ISTE NETS-S Standards
Information and Communications Technology Literacy Grade-Level Expectations (MO grades K-8)
Information and Communications Technology Literacy Course Expectations (MO grades 9-12)
We have now talked about what kids think they should know. Now we need to cover what the state and the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) say/mandate students should know. These standards are meant to be integrated in to all classes and NOT just taught in the computer classroom. These standards will be used in projects that you will be making in this class so please look them over. I know that these standards are meant for k-12 education and most of you work with higher ed. You should look at these as what you students should be able to do when you get them in college. Read all the stands below. Do they cover what they need to? Are they missing anything? Can schools really do this? Will these skills have them ready for the workforce or college? With the move to Common Core some of the state standards may change.
ISTE NETS-S Standards Information and Communications Technology Literacy Grade-Level Expectations (MO grades K-8) Information and Communications Technology Literacy Course Expectations (MO grades 9-12)
31 Comments
Katie Dietzman
9/16/2014 07:47:38 am
I looked through each of the standards set for 7th grade students. After reviewing what these students should know I was rather surprised. In Section C: Reliability it stated that students should be able to evaluate the copyright date, evaluate bias with assistance, and analyzing view points. I thought this standard was extremely high for a 7th grade student. After working with this age group of students I see them struggle with identifying reliable sources in general. Its hard for me to imagine 7th grade students understanding copyright laws at this age. With that being said if these skills are continuously worked on throughout high school I do feel that students will be very well prepared for college and the workforce. While working with HiSet students at my previous job they switched the GED exam from paper to computerized. I found that my students were much more relaxed and comfortable taking the exams on a computer compared to the paper and pencil format. Several of the students expressed that they were glad they took computer classes while they were in high school because they could type faster than they could write, it was easier for them to navigate and stay on task, and it seem to flow easier than the paper exams. Me being the person I am thought it was all in their head because the questions were the same on both forms of testing. After the 8th student went and successfully passed the exam I was convinced that their comfort level with technology aided them through this.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/18/2014 01:23:15 am
These standards also stuck out to me as something that seems above a 7th grade level. Many students I went to college with even had a difficult time identifying reliable sources and citing them. I agree that this is something that should be worked on throughout a students' academic career, but not necessarily something that should be expected to be mastered at the 7th grade level. It is important for students to be expected to use technology (especially in the context of writing academic papers) in many of their classes so that they understand how important it will be in their future education as well as in the workplace.
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Keeyon Howard
9/18/2014 11:14:29 pm
I completely agree with you on these standards for 7th graders. To understand anything dealing with copyrights is completely out of bounds for 7th graders especially if its the first time they have ever experienced it. As professional artist for many years I have had to deal with copyright issues that I have had to get legal representation to completely understand. And I also agree that the knowledge and expertise could be obtained if this subject matter was taught and attained by the students. I coach 7th grade football and football is something fun but the players often lose focus and become a bit rebellious during practice and games so I know that this specific subject matter must be a bit much for those students. That point stuck out to me so I decided to comment on that. Great post Katie!!
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Becky Windsor
9/16/2014 03:37:49 pm
I read the information on what the ISTE mandates students should know and be able to accomplish in the classroom. I also read the information on DESE for the grade- level expectations for Communications Technology Literacy, especially those for 6th grade, which I teach. I feel most of these standards are valid and attainable for the students. The standards cover student creativity, communication, research, critical thinking, digital citizenship, and technology use which are all areas that students should be able perform in completing assignments and projects for school. Most of the standards I read on the DESE site for the grade-level expectations are standards that my 6th grade students have learned or are learning to accomplish such as identifying different sources for research, working collaboratively, sharing information, recording information, and more. Most of these standards are a work in progress for my students. I feel the standards for determining credibility of a source, explaining bias of a source, and determining the value of copyright date on materials would be difficult for students at this age level. These standards would be more suitable for students in high school, although lower grades need to be introduced to these concepts and begin working on them. I know as students progress through school and learn to use these standards they will become well prepared for college. These standards will develop skills needed to succeed in college and the work place. I think schools can help students to learn these standards. Schools will need to make sure teachers are prepared and have the resources they need to help students succeed with the standards.
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Kiefer Smith
9/21/2014 08:15:20 am
I do agree with you on that the standards do show that what the students are learning is also how the standards are following. Or are we following that standards? When I finally have some time to breath I am going to go over all of the standards for 7th and 8th grade science and map out what they need to know for the MAP test that will come around in April. I honestly do not want to do that because there may be other important topics that I wont reach but my school is looking to get their scores in or above 80%. We were close last year but not close enough. I do feel that if we continue to follow these standards then it will be a way for them to get ready for college because of the knowledge they will gain.
