4.  ISTE Standards Set a National Agenda for Technology in Education

In looking at the NET’s (National Educational Technology Standards) chart two things were apparent to me.  The obviously stated fact of  49 out of 51 states adapting, adopting, aligning with or referencing these standards.  Having said that, it is also clear that some states foster this with students, teachers and administrators (e.g.  Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois; to name a few)  while other states might focus on only students (e.g. Hawaii, Oklahoma, Utah are some).  Some states focused only on administrators (e.g. California and Pennsylvania and others).  In fact, the targeted groups are not fully represented in over 23 states.  Clearly technology education is important enough for standards but lacks a consistent inclusion of students, teachers and administrators in every case.  It is rather hit and miss in targeting all the appropriate groups.

Are you personally prepared to integrate technology and prepare students to use technology as defined for the grade level(s) for which you are or will be certified to teach?

I am more prepared this week than last!  Given this course and my goals I expect to continue to try.  I’m not phobic, nor am I without experience and background.  Nevertheless, I know that this will be an ongoing challenge and not always a comfortable one.  It is, in my mind, very important that we let knowledge arrive from any appropriate sources including our students. 

How do your personal skills for using technology compare to those expected of students

completing grade 12?

In the profiles of technologically literate students number 1 and 2 are areas where at any given moment I feel particularly weak.  Although I try to keep up and stay informed let alone discriminate the value of new systems, gear and technology, it seems a daunting if not incomprehensible task.  My life, compared to my parents, is a frantic race and although I can rely on ‘experts’, the analysis of who really knows is itself a time consumer.  Number 9 evidenced jargon that was unfamiliar.  I’m sure that some of what it mentions is already at hand.  Thus the terminology itself can be intimidating.  As for the others, I feel that most of them are things I feel I am capable of. 

5.  The applications of learning that Illinois espouses are very applicable to my endorsed areas of music, social studies, language arts (as of Aug. 2004) and psychology.  I have been using a synthesizer work station (midi) in my classroom with my students for 8 years.  Songs are routinely notated in Finale software for playback, instrumental arrangements and transpositions.  Students learn music theory on an interactive self correcting program.  Songs in Quecha have been found online so students can hear some-one sing from the Andes.  As I am able to provide a connection through a teaching website, some more avenues will be available.  In my particular case, I see approximately 800 students every week.  Thus, my communiqués to students can never reach the level of someone teaching 150.  I look forward to increased hardware, software and tools to help manage my number of students and to increase the technology infusion into curricular areas.