NETS-T Standards Review
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
The first standard discusses teacher knowledge and through technology and student learning both through real environments and virtual environments. The standard discusses teachers promoting and engaging students in exploring real issues and solving them using digital media as well as knowing how to promote reflection using creative processes.
As teachers it is our responsibility to help spark the fire for students to engage in learning, creativity and collaboration. We are also role models for our students and as such, we need to be aware that we influence how our students learn. As educators, we can inspire our students learning and creativity through many modes, whether through books or through digital media and technology. With our knowledge of teaching and learning, we can use technology to help our students learn through real-life experiences through contact and technological environments.
“Engagement isn't a focus on entertainment; it's about brain activity” (Scherer & Cator, 2011). As educators we must find ways to keep our students engaged and by using digital media that has started to become easier. With digital media and the ability to touch, maneuver and recreate, students are using their brains and collaborating with not only the teacher, but their peers and the content that they are presented with. If we can promote students to reflect using the tools we give to them, their creative processes will continue to develop.
Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
The second standard discusses the design and development of learning experiences using technology with the idea that teachers should design applicable learning experiences that use digital media in the classroom. The teachers should customize and personalize lessons to meet the needs of the students’ different learning styles.
With the generation we are now teaching, there are few students left who have never heard of, seen or used a computer, cell phone or surfed the internet. Even our youngsters in kindergarten at some point have probably played on a cell phone or played a game on the computer or internet. As teachers, we must realize that this is the generation of technology that we are teaching and we must meet their needs. To meet their needs we need to stretch our own knowledge of digital media and begin to develop and design classroom experiences where students are encouraged to use the technologies available to them. We can no longer ban these items out of the classroom; we need to figure out a way to use them so that our students can continue on in their learning acquisitions with them.
It is imperative that we provide students with a variety of technological learning tools such as how to use search engines, where to find information, how to collaborate with others and create presentations, how to make and publish videos and how to upload photos into a presentation. It is important that we as teachers help our students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue their future goals using technology. Through these different technologies, students can personalize their own learning experience. As an educator, I do believe it is vital that students feel ownership of their learning and a sense of pride. “With technology, it's easier to allow for student choice, for meeting interests, for ensuring that assignments are at an appropriate level, and for allowing prior experience and language to support learning” (Scherer & Cator, 2011).
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
This standard discusses teacher’s ability to show their knowledge and skill through the digital society. It talks about demonstrating fluency in different technological systems and collaborating with those involved in the schools to support student success. It also discusses how to teachers should be able to effectively use the technology to support student learning.
With the advances in technology that we have today, there is no excuse not to use it and to find ways to incorporate them into everyday learning and communication. Many students today go home to play on computers or their parents have cell phones that can access the internet. With paper information finding its way out of the school and e-mail finding its way in, we need to be aware of the needs and wants of our students and their families. Michael Roe, a high school principal in California now uses Facebook to communicate daily with over 5,000 parents, students, teachers and staff members. He uses his page to post announcements, pictures and links to interesting videos. Roe shared that “within the first month, we had over 200 [parents] members” on the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association Facebook page (Schachter, 2011).
I think it is important to teach our students how to use the technology systems that are available to them in the classroom by integrating them into our lesson plans, whether it be on how to properly search for information or how to differentiate between a viable source and one that are not.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
The fourth standard discusses teachers understanding societal issues on a local and global basis. It discusses that teachers should advocate and teach safe use of technology information and how to legally use documents as sources. Teachers should be models of digital etiquette and promote responsible social interactions using technology. The standard also discusses using tools to communicate with other students from around the globe to develop cultural understanding.
It is important that teachers model safe and ethical uses of digital information whether it is how to properly cite a source or how to look up information on a viable website. As teachers we must also model the safe ways to use different modes of technology. With the plethora of information and sources on the internet, it is necessary to teach the component of safety so that our students know what is and is not appropriate. We must also create lessons and opportunities for our students to use the different strategies we show them in our daily lessons and lectures. Students must be given the opportunity to try out their hand in digital etiquette and responsibility if we expect them to use these sources at school and home.
Through our technology use in the classroom, students will be able to develop understanding of different cultures from around the world. We can give our students these opportunities by providing a safe environment online where they can collaborate, communicate and discuss issues with students from around the world or even in their own country. It is important that students know about other cultures to enhance their own experiences. We can provide students with ample opportunities to use digital-age communication and collaboration tools to become aware of other ways of thinking through other cultures.
Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
The last standard discusses the need for teachers to continually improve the practice of learning as a lifelong skill by promoting and demonstrating the use of digital media. Teachers can participate locally and globally to learn about creative technology applications to improve how their students learn as well as demonstrate their leadership through participation in decision making and teaching skills to others. The standard discusses teachers contributing to the teaching profession and their school community.
As technology continues to rise and improve daily around us, we need to be comfortable in using the tools given to us. While we are aging with our generation of book, pencil and paper pushers, the generation we are teaching has grown up with technology in their crib. They are constantly aware of and surrounded by different forms of media from toys that use batteries to touch screen computers and hand-held technology on cell phones. We must continue to work together to learn the ways of the generation we are teaching to promote their safety and learning in an educational way.
We are not only role models as teachers; we are also students, still constantly striving to learn. As such, it is our responsibility to show our students and demonstrate that learning does not have a finish line, it is an on-going practice in search of knowledge that can help better the lives of those around us and in the future. As an educator, the responsibility falls on us to step outside of our classroom and find others to collaborate with and learn from and then bring back that knowledge and share it with those whom we work with. It is imperative as teachers to continually engage in professional growth and leadership so that our students are receiving the best education we can possibly give them.
References:
Schachter, R. (2011). The social media dilemma. District Administration, 27 - 33. Retrieved from http://www.DistrictAdministration.com
Scherer, M., & Cator, K. (2011). Transforming Education with Technology. Educational Leadership, 68(5), 17-21.
