ISTE Standards for Students

Unpacking The ISTE Standards for Students (2016)

As the new standards are rolled out this year, I will take a moment to unpack each one and make some suggestions of how schools might consider giving students learning opportunities related to the standards.

1. Empowered Learners - The essence of this standard is that student use technologies to grow in their knowledge and skills.  It is at the core of instruction and the main reason we should have technology as a part of our educational process.  The best way to have students demonstrate this is by giving them frequent opportunity to engage in the learning with technology.  One key item is to give students choices in how to present their knowledge or skill.  For example, a teacher assigns a presentation activity.  A discussion could be had what technology might be appropriate for such a task, but leaves the final choice to the students to decide individually what to use.  In lower grades it could be simply the integration a variety of tools in learning to help students see the uses of different technology tools.

2. Digital Citizen - This is likely the most discussed area around the nation in the area of technology.  Students need to learn appropriate use of technology in a world that is so vastly interconnected.  I think most school would recommend or have done seminars or assemblies on this issue.  Most schools have policies that are articulated to students at the beginning of each year.  I believe this is a good first step and is critical in continued effort to get the message out.  Other ideas to promote this concept is to do follow-up communications with student throughout the year.  Processes like mass emails and homeroom activities are great ways to remind students about ethical issue.  Additionally, I think parent education is important.  Many school have added technology news to their newsletters and communications with parents.  I also know many student are given a survey in our area from Bright Bytes which helps schools determine student level of literacy for technology.  The local high school designed an online course for all freshman to take regarding this topic.   It engages parents in the discussion and provides a strong backbone of expectations for students.

3. Knowledge Constructor - Technology should be used for its awesome power to shrink the world.  It provides access to so much information.  Student need to learn to take the vast information and apply it to their own learning.  Teachers should be supplying student with multiple resources and having them summarize the learning.  A great place for  this would be on a debated issue.  Have student gather information from opposing viewpoints to create their own perspective.  This can be done a varied levels depending on student age.  Younger students, obviously, need more parameters.  Also using tools like Google Docs would help students take information from a variety of sources in one spot.  There is also a citing feature on Docs which makes crediting sources much easier.

4. Innovative Designer - This standard is closely related to the idea of Rigor and Relevance.  The ideas is that technology can be used to solve authentic problems.  The key here is that educators provide some open-ended activities.  I think one of the great example of this is the Lego and robotics leagues that have grown over the last decade.  Student are asked to problem solve real issues that our world is facing along with the design and construction of robotic tools to accomplish tasks.  Many STEM units also work on the similar principals.  PLTW in Iowa has promoted this learning with their programs.  I also think this is where coding instruction can be used.  Schools should consider how students are learning at least the basics of coding, perhaps through a computer class or exploratory.

5. Computational Thinker - The element most noteworthy in this standard is the use of technology to simplify work that can be tedious.  Excel or other spreadsheet applications are great examples of tools students should be learning to use.  Teachers can use these programs to have student test formulas or develop graphs that demonstrate information quickly.  They can also evaluate data points or reports that change with new information utilizing technology.

6. Creative Communicator - At the center of this standard is authentic student work.  Student need to develop and create original work using technology.  Educators should give students opportunities to express themselves as they demonstrate mastery of learning.  Video blogs, website design, iMovies and 3D printings are just a few mediums that could be used to allow students to creatively express their knowledge and skills on objectives.

7. Global Collaborator - How students work with others can be greatly enhance with digital tools.  There are many great opportunities for students.  Consider using Google Doc to share notes from class or write a group project.  Another great option is connecting with on an author via a video conference.  A Spanish teacher I know connected with a Spanish teacher in Brazil where the native language is Portuguese.  They had students video chat in Spanish as it was the only shared language  Even the idea of teaching student the basics of email etiquette and and texting skills can help promote communication with technology.

There you have a little bit about the standards and some examples to consider.  Do you have other ideas?  Please share and don't forget to visit the ISTE website for more resources.