ISTE Standards for Teachers Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

Educators in career and technical education (CTE) are consistently tasked with appropriately incorporating technology into their classrooms. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides a framework for effectively integrating technology into education. In this article, you'll discover everything you need to know about ISTE standards.

What is ISTE?

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the foremost organization in teaching technology in the classroom. As a result, they are uniquely positioned to articulate standards for using technology in classrooms and schools. The ISTE Standards, formerly known as the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), are standards for the use of technology in teaching and learning (technology integration). They are published by ISTE, a nonprofit membership association for educators focused on educational technology.

The Importance of ISTE Standards

The ISTE standards have been used for over 20 years and are updated regularly to reflect the most current technology, practices, and definitions. The ISTE standards are designed to guide the best practices for using and teaching technology in learning environments. These standards provide a framework for students, educators, leaders, and coaches to harness technology for enhanced learning experiences. To help ensure each of these four groups of individuals succeed, the ISTE has established a unique set of standards for each group.

ISTE Certification

ISTE also offers a certification program (ISTE Certification) aligned to the Standards. The certification program is a competency-based model where educators submit artifacts showing their ability to use technology to support learning.

Evolution of ISTE Standards

ISTE released the first version of the Student Standards in 1998 under the name National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). In 2007, ISTE reviewed its student standards and re-released them as the ISTE Standards for Students. Their focus became integration of technology in the classroom. ISTE then updated the ISTE Standards for Teachers (2008) and the ISTE Standards for Administrators (2009). In 2011, ISTE added two new sets of standards-the ISTE Standards for Coaches and the ISTE Standards for Computer Science Educators. In 2015, ISTE began another review of the standards. The new ISTE Standards for Students were released in June 2016 at the 2016 ISTE Conference and Expo. The 2017 ISTE Standards for Teachers, renamed the ISTE Standards for Educators, were released in June 2017. Also in 2018, to recognize the importance of computer science and STEM education as well as student problem-solving skills, ISTE released the ISTE Computational Thinking Competencies.

ISTE Standards for Students

It may sound strange to have ISTE standards for students, but education is a two-way street. The ISTE Standards for students describe the skills and knowledge students need to thrive, grow, and contribute in an increasingly digital society. These standards focus on specific knowledge and skill sets that empower students to become:

Empowered Learners: Students take an active role in their learning, setting goals, and reflecting on their progress. Then, students get feedback on what they’ve done.
Digital Citizens: ISTE standards require every student to be a good digital citizen. Together, these criteria help students understand the rights and responsibilities that go along with using modern technology. It’s crucial for students to understand how their personal information works online, not to mention who has access to it.
Knowledge Constructors: Effective knowledge-building skills are critical in a technology-driven age. There’s also a shocking amount of misinformation (intentional or accidental) in the world that makes its way online every day. By self-qualifying data, reports, and connections, students can better understand what’s happening in the world and how they can fit into it.
Innovative Designers: To be an innovative designer, students must understand the basics of problem-solving. By taking this approach to learning, students acquire a taste for answering open-ended problems, supporting their designs, and refining those designs for the best possible solutions.
Computational Thinkers: To be a computational thinker, ISTE says students must be able to create and employ strategies for solving problems that use technology. Computational thinking requires students to become familiar with data collection, data analysis, algorithmic thinking, and data representation. As you can see, computational thinking emphasizes efficiency above almost any other quality. That’s because efficiency is critical to success when working with technology. Finally, students show that they understand the fundamental principles of modern technology and how to troubleshoot it for common problems.
Creative Communicators: Creative communicators expresses themselves clearly and concisely through digital media. Creative communication is important for ISTE students because they’re around digital media all the time. Students learn about digital tools that can help them communicate, along with creating original materials that visualize their ideas. This makes the “creative communicator” requirement pretty open-ended, as each student will probably create a unique idea to communicate.
Global Collaborators: To become a global collaborator, students have to understand how their perspectives are different from others’ and work together to achieve a common goal. To become effective collaborators, learners must work on two levels: locally and globally. They work constructively in teams to achieve mutual interests while maintain a positive, helpful outlook.

