The Association for Educational Communications and Technology defines educational technology as the "study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources". A teachers main job is to prepare students for the real world. In the 21st century, the students will most definitely be required to be technologically literate in their future endeavors. Therefore, a teacher should be able to instruct them in that field and familiarize them with it. In the same way, students want to be prepared for their futures, personally and professionally, and that requires being comfortable with technology.
The ISTE has set up standards not only for teachers and what they should know about instructing technology but also what students should know as learners in the world of technology. I think it is a very helpful resource and a good baseline that we should all strive for. It has had a major effect on society since most states include and look to the ISTE standards as an example when making their own state standards for education. I think the "learner" standard for educators is very important to me because technology is something that is constantly changing and being able to adapt is very important; especially when they are supposed to educate others. The standard for educators that is most foreign to me is the "designer" standard. I do not see myself as a technology expert so I would find difficulty in creating "authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability".
A digital native is someone that grew up with technology while a digital immigrant is someone who did not grow up around technology but has to learn it and adapt. As a digital native, I can see a difference between myself and my digital immigrant teachers. They often ask the students for help when they can not figure something out about whatever device they are trying to implement in the classroom. Students become frustrated when the instructor doesn't even make the instructional YouTube video full screen so that everyone can see. Small things like this make up the differences between digital natives and digital immigrants and they often need our help to point them in the right direction. I think by the time that I am a teacher the differences between students and teachers will be less than they are now because I am a digital native as well. I'm sure there will still be gaps because technology is always changing and there will be things that my students will teach me about technology too.
The ISTE has set up standards not only for teachers and what they should know about instructing technology but also what students should know as learners in the world of technology. I think it is a very helpful resource and a good baseline that we should all strive for. It has had a major effect on society since most states include and look to the ISTE standards as an example when making their own state standards for education. I think the "learner" standard for educators is very important to me because technology is something that is constantly changing and being able to adapt is very important; especially when they are supposed to educate others. The standard for educators that is most foreign to me is the "designer" standard. I do not see myself as a technology expert so I would find difficulty in creating "authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability".
A digital native is someone that grew up with technology while a digital immigrant is someone who did not grow up around technology but has to learn it and adapt. As a digital native, I can see a difference between myself and my digital immigrant teachers. They often ask the students for help when they can not figure something out about whatever device they are trying to implement in the classroom. Students become frustrated when the instructor doesn't even make the instructional YouTube video full screen so that everyone can see. Small things like this make up the differences between digital natives and digital immigrants and they often need our help to point them in the right direction. I think by the time that I am a teacher the differences between students and teachers will be less than they are now because I am a digital native as well. I'm sure there will still be gaps because technology is always changing and there will be things that my students will teach me about technology too.
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