NETS: NEWS to Me!

The National Educational Standards for Students,(NETS-S) provide an outline of six objectives that students must be able to perform effectively while interacting with technology in the classroom. Prior to Lit and Tech, I was familiar with other New York State and National Standards, however I was unaware that standards for technology even existed. Standard one is Creativity and Innovation. This states that students should be able to design creative projects using technology in order to express themselves. I believe that this standard is often times well implemented. Students in the 21st century are more familiar with technology than ever before. Giving them the opportunity to use computers and different technology for assignments encourages students to be creative and develop projects that represent who they are as individuals. The second standard is Communication and Collaboration. This standard says that children are expected to be able to use digital media to communicate and collaborate with others in order to expand their learning and the learning of their group members. Because of their familiarity with social networking sites, texting, and chat, many students would have a very good chance of successfully fulfilling the expectations of this standard. However, there is not always enough opportunities for students to work outside of the classroom using technology in order to collaborate with their peers. Some teachers (Digital Immigrants) remain wary of allowing their students to collaborate via the web or choose not to do so because some of their students continue to not have access to a computer or the internet in this tough economic time. I remember many fifth grade teachers during my student teaching experience stating that they would love to assign such projects, but they could not because some of their students' parents had decided to discontinue their internet in order to save money. Standard three is called Research and Information Fluency. With this standard, children are expected to be able to use digital tools in order to complete research assignments and find information. Students are given the chance to work with computers (either within their classrooms or the computer lab) in order to complete research. More and more teachers are also requiring their students to locate various facts on the web and incorporate them into research papers or projects. Standard four: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making, asks students to use technology in order to solve problems and make decisions . Although students may be able to locate information on the web, many continue to struggle with identifying problems or making decisions without the aid of their teacher. This is similar to distinguishing between main ideas and supporting details which many students (depending on their grade) have trouble with.

Standard Five is called Digital Citizenship. This standard states that students should be able to understand technological problems that other cultures and societies may have while using positive, ethical behavior while using technology. Many students have a very positive attitude about technology. They react well with assignments which require them to use computers and other digital outlets. Many news stories give proof that students are not always aware of safe and appropriate practices while using the web. I have also encountered problems in my own student teaching experience with fifth grade students creating Facebook pages targeted towards making fun of students in their class. Schools should provide their students with more information about appropriate and safe practices on the internet; students must be aware that what they post online can cause harm to themselves or others. Finally, the sixth standard is Technology Operations and Concepts. This standard states that students should have a strong understanding of technology and its functions. This standard is especially well implemented by many students in the 21st century. Their interactions both home and at school have provided them with a solid foundation and understanding of several different types of technology.

I believe that the classes I take in my graduate school career are helping me gain the knowledge that will help me to be able to successfully implement these standards in my classroom. As I learn new information every day, I feel increasingly more prepared to provide my students with the skills and knowledge they need in regards to technology. However, I am concerned with the high expectations that are set by these standards and I hope that I am able to fulfill them as successfully as many teachers do today. As Warlick states, "For the first time in history, our job as educators is to prepare our students for a future that we cannot clearly describe." This can seem a difficult feat for many who are learning to become educators in the 21st century. However, the best way to implement these standards is for teachers to constantly become educated about new technology and never believe that they can teach their lessons the same way year after year. Teachers can talk to their peers and search the web for new ideas and information. Doing this will only benefit their students!