KNOW THE NETSanswers
This is how ISTE’s Research & Evaluation Department evaluated the scenario on page 36.
Creativity and Innovation
■ 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
Rationale: The observation took place during an information-gathering phase rather than a creative phase.
However, we checked 1a because of the way students used their brainstorming as a lead-in to deeper investigation.
Communication and Collaboration
■ 2a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
■ 2b. Communicate information and ideas to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
■ 2c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures
■ 2d. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
Rationale: The interaction, collaboration, and teamwork are obvious. The students also considered the problem of communicating
with audiences as soon as they delved into their proposed topics. The entire project involved cultural awareness.
Research and Information Fluency
h 3a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
■ 3b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
■ 3c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
h 3d. Process data and report results
Rationale: Although the teacher had to prompt some parts of the investigation, the students took responsibility for pursuing the sources and making
the final decision to seek input from the other class. The students did not plan and process/report in any formal way, so we left 3a and 3d unchecked.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
■ 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
■ 4d. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
Rationale: With more time and more scaffolding from the teacher, the students might have displayed all of the critical thinking indicators. The activity
explicitly required identifying problems, and the students independently realized the need for multiple perspectives. We did not check 4b and 4c only
because of the unsystematic nature of the last-minute decision making.
Digital Citizenship
■ 5a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
■ 5b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
h 5c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
■ 5d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Rationale: We checked 5a, 5b, and 5d because of the way students embraced the assignment and urged one another to consider the quality
and use of the information. Had students extended the assignment out of the class context in some way, we might have checked 5c as well.
Technology Operations and Concepts
■ 6a. Understand and use technology systems
■ 6b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
■ 6c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
h 6d. Transfer current knowledge to learning new technologies
Rationale: The technology learning itself had already taken place prior to the observation. What we could
observe was students’ ability to apply their knowledge to address issues of technology access and function.
What was your interpretation of the NETS? Do you agree or disagree with ISTE R&E’s coding? How could a teacher modify this scenario to create a richer
lesson? What additional time, student preparation, technologies, or other resources would the lesson need? Find out how other readers responded and share
your insights, comments, and questions on the NETS Assessment Wiki ( nets-assessment.iste.wikispaces.net).
