Reflection on NETS - Teachers

This is indeed a very comprehensive set of technological standards for teachers. I do think that they are reasonable and worthwhile (if somewhat heavy-handed and repetitive), and that they do apply to all teachers at all levels. They are workable in everyday practice if we recognize that there is a broad spectrum of methods and applications represented here, and that some teachers will touch on just a few, or even one at a time, as they move through their daily school lives. In other words, it would not be possible for all teachers to meet all standards all the time. But the list is helpful exactly because it defines so many ways to hit technological best-practices. There would seem to be something for everyone.

It's important to recognize that as a society we are still in a very awkward phase of transitioning into the high-tech "total digitalization" of information and communication. At this moment we have teachers who were in the classroom for decades before computers became ubiquitous, alongside those whose first steps were instantly recorded on digital cameras, uploaded onto their parents sleek laptops, and electronically broadcast to friends and family across the globe. Even more insidiously, the "digital divide" is just one more "same as it ever was" factor, which most often further privileges the already privileged, and further disempowers the disadvantaged. It will take vigilance to move through such a transition in a graceful and positive way. I wince when I hear new, young teachers refer to their colleagues as "dinosaurs", and I am shocked at the "zero-tolerance" attitude of many teachers towards the struggles of students who lack computers in their homes - these students, likely to be experiencing multiple hardships related to poverty, are expected to meet the same hard deadlines as their classmates, with a fraction of the access to the necessary tools.

On that note, I think that my own best way in to this list (and best chance of composing the equivalent of two pages of reasonable commentary on the subject...) is to make a sort of "translation" list - ways that I can really meet these standards, sooner than later.

1) Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity -
*offer digital options for completing assignments and demonstrating learning, such as powerpoint or youtube presentations
*create digital spaces for teaching/learning collaboratively, such as class blogs or FB pages
*assign, encourage and guide online research with a broad variety of purposes

2) Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership -
*OK, I'm jumping in head-first right now, aren't I? Three days ago I was a sworn FB-hater, now I'm in danger of becoming a junkie. Even got my own Blog. Feel sorry for those of you forced to read it, but at least I'm getting a clue. I will not turn back! I totally get the relevance to education.

3) Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments -
*God, this is repetitive - didn't we just do this one, only called it "#1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity"?

4) Model Digital-Age Work and Learning -
*As I said, I am diligently working on it.
*create a web page for each class with relevant links to content for both students and parents
*address the issues of "digital divide" and equitable access directly and aggressively in the classroom - develop and establish a protocol for digital expectations and requirements that acknowledges unequal access
*explicitly teach online issues, best practices, etiquette, responsibilities, and repercussions in the classroom