ISTE Standards: Essential Conditions
What are the ISTE Standards?
The ISTE Standards are standards that go beyond learning technology basics in the classroom. They describe what effective use of technology in education looks like for students, teachers, administrators and others.
ISTE’s Standards Links to an external site.
- ISTE is the International Society for Technology in Education.
- The ISTE Standards are the standards for learning, teaching, and leading in the digital age and are widely recognized and adopted worldwide.
- There are five sets of Standards; Students, Educators, Administrators, Technology Coaches, and Computer Science Educators.
- The first set of Student standards was released in 1998.
The ISTE Standards are a set of standards published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) for the purpose of leveraging the use of technology in K-12 education to enable students to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly digital society.
With technology teachers can teach outside of the classroom. It is very beneficial for students to learn quickly and easily. Students will be more motivated to learn. Using the internet will cut out the unwanted (extra) information provided in text books. Classrooms need to be updated. When society changes, teaching and learning needs to change. Using any type of technology, cameras, computers, etc., students can resort back to the saved images and such to remember things that they can never look at again. For example, a class goes on a field trip to study rocks, students take pictures of them so when they go back to the classrooms they can see exactly what each rock looks like instead of struggling to remember. Technology is beneficial to all of those hands on children. Students will be determined to learn as much as they can because it is a fun experience. Having engaged students will call for their success.
The Standards are all about developing these kinds of students, as well as teachers, and administrators.
The Standards project was initiated by ISTE’s Accreditation and Professional Standards Committee. It was funded by NASA in consultation with the U.S. Department of Education, the Millken Exchange on Education Technology and Apple Computer. The first set of standards, known as NETS, NETS for Students, was released in June 1998. In 2000, the ISTE revised its previously published standards for teachers, ISTE Technology Standards for All Teachers, and released it as NETS for Teachers. This new version subdivided the Application of Technology in Instruction category into the areas of planning, implementing, and assessing and added a category on the social, ethical, legal, and human issues related to technology use. In November 2001, NETS for Administrators was released. These three sets of standards were revised in latter years: 2007 - NETS for Students, 2008 – NETS for Teachers, 2009 – NETS for Administrators.
In 2012 the NETS for Technology Coaches and Computer Science Educators were introduced. In 2013 the NETS were renamed to the ISTE Standards.
ISTE has also listed essential conditions for these standards to be effective. The ISTE Essential Conditions are the 14 critical elements necessary to effectively leverage technology for learning. They offer educators and school leaders a research-backed framework to guide implementation of the ISTE Standards, tech planning and systemwide change.
Necessary conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning:
Shared Vision
Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision for educational technology among all education stakeholders, including teachers and support staff, school and district administrators, teacher educators, students, parents, and the community
Empowered Leaders
Stakeholders at every level empowered to be leaders in effecting change
Implementation Planning
A systemic plan aligned with a shared vision for school effectiveness and student learning through the infusion of information and communication technology (ICT) and digital learning resources
Consistent and Adequate Funding
Ongoing funding to support technology infrastructure, personnel, digital resources, and staff development
Equitable Access
Robust and reliable access to current and emerging technologies and digital resources, with connectivity for all students, teachers, staff, and school leaders
Skilled Personnel
Educators, support staff, and other leaders skilled in the selection and effective use of appropriate ICT resources
Ongoing Professional Learning
Technology-related professional learning plans and opportunities with dedicated time to practice and share ideas
Technical Support
Consistent and reliable assistance for maintaining, renewing, and using ICT and digital learning resources
Curriculum Framework
Content standards and related digital curriculum resources that are aligned with and support digital age learning and work
Student-Centered Learning
Planning, teaching, and assessment centered around the needs and abilities of students
Assessment and Evaluation
Continuous assessment of teaching, learning, and leadership, and evaluation of the use of ICT and digital resources
Engaged Communities
Partnerships and collaboration within communities to support and fund the use of ICT and digital learning resources
Support Policies
Policies, financial plans, accountability measures, and incentive structures to support the use of ICT and other digital resources for learning and in district school operations
Supportive External Context
Policies and initiatives at the national, regional, and local levels to support schools and teacher preparation programs in the effective implementation of technology for achieving curriculum and learning technology (ICT) standards.