Sunday, September 6, 2009
Comparing the new and old NETS-T standards, in just eight years, one can see how the times and technology have changed. Thinking back to 2000, I was in seventh grade and computers were still a new technology found in schools and digital cameras and cell phones were as readily available to the general public as they are now. With all the new technology that has emerged in just eight years, teachers have to now constantly keep updated on how to use them in the classroom and encourage children to explore a variety of technologies as seen throughout the 2008 standards. Although the standards NETS has supplied sounds appealing, I wonder if teachers even know these exist and if so, do they know how to implement them in their own classroom? Just as important, I wonder if students know that they have their own responsibilities as well when it comes to learning about and using technology; I agree with a fellow classmate, who said in small group discussion last week, that we should be teaching the dos and donts of technology in the younger grades, rather than waiting until student's are older and have formed their own 'way' of doing things. To conclude, the NETS, whether old or new are helpful to teachers and students and one must question how soon will they have to update the NETS to reflect new changes to technology?
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I definitely think that we should be teaching the do's and don'ts to children while they are young so that they form good and healthy habits. It seems that the NETS will need to be updated every few years to keep up with the changes in technology. Who would have ever guessed in 2000 that just about every student would be carrying their own cell phone around. Most of these cell phones also have text messaging as well as internet access right at their fingertips constantly. Teachers not only have the responsibility to teach technology, but to create rules and ways to control it in the classroom so that fair and honest learning is taking place, and so that the technology does not become a barrier to the learning process.
ReplyDeleteYes it is important for teachers to set the standards, but my concern as a future teacher, is that shouldn't parents also be responsible for teaching children technology rules and etiquette? Sometimes it feels that teachers are required to do SO much, that you have to wonder what the role of the parents consists of in today's society?
ReplyDeleteI am ambivalent about how much access to the Internet children should have. My 10-year old grand daughter is saving for and IPod Touch and I don't know if I would let her buy one and have access to texting and the Internet at any time. Teaching responsible use makes sense; and giving structured ways to explore the Internet makes sense.
ReplyDeleteISTE,the originators of the NETS-T, talk about the conditions under which teachers can fully apply the NETS-T. A school and district environment that supports technology infused instruction is necessay.
I agree with you Lee, one of the hardest part about all of this technology is how much exposure should children have and at what age is it appropriate for them to have access to certain tools. Also, how to we determine if a child is mature enough to navigate the internet? It's such a useful source that I would not want to deny my students the option, however, children are still learning the rules about the world they live in, and adding the cyberworld too early could be dangerous or inappropriate.
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