original works as a means of personal expression.
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments- Teachers incorporate a tool such as cacoo to encourage the use of concept maps. Students exercise their teamwork skills as well as brainstorming skills as they bounce ideas off of one another and are visually able to see their ideas come together as one. Later being able to present their findings to the class. These digital tools increase the learning skills of the entire classroom!
3. Model digital age work and learning- Using tools such as google docs allows teachers to not only exhibit their knowledge and skills but to work on processes and share great ideas within the digital world. They can share ideas and work together with other teachers within the school itself or even across the world. That's the magic of the internet! Students observe such behavior and adapt to groupwork and teamwork more easily. They interact, collaborate, communicate information and develop a united, cultural understanding of concepts and ideas.
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility- This point is crucial. Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior to their students. Teachers ensure that not only do they model great behavior to their students but to also be familiar with the privacy and safety features of all web tools. Teachers familiarize themselves with each web tool beforehand, making sure it is a safe and reliable tool for each student. They use tools that respect privacy and encourage digital representations rather than the use of real, personal information. Tools such as voki, bitstrips, and much more.
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership-Teachers begin introducing technological practices and digital tools and software within their classrooms to encourage students to learn and adapt to the fast-paced world around them. Technology has become such an important part of the daily lives of many and by teaching students about the safe and effective use at young ages, teachers are successfully preparing their classes for the real world; for issues such as troubleshooting systems, use of applications and understanding technological systems. Students reciprocate that same positive attitude towards being a digital learner and practice safe, responsible use of information and technology!

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