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Katie Damgar
9/17/2014 02:05:53 am
I read the on and Communications Technology Literacy Grade-Level Expectations article and focused on grade 5. While I was reading it I was trying to think back to my 5th grade year and what I learned as far as technology. I believe we did a little bit of research on the computer, but mostly books, and we may have made a power point presentation. It is interesting to think how technology has become so important in the education of students. In the fourth section of this article it says a 5th grade student should be able to recognize if a source is credible, identify if the information found supports previous information, explain bias within a source, and evaluate the copyright date. All of this seems pretty difficult for a 5th grade student. sometimes doing these things can be difficult for a high school student. Maybe I am just in the past where I didn't learn how to do this until high school maybe middle school. I think it is great that we are pushing students to become comfortable with technology at a young age.
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Becky Windsor
9/19/2014 02:50:55 am
Katie, I agree with you where having students in the lower grades having to identify a credible source and explain the bias of a source is a difficult task form those ages. I teach 6th grade an I know my students would have a hard time with those tasks. Things have changed a lot in technology just in the last few years. Younger students need to be taught how to use these technologies so they will be more prepared when they enter high school, college, and the work force. We just need to be sure these tasks are age appropriate!
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Tim Dickens
9/17/2014 05:02:47 am
The 6 ISTE standards generally I think are a good base for teachers to use. When I looked at the profile for Technology (ICT) Literate Students Grades 9-12 the things they listed that might cover the standards seem a bit lofty for the average student: for example the student would,"Design, develop and test a digital learning game to demonstrate knowledge and skills related to curriculum content." this would meet standard 1 and standard 4. I know very few students that could even attempt this. Overall i think they should be used as a guideline. I was unable to find 9-12 Information and communications Technology Literacy Course Expectations on the DESI website. I did speak to the teachers who teach these types of classes in our high school and was told that they as a team developed their own standards but they are not required to meet the ISTE standards in anyway. As far as what I teach, Geometry, I use the Common Core standards adopted by the state but these too are in the process of being re-evaluated. At this point there are no specific common core standards for technology that DESI has adopted. I do think that many of the students I have in High School today will be naturally capable of using technology because it has always been in their life. They no idea what it would be like to not have a smart phone or be able to navigate the internet. We do as teachers have the responsibility to teach how to use technology in a professional manner and be aware of the pitfalls.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/18/2014 01:19:52 am
I agree that technology is becoming an increasingly important part of students' lives. I know a four year old who learned how to work my smart phone before I did. Because kids are growing up with technology, they are better able to use it for personal use. However, there are things that they still must learn in school, especially if they plan to attend college after high school. Academic technology use should be implemented in as many classrooms as it would be relevant to because when the students reach college or get a job, they will be expected to use technology in an educated way.
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Terri Dodson
9/17/2014 11:00:37 am
I read these standards and think that they should be used as an attainable goal. Some of the standards are a bit over the top for some students to be able to accomplish. There are some who could definitely reach these standards but for the most part I believe that they are far reaching. I, too, could not find technology standards on the DESE website and I don't believe there are any as of yet. I incorporate as much technology into my classroom as I can but I also understand my limits as well as my students limits. I believe that technology is a must to function in the global society that we live in and that by incorporating it into the class room helps our students to adapt, function, and thrive in today's society.
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Katie Damgar
9/18/2014 02:19:41 pm
I agree Terri. I think it is a good idea to have these standards as goals that teachers should hope to attain. I also feel that a goal should be smart. I am not saying we lower our standards, but if these goals are unattainable they should not be our goal. If these children cannot accomplish the tasks given then they should be goals for them when they are ready.
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Brian Calhoun
9/21/2014 08:01:17 am
You are correct when you said technology is a must to function in the global society. I feel that they will also help them better function in school. Learning to properly use technology is like any other learned skill. It can be use like scaffolding to help students understand other subjects because they can use their knowledge of research methods and credible sources. The more they have think about whether the source is credible, the better understanding they will have about the subject.
