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It’s a High-Tech World Out There: Will Students Be Ready?
In today’s world nearly everyone is using computers and other high-tech devices in their work, schooling, and daily life. From the most simple and mundane errands and activities—paying bills, shopping for coffee, talking to friends, and catching the news—to the most complex and demanding projects and endeavors—producing a multi-faceted / multimedia business presentation, designing an addition to your home, or examining a patient and preparing for invasive surgery—computers have changed the ways in which we live, work, communicate, and approach tasks.
In order to make sure that students receive the tech-related education they need and are thereby better-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adult life in a high-tech society, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has developed a number of standards to guide teachers as they develop appropriate technology-based/-enhanced objectives, lessons, and assessments for the classroom. ISTE has also developed student standards by which educators (and students themselves) may measure a student’s level of technological savvy and skill.
The core concepts stressed by the ISTE may be summarized as follows: Students need to be familiar with and make use of the many facets of modern technology—at work, in their continuing education, and at home—in ways that benefit their own lives and contribute to society, and they need to recognize the inherent advantages and dangers of technology use and be able and willing to use technology responsibly. Teachers are expected to integrate technology use into their curriculum in a holistic and organic manner and to model appropriate skills and use of available technological resources.
Of particular concern—beyond simply making sure that all students have access to technology, and even beyond them all being skilled in technology use—is the issue of appropriate use: legal, ethical, safe, healthy, and wise use of modern technologies—especially with regard to internet use. That’s why ISTE has created teacher standard number six, which seeks to guide teachers as they address these pertinent concerns. Standard number six lays out some basic and crucial areas of emphasis: legality, application & diversity, safety, and equity. Within each area are, of course, numerous possible topics.
This website will cover in particular the issues of diversity, online safety, and equity. Under each heading you will find more detailed information and a number of live online links from which to begin your own further exploration of the topic(s). My general goal in making this site is to highlight some of the tech-related issues and concerns especially relevant to my own students—primarily poor, semi-rural, African-Americans. If you teach students from this or a similar population group, and/or if you are a Black parent or student, I hope and believe that you will find the information provided particularly useful.
VI. SOCIAL, ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND HUMAN ISSUES.
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