NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS FOR ALL TEACHERS (NETS-T)


I. TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS.


Teachers demonstrate a sound understanding of technology operations and concepts. Teachers:


A. demonstrate introductory knowledge, skills, and understanding of concepts related to technology (as described in the ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Students).


B. demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.

I was able to show my cooperating teacher several ways to implement beginning technology skills into her lesson plans.  Some were as simple as showing a clip of penguins at the zoo from a live web feed.  We used the internet as a tool to plan our daily activities including instructions explaining how to use the things we had discovered.  


II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES.


Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:


A. design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.


B. apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.


C. identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.


D. plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.


E. plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.

Designing ideas and curriculum planning was the easy part.  The implementation was the harder part.  We spent many nights researching the internet to find things that went with our lessons, websites the children could use to enhance their learning.  The websites we found were interactive and wonderful learning tools.  


III. TEACHING, LEARNING, AND THE CURRICULUM.


Teachers implement curriculum plans, that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. Teachers:


A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.


B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. 

C. apply technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity.


D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.

The lessons that we taught were aligned with the first grade curriculum standards and benchmarks, along with the ISTE technology standards.  One of our semester long goals was to get student who had trouble putting pencil to paper to use the computer to achieve this.  The results were actually very positive.  I feel that we were able to facilitate technology enhanced experiences because we used technology several times a week to enhance lessons.  Children that were already higher learners were able to move quickly with little instruction, and then moved on to help the other children who were developing at their own paces.  


IV. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION


Teachers apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies. Teachers:


A. apply technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment techniques.


B. use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning.


C. apply multiple methods of evaluation to determine students' appropriate use of technology resources for learning, communication, and productivity.

We used technology to assess the children's learning about penguins and bears by creating a jeopardy game to play as a whole group through PowerPoint.  This was a wonderful assessment tool because the children were excited to play a game, yet the answers they gave showed what they had learned.  The children were able to learn how to research and collect information via the internet, I feel this was a valuable tool for them to gain at such a young age.  However, at such a young age they are closely monitored to prevent loss of time, and miss-interpretation of directions to assure the best results for productivity.  Jeopardy Assessment Game

V. PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE


Teachers use technology to enhance their productivity and professional practice. Teachers:


A. use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.


B. continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning.


C. apply technology to increase productivity.


D. use technology to communicate and collaborate with peers, parents, and the larger community in order to nurture student learning.

As a student taught in a world of technology I feel that I am already at this stage I have been encouraged all through college to use the internet as a collaborative tool to enhance my teaching and my own learning.  Because of this, I was able to show my cooperating teachers how to research lesson ideas on the internet, how to find and evaluate websites for the children to use.  My cooperating teacher already used the computer to publish student writing and to create a newsletter to communicate with parents.  


VI. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND HUMAN ISSUES


Teachers understand the social, ethical, legal, and human issues surrounding the use of technology in PK-12 schools and apply those principles in practice. Teachers:


A. model and teach legal and ethical practice related to technology use.


B. apply technology resources to enable and empower learners with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities.


C. identify and use technology resources that affirm diversity


D. promote safe and healthy use of technology resources.


E. facilitate equitable access to technology resources for all students.

The computers at our school are safeguarded with Watch Dog to prevent students from accidentally finding something they shouldn't have found.  Not all of these standards applied to our project, I always made sure the websites would be child user-friendly by playing on them at home before the children used them.  The projects that we did promoted several different aspects of technology allowing for some ethical explanation, but in most senses the children were too young to understand all the technological ethics.