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Kiefer Smith
9/21/2014 08:23:04 am
Yes they need to be attainable goals but you also need to think about who makes up these standards. It could be people who have never stepped foot into a classroom as a teacher. They may see how other countries are doing and feel like we are behind when we are. Mainly because we are stuffing so much information in their brain most of it oozing out of their ears. They forget so much of the information we teach them. It is also because of the amount of teachers who should not be in a classroom. I do also agree with you in saying that some of the students can reach these goals but in seeing how these students pay attention in class and how they work on their school work these goals cant be reached by most. As teachers we still need to teach our best to all of the students in hopes we can reach them with the information we have to share.
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Conner White
9/21/2014 11:48:10 am
I agree, some of these goals are a little too hard for students to reach. Incorporating technology into every lesson is a good start though. As for the DESE website I haven't found any either, but then again its hard to find anything on the DESE website.
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Kiefer Smith
9/17/2014 01:47:27 pm
I first read the ISTE standards. It was easy to see how all of these standards can fit to any class. The first couple of standards my students and I have no problem with this. I have to be creative in my lesson planning to keep the students on their toes in my science class and they need to be creative for some of the activities they do. There always is some communication in my class. Mostly from me giving instructions and then they will talk with each other during an activity to get it done as well as possible. I have done a couple of activities this year where my students had to talk with each other or they would not have completed my assignment. I will be honest in saying that we all are lacking on our abilities with the next four standards for ISTE. I do have a few students who fit the bill on these standards but as a whole we do not. It is something that I will continue to teach as I get some years under my belt and feel more comfortable with teaching.
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Tim Dickens
9/18/2014 05:04:10 am
I completely understand your feeling of being overwhelmed. Things are constantly changing and as a first year teacher I am sure you are going everywhere to get information. I can tell you using the standards to get up and running and to gauge your progress will help you in the long run. Hopefully you have a good mentor to help you through your first year. It does get better. If I can be of any help please feel free to ask.
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Rebecca Hartman
9/18/2014 01:28:27 am
Because my field in undergrad was one that dealt a lot with secondary research (Communication Studies), I know the importance of knowing how to use technology to find sources, cite them, and to identify which sources are credible or not. This is a skill that many students I went to college with struggled with as first year students because they lacked practice. The standards do include research and information fluency, but I believe that this is something that should be more involved in a students' high school education to prepare them for college. For students who are not going to college, it is still a skill that may assist them in their future career. While some of the standards I read seemed a little advanced for some of the grades, I believe they are skills that should be worked on at every grade level because technology is more important to our culture than ever before and will continue to be that way.
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Katie Damgar
9/18/2014 02:29:32 pm
I agree with you Rebecca. In my first year undergrad courses a lot of my fellow students struggled with finding credible sources, understanding why sources are credible, and citing sources. Asking a fifth grader to do the same is a little over the top. However, I do feel it is necessary to expose students to the internet at a younger age than in the past because if its increasing importance.
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Katie Dietzman
9/19/2014 02:46:07 am
I completely agree that teaching students to find credible sources at such a young age is difficult. I remember having freshmen in a few of my college classes that struggled with this. In my own post they expected 7th grade students to understand copyright laws. I'm not sure many adults even understand what that means. I am a full supporter of technology in the classroom simply for this reason. Teachers can educate students from day one what is a credible source and where to find them. By the time a 5th grade student reaches high school the expectations can be raised, as they should be. As a high school student graduates and enters post secondary education taking English courses would be much easier and could possibly reduce the number of students needing to enter basic remedial classes.
Becky Windsor
9/19/2014 02:55:44 am
Rebecca, good point on the skills that seem advanced for some grades should be worked on in every grade level. I teach 6th grade and the skills of citing a credible source and explaining the bias of a source wold be a hard task for my students to comprehend. Although the skills should be grade appropriate, more difficult skills can be introduced and worked on through each grade. By the time the students get to high school or college they will have a good grasp on the knowledge. New types of technology is being developed all of the time and for students to be successful in school and in future jobs, we have to keep up with the times!
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Brian Calhoun
9/21/2014 08:06:12 am
I remember some students getting their information from wikipedia for their papers or powerpoint presentations, and later the teacher had to ask where they did their research because much of it was false. In high school teachers give you the information you need for an assignment but once these students get to college they are lost. They have never had to learn effective research and study skills. That is why we need to teach these tools starting early in elementary school, just like math and reading.
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Conner White
9/21/2014 11:53:10 am
I completely agree with the idea of teaching research skills. I remember when writing my senior thesis I had to reteach myself the proper way of citing and quoting works. I never really had to do anything that required me to use these skills. I feel that if I was better prepared in high school I would of had a much easier time in college.
