Online Professional Learning and
Technical Assistance for
21st Century Community Learning Centers

Standards Refresher

This standards refresher presents the Technology Foundation Standards for All Students prepared by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). ISTE also publishes standards for teachers and administrators. Full information about ISTE's National Educational Technology Standards Project (NETS) can be found at http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-students.

ISTE-NETS-S 1: Creativity and Innovation

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:

  • apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
  • create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
  • use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
  • identify trends and forecast possibilities.

ISTE-NETS-S 2: Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:

  • interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
  • communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
  • develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
  • contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

ISTE-NETS-S 3: Research and Information Fluency

Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:

  • plan strategies to guide inquiry.
  • locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
  • evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
  • process data and report results.

ISTE-NETS-S 4: Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, and Decision Making

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:

  • identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
  • plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.
  • collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
  • use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.

ISTE-NETS-S 5: Digital Citizenship

Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:

  • advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
  • exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
  • demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
  • exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.

ISTE-NETS-S 6: Technology Operations and Concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students:

  • understand and use technology systems.
  • select and use applications effectively and productively.
  • troubleshoot systems and applications.
  • transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.

ISTE National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS*S)

Copyright ISTE NETS. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.

The documents posted on this server contain links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to particular items is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.