In 1998, the International Society for Technology in Education established the first set of National Education Technology Standards(NETS) in an attempt to define the new literacies and skills needed for students and teachers. In the original set of standards, the skills revolved more around the mastery of technology tools. It was more about the hardware and how to use the software.

The new generation of NETS focuses less on technology. They’re not about punching buttons, they’re about pushing minds. The new NETS are about enhancing students’ creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and communication.

Are our students ready for the new NETS? For the most part, our students have never known a world without computers, the internet, video games, and cellular phones. Educators often talk about student expectations on the use of technology in their learning environments. However, few efforts have been made to directly engage students in a dialogue about how they would like to see teachers and their schools use technology to help students learn more effectively. Findings from Project Tomorrow’s 2006 National Speak-Up survey revealed some important information on what students want from technology. The key findings were:

  • Communications is still #1 to students (cell phone, IM, text messaging)
  • Student possess a online connected-ness creating new definition of “friends”
  • Online safety & privacy are not top student concerns
  • Students say: “Make science & math relevant to me!”
  • Our youngest learners are very tech sophisticated (even at the preschool level)
  • Students feel a continued disconnect between them & adults (will that ever change? :) )

Do your students know about the new NETS? How do they feel about them? This past summer our school held a student focus group.  Students participated in a discussion on how they use technology at school and home. We also discussed what ways we could help them be more productive and engaged in the classroom. It was interesting to hear their perspectives and see the commonalities from the national survey. Our students are “hungry” for creativity and the opportunity to share what they know with others.

To read more about the new NETS  for students go to: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/For_Students/NETS_S.htm

Also, to read more about the different types of learning activities in which students might engage as the new NETS are implemented, check out: http://www.iste.org/inhouse/nets/cnets/students/pdf/NETS-S_Student_Profiles.pdf

Questions to consider:

Are you prepared as an educator to participate in the new NET*S?

Do you have ideas on how to enrich current projects with the new NET*S standards?

Video description:  Since most of today’s students can appropriately be labeled as “Digital Learners”. This video was created in an effort to motivate teachers to more effectively use technology in their teaching.