Oregon Technology Standards and Requirements in the Classroom

Considering the fact that many of today’s students are termed digital natives (people whose culture is deeply embedded in a variety of emerging technologies) it’s more important than ever that educators stay up to date with all of the latest technologies and incorporate them into their classroom curriculum. As a teacher, it’s vital to keep this in mind in order to plan an education that best suits the needs of all students and to provide them with the skills necessary to be fully functioning productive citizens in the future.

In order to meet technology requirements for both students and teachers, I plan to incorporate technology into my classroom as often as possible, while also taking into consideration the developmental level of my particular students. Because I plan to teach K-3, I will not be using many valuable forms of technology, such as social networking, simply because they are geared towards older ages. However, I do realize that as the years pass more complicated technology will be commonplace in the hands of younger and younger citizens, and as that occurs I will make adjustments.

According to the Oregon Department of Education it’s now a requirement of all teachers to instruct students to be technologically literate. In order to teach others to be technologically literate, I too must possess these skills. To do this, it’s key that I provide students with opportunities to work with a variety of technologies and train them in how they can be utilized.

Web2.0 Tools, such as Yodio, Blogging, Dabbleboard, Podcasting, Screen Toaster, Tokbox, and Skype are great technologies to incorporate into early elementary classrooms. I personally prefer these programs because they are all easy to use and easy to learn. It’s my goal as a teacher to create a classroom blog and incorporate into it student videos, work and presentations through Podcasts, Yodio, Dabbleboard and Tokbox. I plan to also use Skype because it is a great resource that allows my students to communicate in real time with others far away, sharing ideas and customs. Each one of these programs has great potential to motivate and showcase students in a way that can be shared with their families and others in the school community.

According to Oregon Educational Technology Standards, teachers need to guide children through technology to improve:

1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
   
3. Research and Information Fluency
   
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making
   
5. Digital Citizenship
   
6. Technology Operations and Concepts

The National Education Technology Standards for Teachers, state that teachers must:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessment
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Many of these objectives can be met through the Web2.0 Tools I mentioned earlier. However, other tools, such as digital cameras, camcorders, recorders, webcams, and access to the internet can be useful tools in addressing all standards that students are expected to meet in this day and age. Teaching children how easy it is to access information and to express themselves through a variety of modes is an exciting notion that I can’t wait to embark upon.