Week 1: Assignment 4- ISTE Summary & Reflection

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that serves educators in the use of technology in education.  ISTE is the governing body that develops and manages technological standards used by educators.

ISTE Standards have been in existence in the past, however it was known back then as the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). Essentially, their purpose is to provide benchmarks for the use of technology in teaching and learning or simply put, technology integration.  ISTE Standards are designed to work with learning models such as for example, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). They support the execution of content-area standards, including the Common Core State Standards. ISTE standards are often associated with many of the newer approaches to education, including project-based learning, blended learning, and the flipped classroom model.

There are 29 standards in total which are applicable to five primary groups of end users, namely, students, educators, administrators, technology coaches and computer science educators.  These standards enable end users to become digital citizens, creative communicators, collaborators, designers, visionary leaders, and excellent professional practitioners to name a few.

Having reflected on these (ISTE) standards, I have come to the sheer realization that they undoubtedly transform teaching and learning. They are of paramount importance in every existing educational institution today. Without implementation of these standards, end users, including me, would be ill prepared for the future in technology and would be left behind. Needless to say, we live in a technological era.  Our students are deeply immersed in technology from very young.  It is all around us. And global education is not optional.  As educators we must be cognizant of these standards, embrace and implement them in our practice.  In doing so we ensure that no one is left behind.

Week 1- Assignment #2- Introduction

I am Gloria Wade Gabb, a teaching assistant for five consecutive years at Challenge Preparatory Charter School.  I am currently co teaching Math, Language Arts and  and Science in grade 4. This is my first year in the MAT program.  I have always desired to become a teacher.  As a matter of fact, I taught for 7 years in another country before I transitioned into education administration.

Being an education administrator is prestigious and honorable; however, I felt that my contribution to education was limited.  As a teacher I am able to impact many more lives, that of the students and their families.  I also get a clearer view of education development and the community’s well-being as it relates to education. Being in the classroom generates a true sense of belonging for me.

If I were to write an autobiography it would be named "Surviving the Storm because it would be reflective of the many challenges I encountered in life so far. My favorite joke is when I accidentally dropped my friend's passport on a bridge and the wind blew it into the river.  It took so much effort to retrieve the passport. 

The term "New Literacies"' is unfamiliar to me; however, I intend to learn about it in this program.  My greatest concern about this course is whether I will be able to meet all the demands, especially having been out of school for many years. I hope to attain new skills and strategies that would enable me to become a more effective teacher.