Standards and their applications

Technological Standards for Teachers and Students

The technologies that are available to elementary schools and their students can very greatly from district to district and state to state, but it can be reasonably assumed that all schools have computers, if not in the classrooms then at least in the library and/or media center. Internet- and computer-based instruction platforms such as BlackBoard and WebCt are also available, though their appropriateness and effectiveness for the younger grades in elementary school are both somewhat questionable. Other computer interfaces such as projectors can be effectively utilized in a classroom of younger students, however.

The standard that requires teachers to develop learning experiences using digital tools that promote creativity (2a) is one of the most relevant for teaching first grade students. Fine coordination and abstract thinking are still developing at this stage, and a somewhat less structured and more personally creative experience will encourage this development (NETS 2008). The promotion of digital etiquette (4c) is also highly at important at this stage of development (NETS 2008). Interpersonal relationships are becoming more solidified at this age, and making it explicit that interactions via computers and other technology demand the same type of considerations and respect as face-to-face communications is an important lesson for children in the first grade to be exposed to.

Computers can be used to achieve both of these ends and much more in first grade education. Utilizing computer drawing programs for some projects has the purely pragmatic benefits of saving on materials costs, and also allows the student a great deal of freedom in the design and execution of the project. At the same time, these programs help to build fine motor coordination and introduce students to the tasks of reading icons and navigating through a basic computer program that demands constant user input. Classroom chat sessions and emails through rudimentary programs could be used to promote proper digital etiquette, just as letter-writing basics (which are now essentially obsolete in many cases) used to be taught. Other programs exist for assistance in mathematics at all levels, and the ability to have interactive visual representations of abstract concepts is priceless.