Can you observe the NETS for Students in practice? Read the
scenario below and check off any NETS•S performance
indicators (on the right) that you think the lesson addresses.
Then turn the page to see how ISTE’s Research & Evaluation
Department would rate this lesson against the NETS using
the ISTE Classroom Observation Tool (ICOT, iste.org/icot).
You can also do this exercise online at surveymonkey.com/
s/knowthenets.
Athird grade teacher finds that her students are unclear on the concept of time zones. Under- standing the movement of the sun across the sky
is a science standard in her school, and understanding
geographic variation is a requirement for social studies. The
lesson you observe integrates geography and earth science.
Working in teams of three in a computer lab, students
create composite pictures of four North American regions
they have been studying: the Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and East Coast. Students may use images they have downloaded to a class folder from previous
internet research, use hand-drawn images the teacher has
scanned, or create new images with a graphics program.
They assemble the pictures as slides in presentation software. Within the following parameters, students can select
which regional features to depict and how to depict them.
•;Students;must;label;each;picture;with;its;source,
which is available in the archive.
•;Each;of;the;four;slides;must;incorporate;features
of a region the class has studied.
•;All;slides;must;show;the;regions;at;the;same;time.
That is, if a slide shows the Pacific Coast at 9 a.m.,
the East Coast slide should show noon.
•;The;sun;must;be;depicted;appropriately;in;each;slide.
•;Among;the;resources;students;can;consult;are;a;web
index of several live webcams from each region, a link
to Google Earth, and a time-zone map and calculator.
Because the class has covered most of the geography
and science content prior to the observation, the entire
period (90 minutes) is devoted to the students’ creative
work in teams. The teacher spends most of her time
facilitating group organization and problem solving as
well as advising on the technology.
By the end of the block, all the groups have four slides,
although not all are ready for presentation. The lab will
not be available again during the week, but because
students know how to save to a folder on the network,
they can reach their documents from the classroom. The
teacher will allow them to take turns on her laptop to
finish up the following day. Teams not working on the
laptop will work on narration scripts for their slide shows.
KNOW THEnets
Creativity and Innovation
h 1a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products,
or processes
h 1b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
h 1c. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems
and issues
h 1d. Identify trends and forecast possibilities
Communication and Collaboration
h 2a. Interact, collaborate, and publish w/peers, experts, or others
employing a variety of digital environments and media
h 2b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple
audiences using a variety of media and formats
h 2c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging
with learners of other cultures
h 2d. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve
problems
Research and Information Fluency
h 3a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
h 3b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use
information from a variety of sources and media
h 3c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on
the appropriateness to specific tasks
h 3d. Process data and report results
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
h 4a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions
for investigation
h 4b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete
a project
h 4c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed
decisions
h 4d. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore
alternative solutions
Digital Citizenship
h 5a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of
information and technology
h 5b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward technology that supports
collaboration, learning, and productivity
h 5c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
h 5d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Technology Operations and Concepts
h 6a. Understand and use technology systems
h 6b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
h 6c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
h 6d. Transfer current knowledge to learning new technologies
Find our answers on the next page.
