ISTE Standard 5: Professional Growth

The 5th technology standard for educators asks us to continue to improve our skills, keep up-to-date on new information and be role models for other teachers and students by continuing to progress as new technology becomes available.
Each year in our district, we have an inservice day where we are required to sign up for "short courses" which will hopefully help improve our learning and teaching ability. Each year I strive to use this time more effectively and the last few years I have tried to really focus my attentions on learning more about the use of technology in the classroom. I think that the only limitations which may keep some teachers from acieving this standard is the support from their districts and schools. Not every district offers free courses on making a webpage for your classroom. Not every district will strive to bring in graduate level programs to help teachers keep up with advances in technology. I think that the ability of a teacher to reach this particular standard may depend greatly on the support they recieve from their administration and supervisors.

ISTE Standard 4: Citizenship

The fourth NETS standard is written in regard to the teacher's responsibility to model ethical behavior and equality in the classroom. In a society where identity theft and email scams are rampant, I feel it is very important to teach our students how to safely and ethically use the technology available to us. It begins with the teacher modeling appropriate behavior. This means giving credit to the website where you found that "awesome" PowerPoint already put together and ready to use in your classroom. In my Ap Biology class, I use many Word documents that have been borrowed from or adapted from other, more experienced teachers. While I try to always give credit to those sources and explain that the material is not my own, sometimes it is easy to forget that the "free" info I find on the web was the hard work and effort of another. It is our duty as teachers to provide our students with new ways of thinking about ethics and etiquette that they may not otherwise learn from their peers.
Another issue addressed in this standard is providing equal access to technology for all students and addressing different learning styles and needs. We should definite seek to enhance our student's knowledge but be aware that many of our students do not have internet access or even computer access at home. By allowing for some "in class" preparation and hands on time, we are encouraging and providing opportunities for students who otherwise do not have opportunity to learn new skills or get work done.

NETS Standard 3 for Teachers

Today we are to reflect on the third standard from the NETS for teachers. This standard is titled "Model Digital-Age Work and Learning". The basic idea is that teachers should exhibit knowledge and skills with computers and other digital tools which reflect the technological age in which we live. I feel that my skills and knowledge satisfy the majority of the sub standards listed here. This current school year I have transferred my skills for making PowerPoint presentations to making flipcharts in my new Activboard software. The software is, of course, different but using my previous knowledge I have been able to learn to navigate and create works in this system.
I have also taken a step closer to communicating digitally with students, parents and peers by taking an inservice class on publishing a webpage. Our district will hopefully have a webpage for each teacher to publish their classroom assignments, syllabus and contact information on in the near future.
Finally, I believe I model and facilitate the use of current technology with several in class and out of class projects my student's complete each year. In our genetics project, I provide the students with a list of reliable and useful websites which will provide quality research information. I also plan to teach my students how to take advantage of Discus, a reliable scientific journal search engine, available to all students in our media center.
The only part of standard 3 I feel inadequate at is the second part about collaborating with students, parents and the community in using technological tools. In our community, many students can not afford a computer or internet access and in a small city, there is very little available outside the classroom in terms of support.

Reflection #2 NETS Standard 2

This standard basically suggests that teachers implement technology into everyday lessons, allow students the opportunity to use the technology in meaningful ways, while still addressing the distinct needs of each learner and creating useful assessments to direct future learning.
Already in my classroom, we are using interactive lessons to enhance student learning on the Promethean Board. I try to incorporate lessons which allow students to show their creativity with group research and project assignments. The second part of this standard asks us to use technology to allow students to monitor their progress and set goals for themselves. It is hard to allow ALL students ample opportunity to achieve this when we are faced with testing deadlines and few resources.
I do believe that technology has dramatically enhanced my ability to address different learning styles in my lessons through the use of visual, auditory and kinesthetic aspects built into each lesson.