ISTE Standards for Educators

ISTE teacher standards hold technology educators to high requirements. These standards prepare teachers to teach technology and advanced concepts in the classroom. The ISTE standards for teachers are a set of seven standards designed to empower educators to improve their practices, collaborate with other teachers or professionals, and rethink how they are currently using technology. The ISTE standards for educators differ in a few ways from the ISTE standards for students. Within the ISTE standards for educators, there’s a focus on how educators can empower students to reach their full potential and grow academically, while the student standards focus more on specific knowledge and skill sets. The educator section of the ISTE Standards defines the knowledge and insights educators need to successfully support students in the achievement of the ISTE Standards for students. The ISTE standards for teachers form a solid foundation for technology instruction in the classroom. Each standard comes with its own subsections and intentions. The seven roles that a teacher must fulfill are:

Learner: Educators should be lifelong learners, especially when it comes to learning about technology and how to use it in the classroom. The ISTE standard 2.1 is broken into 3 subcategories to make this simple: Setting professional goals, participating in professional learning networks, and keeping up on current research.
Leader: As you advance in your understanding and use of technology in the classroom, it's only natural that you can take what you know and use it to help other teachers and students. Teachers are leaders, and nowhere is this more appropriate than in the classroom. ISTE teachers share a vision for the class with their students, and they actively shape that vision as the class continues. Being a leader means that you create and advance a shared vision within your school, working with all stakeholders to move forward on your community’s shared vision. Using a video content creation tool isn’t only for students. By using a video creation platform like WeVideo educators can develop and share professional learning and partake in collaborative team sessions designed to bring ideas to life.
Citizen: Part of that requires teachers to help students build and learn empathy, empowering them to put themselves in others’ shoes even online. Part of developing student skills today includes providing a framework for students to become productive citizens in the digital world. This ISTE standard also requires teachers to teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital tools. Outside of developing an empathetic and socially responsible digital mindset, educators should also give students a strong foundation of security and ethical practices while working online. That includes the basics of intellectual property and the rights that go along with it. Teachers may demonstrate how to evaluate sources for credibility, ensure that students follow legal and ethical guidelines, and demonstrate how to protect and digital privacy.
Collaborator: To become ISTE-approved, a teacher has to demonstrate that they’re a collaborator with both colleagues and students. Impactful learning and effective teaching don’t happen in a vacuum. Developing high-quality and impactful learning experiences takes collaboration and teamwork. “Collaboration” in this context means meeting with those who have an impact on education. However, collaboration is not only a student-to-student interaction. But teachers can also take a place alongside students in a learning capacity. Collaboration also requires using online tools to work with (and grade) students as they progress through lessons.
Designer: Becoming a designer requires a teacher to understand and implement learning-oriented environments to accommodate students at different learning levels. Educators are the designers of students' learning experiences within the classroom. Using the ISTE standards for teachers, it’s important to create learner-driven assignments and projects that give all students a chance to be successful. Designing for differentiated instruction means teachers have to understand and implement individualized education plans, or IEPs. Designing powerful lessons isn’t always about coming up with unique ideas; it's okay to find inspiration from others or to tweak pre-made lessons for your own classroom. All of this requires the use of digital tools. The important thing to remember here is that the learner comes first in your designs, this allows them to develop and learn in their own way.
Facilitator: All told, ISTE standards for teachers require that they take an active-yet-restrained role in student learning. More than ever, educators are facilitators of learning experiences rather than deliverers of knowledge. With basic information and factual knowledge available at the click of a button, educators must foster student ownership over their learning. Teachers also have to manage the use of technology on digital platforms to ensure students use them for their intended purposes. Developing online assignments and courses that are engaging is all about nurturing and modeling creativity for students. Educators can teach students how a designer or creator might think and then let students go off on their own learning adventures. All in all, this helps students become self-reliant, critical-thinking individuals who learn how to adapt to wide range problems instead of simply learning how to solve a specific problem.
Analyst: The final ISTE standard for teachers is called analyst. With so much data and information available through digital learning platforms and online learning tools, educators must have the skills to sift through what is important and what is not. Educators can use the data that they gather to communicate with students, parents, and other teachers about a student’s progress toward a standard or end goal. Data can be anecdotal, empirical, or a combination of both.