As teachers it is our responsibility to help spark the fire for students to engage in learning, creativity and collaboration. We are also role models for our students and as such, we need to be aware that we influence how our students learn. As educators, we can inspire our students learning and creativity through many modes, whether through books or through digital media and technology. With our knowledge of teaching and learning, we can use technology to help our students learn through real-life experiences through contact and technological environments.
“Engagement isn't a focus on entertainment; it's about brain activity” (Scherer & Cator, 2011). As educators we must find ways to keep our students engaged and by using digital media that has started to become easier. With digital media and the ability to touch, maneuver and recreate, students are using their brains and collaborating with not only the teacher, but their peers and the content that they are presented with. If we can promote students to reflect using the tools we give to them, their creative processes will continue to develop.
Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
The second standard discusses the design and development of learning experiences using technology with the idea that teachers should design applicable learning experiences that use digital media in the classroom. The teachers should customize and personalize lessons to meet the needs of the students’ different learning styles.
With the generation we are now teaching, there are few students left who have never heard of, seen or used a computer, cell phone or surfed the internet. Even our youngsters in kindergarten at some point have probably played on a cell phone or played a game on the computer or internet. As teachers, we must realize that this is the generation of technology that we are teaching and we must meet their needs. To meet their needs we need to stretch our own knowledge of digital media and begin to develop and design classroom experiences where students are encouraged to use the technologies available to them. We can no longer ban these items out of the classroom; we need to figure out a way to use them so that our students can continue on in their learning acquisitions with them.
It is imperative that we provide students with a variety of technological learning tools such as how to use search engines, where to find information, how to collaborate with others and create presentations, how to make and publish videos and how to upload photos into a presentation. It is important that we as teachers help our students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue their future goals using technology. Through these different technologies, students can personalize their own learning experience. As an educator, I do believe it is vital that students feel ownership of their learning and a sense of pride. “With technology, it's easier to allow for student choice, for meeting interests, for ensuring that assignments are at an appropriate level, and for allowing prior experience and language to support learning” (Scherer & Cator, 2011).
Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
This standard discusses teacher’s ability to show their knowledge and skill through the digital society. It talks about demonstrating fluency in different technological systems and collaborating with those involved in the schools to support student success. It also discusses how to teachers should be able to effectively use the technology to support student learning.
With the advances in technology that we have today, there is no excuse not to use it and to find ways to incorporate them into everyday learning and communication. Many students today go home to play on computers or their parents have cell phones that can access the internet. With paper information finding its way out of the school and e-mail finding its way in, we need to be aware of the needs and wants of our students and their families. Michael Roe, a high school principal in California now uses Facebook to communicate daily with over 5,000 parents, students, teachers and staff members. He uses his page to post announcements, pictures and links to interesting videos. Roe shared that “within the first month, we had over 200 [parents] members” on the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association Facebook page (Schachter, 2011).
I think it is important to teach our students how to use the technology systems that are available to them in the classroom by integrating them into our lesson plans, whether it be on how to properly search for information or how to differentiate between a viable source and one that are not.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
The fourth standard discusses teachers understanding societal issues on a local and global basis. It discusses that teachers should advocate and teach safe use of technology information and how to legally use documents as sources. Teachers should be models of digital etiquette and promote responsible social interactions using technology. The standard also discusses using tools to communicate with other students from around the globe to develop cultural understanding.
It is important that teachers model safe and ethical uses of digital information whether it is how to properly cite a source or how to look up information on a viable website. As teachers we must also model the safe ways to use different modes of technology. With the plethora of information and sources on the internet, it is necessary to teach the component of safety so that our students know what is and is not appropriate. We must also create lessons and opportunities for our students to use the different strategies we show them in our daily lessons and lectures. Students must be given the opportunity to try out their hand in digital etiquette and responsibility if we expect them to use these sources at school and home.
Through our technology use in the classroom, students will be able to develop understanding of different cultures from around the world. We can give our students these opportunities by providing a safe environment online where they can collaborate, communicate and discuss issues with students from around the world or even in their own country. It is important that students know about other cultures to enhance their own experiences. We can provide students with ample opportunities to use digital-age communication and collaboration tools to become aware of other ways of thinking through other cultures.
Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
The last standard discusses the need for teachers to continually improve the practice of learning as a lifelong skill by promoting and demonstrating the use of digital media. Teachers can participate locally and globally to learn about creative technology applications to improve how their students learn as well as demonstrate their leadership through participation in decision making and teaching skills to others. The standard discusses teachers contributing to the teaching profession and their school community.
As technology continues to rise and improve daily around us, we need to be comfortable in using the tools given to us. While we are aging with our generation of book, pencil and paper pushers, the generation we are teaching has grown up with technology in their crib. They are constantly aware of and surrounded by different forms of media from toys that use batteries to touch screen computers and hand-held technology on cell phones. We must continue to work together to learn the ways of the generation we are teaching to promote their safety and learning in an educational way.
We are not only role models as teachers; we are also students, still constantly striving to learn. As such, it is our responsibility to show our students and demonstrate that learning does not have a finish line, it is an on-going practice in search of knowledge that can help better the lives of those around us and in the future. As an educator, the responsibility falls on us to step outside of our classroom and find others to collaborate with and learn from and then bring back that knowledge and share it with those whom we work with. It is imperative as teachers to continually engage in professional growth and leadership so that our students are receiving the best education we can possibly give them.
References:
Schachter, R. (2011). The social media dilemma. District Administration, 27 - 33. Retrieved from http://www.DistrictAdministration.com
Scherer, M., & Cator, K. (2011). Transforming Education with Technology. Educational Leadership, 68(5), 17-21.