ISTE announced the new Standards for Teachers this morning.
Facilitate and Inspire student learning and creativity
Design and Develop digital-age learning experiences
Model Digital-Age Learning
Promote and model digital citizenship
Engage and professional growth
I am sure groups of loyal ISTE-ites spent hours arguing over the wording of these values.
One thing I noted in the NET-S for students that was a change was the focus on student use of technology in learning (compared to developing skill with the tools). Perhaps these standards for teachers might also be considered as actions teachers must take to engage students in learning with technology. One thing I noted was that evaluation/assessment did not get a separate heading. It is now linked as part of the design of learning experiences.
The standards have yet to appear on the web site (I attended a second session and the standards were displayed, but I still can’t find them on the ISTE site), but I am sure the basic statements and related comments will be available soon.
After the second session I attended on NETS-T, I have drawn a few additional impressions. Someone noted that assessment of teacher competency would have been easier with the original standards. Most focused on skills and knowledge more easily tested. Now, the skills are what might be described as “squishy”. Still, I like the direction.
One perspective more suited to my own environment might be to look at what happens in colleges of education. Take the descriptive term “model” and seek examples from the general education class. What tools and tasks are being used in these settings? What future teachers experienced as K-12 students would not be what we might want them to model because of the pace of change in our world. Would we want them to model the uses of technology they observed in their classes preparing them to function as teachers? At least this would be a concrete place to start.
One final comment I recorded that stuck with me: With all of the standards how do NETS fit within the priorities among priorities? (my interpretation and wording) NETS values processes that would often seem consistent, but when future teachers are familiarized with standards (say in portfolio projects they are to submit) are NETS included as well as the content area expectations?
I promise to add the NETS-T when I can locate a link.
Tags: necc08