ISTE Standards for Education Leaders

The ISTE standards also extend to education leaders, emphasizing their role in fostering a technology-rich environment. In the education leaders section of the ISTE Standards, there is a detailed framework for supporting the implementation of ISTE Standards for students and educators. An ISTE administrator must take the reins of their institution and become an influential leader. The first major quality of an ISTE-approved administrator is becoming an advocate for equity and citizenship. The second ISTE standard for educational leaders is becoming a visionary planner. This level of leadership requires dedication and commitment on a large scale. Last, administrators have to be evangelists for their schools and any applicable public policy that helps it succeed. For administrators, empowering leadership involves creating a culture that encourages student engagement and active learning. Next, administrators have to provide teachers with professional development and resources so they can adapt to a diverse range of needs students may have. In essence, administrators use technology just as much as teachers and students. To fully adhere to ISTE standards, administrators must exhibit excellent in establishing and improving technological systems at the school and program level. Success as a systems designer is a quality great educational leaders share. Often, administrators will need to look outside their schools to build community partnerships that support this vision. The ideal ISTE education leader is also a connected learner. The best administrators stay up-to-date on emerging trends in technology and education. This also means continuing to learn on a personal level. Administrators have to initiate and participate in communities that let them refine their professional edge.

ISTE Standards for Coaches

The ISTE standards also address the role of technology coaches, who play a crucial part in supporting teachers and administrators. There are several different types of technology coaches who can help support and drive the standards of technology in learning. In the ISTE Standards for Coaching section, these standards detail the different ways in which these coaches can help to support these initiatives. But all technology coaches act as a hybrid of administrators and teachers. Technology coaches are in a unique position to affect change in programs. Technology coaches should be the driving force behind the adoption of digital tools in their programs. It’s also important for coaches to evaluate the strategies they have for their coaching style and see where technology fits best. Last, coaches are responsible for the initiation and maintenance of technology processes in the classroom. Effective coaches collaborate with teachers and administrators to improve instruction and student outcomes. Coaches work alongside teachers to achieve the best possible outcomes for their students. While teachers are often learning designers, its paramount for coaches to model learning design for their programs. Technology coaches can be the lead designers for their programs in so far as digital tools are concerned. As an integral part of their role, coaches facilitate professional development for teachers and administrators that enable them to implement technology at the school and classroom level. Moreover, technology coaches help achieve scalability by building up the capacity of educators and education leaders to implement both technology and ISTE standards. Technology coaches are often experienced in dealing with data. Effective data use is the single most powerful tool in a program's ability to make future decisions, not only for adopting technology, but for the benefit of everyone involved. Coaches are critical for digital citizenship advocacy and play a major role in ensuring that everyone is safe online.

ISTE Standards for Computational Thinking

In addition to the standards for students, educators, leaders, and coaches, ISTE also provides standards for computational thinking. The ISTE Standards for Computational Thinking are specifically designed to help educators integrate computational thinking into their curriculum. Computational thinking is an important tool not only for successfully using technology, but also for innovating and solving problems.

Read also: Digital Frontier and ISTE

ISTE Seal of Alignment

Technology programs that have undergone rigorous scrutiny and evaluation by ISTE reviewers may receive the ISTE Seal of Alignment. This evaluation is based on the program’s pedagogical powers as well as the extent to which the skills built into the curriculum embody the ISTE standards.

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