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Student National Educational Technology Standards

To live, learn, and work successfully in an increasingly complex and information rich society, students must use technology effectively. Within a sound educational setting, technology can enable students to become:

• Capable information technology users
• Information seekers, analyzers, and evaluators
• Problem solvers and decision makers
• Creative and effective users of productivity tools
• Communicators, collaborators, publishers, and producers
• Informed, responsible, and contributing citizens

A combination of essential conditions are required to create learning environments conducive to powerful uses of technology, including:

• Vision with support and proactive leadership from the education system
• Educators skilled in the use of technology for learning
• Content standards and curriculum resources
• Student-centered approaches to learning
• Assessment of the effectiveness of technology for learning
• Access to contemporary technologies, software, and telecommunications networks
• Technical assistance for maintaining and using technology resources
• Community partners who provide expertise, support, and real-live interactions
• Ongoing financial support for sustained technology use
• Policies and standards supporting new learning environments

The most effective learning environments meld traditional approaches and new approaches to facilitate learning of relevant content while addressing individual needs. The resulting learning environments should prepare students to:

• Communicate using a variety of media and formats
• Access and exchange information in a variety of ways
• Compile, organize, analyze, and synthesize information
• Draw conclusions and make generalizations base on information gathered
• Use information and select appropriate tools to solve problems
• Know content and be able to locate additional information as needed
• Become self-directed learners
• Collaborate and operate in team efforts
• Interact with others in ethical and appropriate ways

Technology Foundation Standards for Students

1. Basic operations and concepts

• Students demonstrate a sound understanding of  the nature and operation of technology system.
• Students are proficient in the use of technology.

2. Social, ethical, and human issues

• Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.
• Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
• Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.

3. Technology productivity tools

• Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
• Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.

4. Technology communications tools

• Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
• Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

5. Technology research tools

• Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
• Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
• Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.

6.  Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

• Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.
• Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.

Prior to completion of Grade 2 students will:

• Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies.
• Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.
• Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology.
• Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom.
• Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology.
• Practice responsible use of technology systems and software.
• Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.
• Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras, drawing tools) for problem solving, communication and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.
• Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications, with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

Prior to completion of Grade 5 students will:

• Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively.
• Discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide.
• Discuss basic issues related to responsible use of technology and information and describe personal consequences of inappropriate use.
• Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum.
• Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information, communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests.
• Use telecommunications and online resources (e.g., e-mail, online discussions, Web environments ) to participate in collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of developing solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.
• Determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems.
• Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources.

Prior to completion of Grade 8 students will:

• Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur during everyday use.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society.
• Exhibit legal and ethical behaviors when using information and technology, and discuss consequences of misuse.
• Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g. environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.
• Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.
• Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.
• Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and connectivity, and of practical applications to learning and problem solving.
• Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems.

Prior to completion of Grade 12 students will:

• Identify capabilities and limitations of contemporary and emerging technology resources and assess the potential of these systems and services to address personal, lifelong learning, and workplace needs.
• Make informed choices among technology systems, resources, and services.
• Analyze advantages and disadvantages of widespread use and reliance on technology in the workplace and in society as a whole.
• Demonstrate and advocate for legal and ethical behaviors among peers, family and community regarding the use o technology and information.
• Use technology tools and resource for managing and communicating personal/professional information (e.g., finances, schedules, addresses, purchase, correspondence).
• Evaluate technology-based options, including distance and distributed education, for lifelong learning.
• Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publications, communications, and productivity.
• Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making in content learning.
• Investigate and apply expert systems, intelligent agents, and simulations in real-world situations.
• Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content-related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works.

Reprinted with permission from National Educational Technology Standards for Students (June 1998), published by the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE), NETS Project.