Technology Operations and Concepts, Standard 1

The first standard for the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers states that the teacher will “Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.” It basically states that a teacher will use their knowledge of technology and content matter to inspire students to learn in both a traditional classroom setting and a web based setting. The indications that this inspiration and learning is occurring are that the students can observe the teacher modeling desired behaviors and interactions. The teacher fosters the use of real world applications and discussion of contemporary issues through the use of technology, and then promoting a reflection upon that use and what was learned from the experience. Finally, teachers encourage students to share what was learned through face-to-face or web based interaction.
Meeting this standard and the indicators in my classroom will be difficult, but not impossible. I have the good fortune to have seven computers in my classroom, as I am the Yearbook Adviser. Other teachers have only their laptop and desktop computers. My school has two computer labs available to be signed out for use, and they very often are. However, the demographics of my community indicate, as to my students, that the lower income families do not have access to a computer at home. Therefore, any computer use must occur at school, during my class, because we do not have any study halls. Also, my students have taken one required computer class in 7th or 8th grade, then another in 9th or 10th, but have had no key boarding drills or instruction. They are slow typists, and many are reluctant to use PowerPoint or Publisher, let alone to create a web site or complete a web quest.
I use technology on a daily basis in my classroom because I have the good fortune to be in a district that has installed projectors in every room—as well as microphones and speakers—that can be linked to the laptop issued to each teacher. All my notes and reading guides are on PowerPoint presentations; I print up and copy the note sheets that students are required to fill in as we go through the slides together. I show video clips, particularly from HistoryChannel.com, as I teach American Literature, and this web source has a great deal to offer for increasing student understanding of the time period in which a text was written. I also show films in my class, which meet the copyright requirements, that go along with the novels being read. So, I foster an environment that shows what technology can offer and how it can aid in instruction. I also have many group presentations or essays that require students to use technology in a variety of ways. Due to the demographics of the community, I always make sure that the students have ample time to access the computer labs at the school to complete all portions of the assignments. Without it, I would have to accept hand written work, poorly researched papers, and so on.