ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is the leader in supporting “the use of information technology to aid in learning, teaching of K-12 students and teachers.” This not-for-profit organization has created standards for students and instructors regarding the use of technology. These ISTE Standards are the standards for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age and are widely recognized and adopted worldwide.
The goal of these standards include:
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Improving higher-order thinking skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity
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Preparing students for their future in a competitive global job market
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Designing student-centered, project-based and online learning environments
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Inspiring digital age professional models for working, collaborating and decision making
While they were created for K-12 the principles and goals should also be embraced by those of us in higher education. Many of them are excellent goals to have even without the technology component.
Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and use information.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
students use critical thinking still to plan and conduct research, manage projects, sofve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources
Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behaviour.
Pay attention to these standards next time you are creating an assignment or an activity for your students. Conduct an informal self-evaluation to see if you are encouraging these behaviors amongst your students and modeling best practices as the instructor.