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Keeyon Howard
9/18/2014 11:07:20 pm
Since I am very intrigued with the culture of mentoring, coaching and personal development teachers of all kinds and as a mentor and coach myself, I decided to look at the ISTE Standards for tech coaches. Although these are standards for technology coaches, the same concepts apply to other forms of teaching professionals in every element of life. With the standards for technology coaching some of the sub-topics consisted of Visionary Leadership, Teaching and learning assessments and professional development which are all great and has many insightful elements. However, whenever standards and requirements of teaching and coaching are written, they are in some cases, better written than they are accomplished and upheld by coaches and professionals.
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Katie Dietzman
9/19/2014 02:40:16 am
I absolutely agree that professionals should continue to grow. As I was doing observations for one of my classes as an undergrad. I was involved in a conversation with a few teachers that refused to take a couple of college classes to increase technology in their classrooms. I personally believe that professionals are responsible for the knowledge that moves forward in their field. If they can keep their students updated on changes as they happen the students will adapt to new technology as it develops. You make an even stronger point when you discuss the need for advocacy in these roles. In smaller school districts the funds are just not there sometimes and if there are people out there demonstrating the need for these programs then changes can be made. I have coached junior high girls basketball and high school softball for several years and the impact you have on these kids as a mentor is extremely important. Thank you for posting this information on Visionary Leadership.
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Brian Calhoun
9/21/2014 07:55:09 am
I feel that the creation of grade level expectations covering student’s knowledge and use of technology is a great foundation for preparing children for the work force. They way we live our lives and do our work have changed dramatically of the past two decades, and will only continue to advance forward. This system will work on introducing students to the correct way to use, and manage technology. When I was doing my student teaching in Columbia last semester, elementary physical education, the GLE’s were a valuable tool when I was designing lesson plans. I was able to see the skill level expected of the class, and then work towards developing that skill. Using the ISTE standards and GLE’s can help teachers of any subject effectively create projects and presentations that challenge student’s prior knowledge of research and programs. These standards encourage students to use critical thinking when asking question about sources’ validity and relevancy. They also give students a chance to show their creativity and innovation through programs and presentations. If these standards were left out of our children’s education, I feel they would not be prepared for college or the work force. Education is not just having students memorize facts. We need to give them the hands on tools and knowledge that will keep them ahead of the curve, and today those tools are being technologically literate.
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Jess Brink
9/21/2014 08:29:04 am
I know that when I was in school - my favorite thing was to be able to show my creativity through technology. I loved using computers in class and it's really interesting to know now that there were standards that teachers followed in order to ensure that the items being discussed and used were appropriate!
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Jess Brink
9/21/2014 08:27:00 am
It was really interesting seeing the things that children are expected to do at certain grade levels. Since preschool wasn't on this list - I looked closely at kindergarten. I am finding it really hard to made a WebQuest for my grade level because I am unsure of what they should be able to do or research. These expectations help to understand what the should be able to do and what they should be learning. I also felt that the standards were helpful because it lead me in the right direction as well.
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Nicketa coombs
9/21/2014 01:34:02 pm
It blows my mind that preschool kids are getting educated and familiar with technology. I was not taught about computers or the internet until approximately age 12 and even then I still didn't know much. It says a lot about where the education system is headed.
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Conner White
9/21/2014 11:44:52 am
I feel that some of the standards are great ideas, but at the same time some are not obtainable by students. They are, however, a specific goal for students to aim for which is good, in my opinion. I also like how students are allowed to use their imagination and creativity with the wiggle room they are given.
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nicketa coombs
9/21/2014 01:31:35 pm
I totally agree with you, I think some of the standards are far fetched and possibly setting them up to fail since most won't meet them. I think it would be helpful to start with lower standards and build on them as time goes by so they can feel confident and not overwhelmed.
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Nicketa Coombs
9/21/2014 01:28:24 pm
I did some research on the standards for 5th and 7th graders and overall I think they're a bit far fetched but attainable. I don't think very many schools or teachers are living up to these standards but I think with monitoring and holding them responsible, over time the standards can be reached. My high school [grade 7-11] was not very 'technology friendly'. We had a small computer lab for over a thousand students and we were only allowed to use it during lunch break or after school at 30 minute increments so it's from one extreme to the next. I think it would be a great idea to start educating students from a very young age and raising the standards as they get older and change age groups.
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Class BlogThis blog is for class conversations for Ed 514 at Central Methodist University. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms. Archives
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