NETS*T -- ed tech standards for teachers

The NETS*T are the technology standards for teachers to follow that are presented by the International Society for Technology in Education. These standards provide a framework for educators to follow in regards to implementing technology into the classroom effectively. Realistically, technology is all around us. As a society we are consistently recreating technology to make it more user-friendly and/or accessible. This can be utilized as a wonderful resource within the classroom. With that being said, technology can also distract from the learning. In order for our technology to be implemented properly, a set of guidelines or standards need to be used as a guide. These guidelines are referred to as the NETS*T.

 One of these standards is the following: 1C- Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity: Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. In order to implement this specific standard, a teacher needs to be comfortable using various collaborative tools such as Google Docs and Groups. Another effective way to collaborate with peers is through the use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and/or Blogs. In order to model this, a teacher would need to be comfortable walking students through these various programs. For example, in my Wellness I class, I have the students collaborating/reflecting on their nutrition goals using an online blog. This way, it eliminates us taking up time in class to complete the activity. The first time I asked the students to complete this activity. I walked them through how to access the blog and post a comment. Now that we are few weeks in, the students are able to complete the task on their own time. They may use their personal electronics or a home/school computer to post each wee