National Educational

Technology Standards
About
The National Educational
Technology Standards (NETS) are
a set of standards published by
the International Society for
Technology in Education (ISTE) for
the purpose of leveraging the use
of technology in K-12 education to
enable students to learn
effectively and live productively in
an increasingly digital society.

History
The NETS project was
initiated by ISTEs Accreditation
and Professional Standards
Committee. It was funded by
NASA in consultation with the U.S.
Department of Education, the
Millken Exchange on Education
Technology and Apple Computer.
The first set of standards, NETS
for Students, was released in June
1998. In 2000, the ISTE revised its
previously published standards for
teachers, ISTE Technology
Standards for All Teachers, and
released it as NETS for Teachers.
This new version subdivided the
Application of Technology in
Instruction category into the areas
of planning, implementing, and
assessing and added a category
on the social, ethical, legal, and
human issues related to
technology use. In November
2001, NETS for Administrators was
released. These three sets of
standards were revised in later
years, 2007 NETS for Students,
2008 NETS for Teachers, and 2009
NETS for Administrators.

Standards for Students

Our students are at the
center of everything we do. As
educators, our foremost goal is to
prepare them for their future. The
ISTE Standards describe the skills
and knowledge they need to learn
effectively and live productively in
an increasingly global and digital
society.

Standards for Teachers

Teachers have always held
the key to student success. But
their role is changing. The ISTE
Standards define the new skills
and pedagogical insights
educators need to teach, work
and learn in the digital age.

Reasons why technology

Should be used

classroom, students are

able to access the most
up-to-date information
quicker and easier than
ever before.

It also enables the students to

learn at their own pace. With
the integration of technology,
students are able to get direct,
individualized instruction from
the computer.

1. If used correctly, will help

prepare students for their
future careers, which will
inevitably include the use
of wireless technology.

2. Technology helps the

teachers prepare
students for the real
world environment. As
our nation becomes
increasingly more
technology-dependent, it
becomes even more
necessary that to be
successful citizens,
students must learn to be
tech-savvy.

3. When mobile technology

is readily available in the

Research shows that students

attention span is increased
when technology is used in the
classroom. The same research
also show that it makes the
children more excited to learn
and be more connected with
their classmates.

There is no doubt that finding

the time to integrate
technology is an overwhelming
task for anyone. Throughout
the course of a day, teachers
find themselves pulled in many
directions. However,
technology is already
integrated in nearly everything
we do and nearly every job our
students will encounter. So how
do educators find an ideal
balance for learning about and
eventually integrating
technology? It begins with a
focus followed by good
instructional design, but
ultimately, a healthy balance.