One of the first topics we looked at for our educational technology course was the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. The standards make up “a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments” (ISTE.org). The speed with which schools had to adapt to and integrate technology into the classrooms meant that mistakes were made along the way. The ISTE Standards are helping to bring schools into the digital age with a thoughtful and holistic approach.

As a soon-to-be educator I was most interested in the “Educators” section of the website. The goal of Educators is to help students become empowered learners through their use of technology. There are many standards listed in this section, under various subheadings, and I will highlight some here that I found most interesting.

  • Leader : “Advocate for equitable access to educational technology, digital content and learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all students.”
  • Citizen : “Create experiences for learners to make positive, socially responsible contributions and exhibit empathetic behavior online that build relationships and community”
  • Designer : “Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.”

Overall I was impressed with the ISTE website and the Standards themselves. A lot of thought was put into the included Standards. Links to the definition for words and phrases within the Standards help to make sure the intentions are clear. It is inspiring to see groups tackling issues in students lives in such a meaningful way. I can see this resource being very useful in my growth as a teacher.