National Educational Technology Standards for Students

The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Project is an ISTE initiative funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in consultation with the U. S. Department of Education and the Miliken Exchange on Education Technology; and Apple Computer, Inc.

Conditions to Make It Happen

A combintion of essential conditions are required to create learning environments conducive to powerful uses of technology, including:
  1. Vision with support and proactive leadership from the education system
  2. Educators skilled in the use of technology for learning
  3. Content standards and curriculum resources
  4. Student-centered approaches to learning
  5. Assessment of the effectiveness of technology for learning
  6. Access to contemporary technologies, software, and telecommunications networks
  7. Technical assistance for maintaining and using technology resources
  8. Community partners who provide expertise, support, and real-life interactions
  9. Ongoing financial support for sustained technology use
  10. Policies and standards supporting new learning environments
Establishing New Learning Environments

Students must apply strategies for solving problems and use appropriate tools for learning, collaborating, and communicating.

Traditional Learning EnvironmentsNew Learning Environments
Teacher-centered instructionStudent-centered learning
Single sense stimulationMultisensory stimulation
Single path progressionMultipath progression
Single mediaMultimedia
Isolated workCollaborative work
Information deliveryInformation exchange
Passive learningActive/exploratory/inquiry-based learning
Factual, knowledge-basedCritical thinking and informed decision-making
Reactive responseProactive/planned action
Isolated, artificial contextAuthentic real-world context
The most effective learning environments meld traditional approaches and new approaches to facilitate learning or relevant content while addressing individual needs. The resulting learning environments should prepare students to:
  1. Communicate using a variety of media and formats
  2. Access and exchange information in a variety of ways
  3. Compile, organize, analyze, and synthesize information
  4. Draw conclusions and make generalizations based on information gathered
  5. Use information and select appropriate tools to solve problems
  6. Know content and be able to locate additional information as needed
  7. Become self-directed learners
  8. Collaborate and cooperate in team efforts
  9. Interact with others in ethical and appropriate ways