Educational Technology Standards

Recently discovered on the International Society for Technology in Education, http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/Profiles/NETS_for_Students_2007_Profiles.htm, were the frameworks or suggestions of ways students should be introduced to the use of computer technology. The site lists six broad areas students will be able to perform based on developmental age. In addition to these domains, specific behaviors are then provide as examples of what the student should be able to do.

I’m currently a first grade teacher who has had little experience in the lab with her students exposing them to the standards. In one district, the first grade class had a computer prep time and attended classes once a week for 50 minutes. However, in the current district I work at students do not have a computer class nor do I have any in my classroom. The school provides the opportunity to use the library which houses a class set of laptops, but applications on the computers are limited. Also, it is difficult to download other applications without purchasing a site license, which is costly. Students and teachers are allowed to browse on the Internet. Interestingly, I found some sites the students were able to use as additional sources for learning, nevertheless, not all the experiences listed on iste.com were addressed.

Students this past year were able to create stories using keyboarding towards the end of the year when they were more comfortable with writing and sounding out words. Previous to that time, I modeled to students how to use the mouse, click and open Microsoft Word and get around the keyboard.

So, in total as I look at the recommendation offered, I was able to cover experience numbers 1, 7, 9, and 10. I would like to in the future spend more time having students explore the other areas of computer technology.

In addition to standards given for the student population are those for teachers. Again, I would like to spend more time in the future to provide the arena for students to create products using computer technology. In reference to professional growth, I haven’t been able to locate as much professional development in the computer technology area. Computer technology is NOT tested in California STAR exam given yearly. Additionally, I’m in a Program Improvement district, which typically spends more time giving workshops in literacy and math than in any other area. If I wanted to take any professional development classes, I’d have to pay for it personally.