Profiles for Technology Literate Students

 

Performance Indicators

 

A major component of the NETS Project is the development of a general set of profiles describing technology-literate students at key developmental points in their pre-college education. These profiles reflect the underlying assumption that all students should have the opportunity to develop technology skills that support learning, personal productivity, decision making, and daily life. These profiles and associated standards provide a framework for preparing students to be lifelong learners who make informed decisions about the role of technology in their lives.

 

The Profiles for Technology Literate Students provide performance indicators describing the technology competence students should exhibit upon completion of the following grade ranges:

 

 

These profiles are indicators of achievement at certain stages in PreK-12 education. They assume that technology skills are developed by coordinated activities that support learning throughout a student's education. These skills are to be introduced, reinforced, and finally mastered, and thus, integrated into an individual's personal learning and social framework. They represent essential, realistic, and attainable goals for lifelong learning and a productive citizenry. The standards and performance indicators are based on input and feedback from educational technology experts as well as parents, teachers, and curriculum experts. In addition, they reflect information collected from professional literature and local, state, and national documents.

 

Grades PreK-2

 

All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances.

Prior to completion of Grade 2, students will:

 

  1. Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies. (1)

 

  1. Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities. (1, 3)

 

  1. Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology. (1)

 

  1. Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning. (1)

 

  1. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom. (2)

 

  1. Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology. (2)

 

  1. Practice responsible use of technology systems and software. (2)

 

  1. Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners. (3)

 

  1. Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras, drawing tools) for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories. (3, 4, 5, 6)

 

  1. Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications, with support from teachers, family members, or student partners. (4)

 

Numbers in parentheses following each performance indicator refer to the standards category to which the performance is linked. The categories are:

 

  1. Basic operations and concepts
  2. Social, ethical, and human issues
  3. Technology productivity tools
  4. Technology communications tools
  5. Technology research tools
  6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

 

 

Grades 3-5

 

All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances.

Prior to completion of Grade 5, students will:

 

  1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively. (1)

 

  1. Discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses provide. (1, 2)

 

  1. Discuss basic issues related to responsible use of technology and information and describe personal consequences of inappropriate use. (2)

 

  1. Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, remediate skill deficits, and facilitate learning throughout the curriculum. (3)

 

  1. Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

 

  1. Use telecommunications efficiently to access remote information, communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests. (4)

 

  1. Use telecommunications and online resources (e.g., e-mail, online discussions, Web environments) to participate in collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of developing solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4, 5)

 

  1. Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities. (5, 6)

 

  1. Determine which technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems. (5, 6)

 

  1. Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources. (6)

 

Numbers in parentheses following each performance indicator refer to the standards category to which the performance is linked. The categories are:

 

  1. Basic operations and concepts
  2. Social, ethical, and human issues
  3. Technology productivity tools
  4. Technology communications tools
  5. Technology research tools
  6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

 

 

 

GRADES 6-8

 

All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances.

Prior to completion of Grade 8, students will:

 

  1. Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur during everyday use. (1)

 

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society. (2)

 

  1. Exhibit legal and ethical behaviors when using information and technology, and discuss consequences of misuse. (2)

 

  1. Use content-specific tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research. (3, 5)

 

  1. Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum. (3, 6)

 

  1. Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4, 5, 6)

 

  1. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4, 5)

 

  1. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. (5, 6)

 

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, and connectivity, and of practical applications to learning and problem solving. (1, 6)

 

  1. Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems. (2, 5, 6)

 

 

Numbers in parentheses following each performance indicator refer to the standards category to which the performance is linked. The categories are:

 

  1. Basic operations and concepts
  2. Social, ethical, and human issues
  3. Technology productivity tools
  4. Technology communications tools
  5. Technology research tools
  6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

 

 

GRADES 9-12

 

All students should have opportunities to demonstrate the following performances.

Prior to completion of Grade 12, students will:

 

  1. Identify capabilities and limitations of contemporary and emerging technology resources and assess the potential of these systems and services to address personal, lifelong learning, and workplace needs. (2)

 

  1. Make informed choices among technology systems, resources, and services. (1, 2)

 

  1. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of widespread use and reliance on technology in the workplace and in society as a whole. (2)

 

  1. Demonstrate and advocate for legal and ethical behaviors among peers, family, and community regarding the use of technology and information. (2)

 

  1. Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating personal/professional information (e.g., finances, schedules, addresses, purchases, correspondence). (3, 4)

 

  1. Evaluate technology-based options, including distance and distributed education, for lifelong learning. (5)

 

  1. Routinely and efficiently use online information resources to meet needs for collaboration, research, publications, communications, and productivity. (4, 5, 6)

 

  1. Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem-solving, and decision-making in content learning. (4, 5)

 

  1. Investigate and apply expert systems, intelligent agents, and simulations in real-world situations. (3, 5, 6)

 

  1. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others to contribute to a content-related knowledge base by using technology to compile, synthesize, produce, and disseminate information, models, and other creative works. (4, 5, 6)

 

Numbers in parentheses following each performance indicator refer to the standards category to which the performance is linked. The categories are:

 

  1. Basic operations and concepts
  2. Social, ethical, and human issues
  3. Technology productivity tools
  4. Technology communications tools
  5. Technology research tools
  6. Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

 

 

 

 

 

Used with permission of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project (http://www.iste.org or http://cnets.iste.org)  Contact:  Lajeane Thomas, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3161, Ruston, LA 71272;   Voice: 318 257-3923  Email:  lthomas@latech.edu