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THE PRACTICE: Standards
All technology-enhanced activities should be deliberately and consciously aligned with local, state, and national standards.
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Content Presented By:
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NEIRTEC, Northeast & Islands Regional Technology in Education Consortium
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What is it?
The practice of aligning teaching and learning activities with local, state, and national standards is not applicable to technology-supported activities alone. It is a necessary basic when planning any lesson or activity. A standards-based curriculum is always mindful of "why" a certain lesson or activity is being presented, and what learning outcome should be able to be observed or assessed. Sometimes, embracing only standards-based activities means having to eliminate "pet" activities or projects that are engaging, but do not directly link back to a stated standard. We hear teachers comment, "We don't have time to add another thing to our curriculum." Usually, though, it merely means a thoughtful assessment of what am I teaching and why, and in answering the "why" with a list of standards.
Questions to Think About
--How is a commitment to make technology an integral part of everyday instruction garnered across the school community? How can all stakeholders be drawn into this process (teachers, administrators, parents, students, central office, etc.)?
--How can a school logistically supply the support and training needed to encourage teachers to spend the time it takes to actively plan strategic lessons around technology tools?
--What mechanisms are in place within our organization that support ways to share effective uses of technology that advance standards-based learning?
--How are lessons and activities evaluated to determine if they effectively address stated standards?
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