Standards...there are ALWAYS Standards

No matter what we are doing these days there are always standards to look at.  You don't have to be a teacher to know there are things you could be doing at a certain standard.  But because I AM a teacher I will stick to the standards I know for teaching.  I was introduced to some standards that are new to me recently.  I would like to look at them and see what I can do to help my students.

These standards are called the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).  They have standards for students, teachers, administrators, coaches and computer science educators.  Since I just learned a lot about Digital Citizenship and made a PowToon presentation about your Digital Footprint, I am going to look at Promoting and Modeling Digital Citizenship and responsibility. (See my PowToon presentation on my About.Me  page.)


Standard for Teachers 4a states, "Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources" (ISTE)

In 4th grade it is so easy to go just copy someone else's work off the Internet. They don't get when you do something like that it's wrong and illegal.  So I always try to model obtaining information online.  I put my computer on the overhead and show them how to look something up, paraphrase it, quote it, and then site their source.  Just putting "Google" down for their source is a common misconception in 4th grade.  So I show them how to look for the author and site the correct web address.

Standard for Teachers 4b states, "Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources" (ISTE)

When I give students an opportunity to get on a computer, some of them excel when they otherwise would not have.  Technology is a wonderful way for children to showcase their knowledge is a different way.  When I have a student who is struggling with actually writing something on paper, I give them another way to do that.  Using Google Docs and having them type their writing can be helpful.  In math it's the same idea. There are a lot of web based math programs where you can see how well a student is doing. I like to use Front Row Math to supplement the lessons I teach in class.  This program gives them a way to use the online tools for math and to think about what I am teaching them in a different way, the online way.  Even though I don't think it's that much of a difference it can be a game changer when it comes to 4th graders understanding a concept.

Standard for Teachers 4c states, "Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information" (ISTE).

With this standard, I get to use the cool PowToon presentation I made on Digital Footprint.  The other awesome thing is that I get to share what my colleagues have done as well.  Ms. Disrude made a presentation on Netiquette. Mrs. Owen has made a presentation on Cyber-bullying.  From these presentations I get to share and promote digital etiquette.  I also get to show my kids my blog and show how I am sharing that with our community responsibly.  

Standard for Teachers 4d states, "Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools" (ISTE).

Recently we took a virtual field trip to Africa.  With the help of YouTube, my kids got to sit in on the conversations of the way life is like in Africa and how it has changed.  We then made pictures of elephants and I posted a picture of a few of them on Instagram.  We learned so much about another culture and had a deeper understanding of what life is like there.  I want to show my kids there is a whole world out there that they can discover.  Technology is the gateway to do that.  Many of my kids will not have the opportunity to actually go overseas, so having a way to communicate and see the world and experience it is valuable.

I love learning about new standards for teaching my kids.  It keeps me focused and on the right track.