Standard:
Definition #3 of 10 for standard, according to Merriam Webster, is "something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example." In a lot of disciplines, standards are clear. Chemistry, physics, mathematics, and sciences in general have clear and established standards. Our field is much more nebulous. transitory, changeable, malleable. It hasn't always been this way, but the World Wide Web has changed everything about information and communication. And it's still cascading down an avalanche, skyrocketing through the clouds as it changes virtually everything about the world in which we live. Enter the librarian, media specialist, information professional - we don't even know what to call ourselves anymore!
Sometimes I envy classroom teachers. Their curriculum is developed and prescribed by state governments, state education departments, local boards of education, and lessons are handed to them by literacy and math coaches. They know all too well exactly what they are supposed to do.
Okay, I don't really envy them, not even one little bit. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by all the possibilities.
There's a reason I do what I do, many reasons actually. I like variety, surprise, challenges, puzzles, and I absolutely love helping my students become skilled, independent consumers and producers of information. It's just that the sky's the limit, so where do I start and how far should I go?
Definition #3 of 10 for standard, according to Merriam Webster, is "something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example." In a lot of disciplines, standards are clear. Chemistry, physics, mathematics, and sciences in general have clear and established standards. Our field is much more nebulous. transitory, changeable, malleable. It hasn't always been this way, but the World Wide Web has changed everything about information and communication. And it's still cascading down an avalanche, skyrocketing through the clouds as it changes virtually everything about the world in which we live. Enter the librarian, media specialist, information professional - we don't even know what to call ourselves anymore!
Sometimes I envy classroom teachers. Their curriculum is developed and prescribed by state governments, state education departments, local boards of education, and lessons are handed to them by literacy and math coaches. They know all too well exactly what they are supposed to do.
Okay, I don't really envy them, not even one little bit. Sometimes I just get overwhelmed by all the possibilities.
There's a reason I do what I do, many reasons actually. I like variety, surprise, challenges, puzzles, and I absolutely love helping my students become skilled, independent consumers and producers of information. It's just that the sky's the limit, so where do I start and how far should I go?
It's no wonder there are so many different types of standards for what we do. For the state standards, the Georgia Performance Standards, I pick through the subject areas to find skills that fit under my umbrella.
I glean from other state's standards. One of my favorites is from the New York City DOE.
They have developed the "Empire State Information Fluency Continuum" for K-12, aligned with Common Core State standards. It's a beautiful thing and draws heavily on the AASL standards. The introduction includes this diagram of the Stripling Model.
I glean from other state's standards. One of my favorites is from the New York City DOE.
They have developed the "Empire State Information Fluency Continuum" for K-12, aligned with Common Core State standards. It's a beautiful thing and draws heavily on the AASL standards. The introduction includes this diagram of the Stripling Model.
I agree that the AASL Standards need to be updated to include technological advancements. However, I have used them well, often relying on the AASL Crosswalk to help me align my instruction with other areas. The AASL Crosswalk, published by ALA in 2011, aligns AASL standards with the Common Core, and it's oh so handy. The only thing is that it doesn't mention technology, and we all know that technology is a big chunk of what we do now.
Enter the ISTE Standards. The copyright on the ISTE Standards reads 2016. Just to download their standards, you have to let them know what you plan to do with them, so there's a professional sense of ownership. While the ISTE Standards don't address other curricular areas, they are skill-driven and exciting. Kind of an Eagle Scout program for people like us. Ponder this statement of purpose from the ISTE Student Standards page.
Enter the ISTE Standards. The copyright on the ISTE Standards reads 2016. Just to download their standards, you have to let them know what you plan to do with them, so there's a professional sense of ownership. While the ISTE Standards don't address other curricular areas, they are skill-driven and exciting. Kind of an Eagle Scout program for people like us. Ponder this statement of purpose from the ISTE Student Standards page.
The ISTE Standards for Students are designed to empower student voice and ensure that learning is a student-driven process of exploration, creativity and discovery no matter where they or their teachers are in the thoughtful integration of ed tech."
"The 2016 ISTE Standards for Students emphasize the skills and qualities we want for students, enabling them to engage and thrive in a connected, digital world."
A glance at the standards shows they are based on mindsets: Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. Each of the attributes are accompanied by a description of action-oriented roles, and multiple indicators of internalizing the skills and mindsets. See the example below:
"The 2016 ISTE Standards for Students emphasize the skills and qualities we want for students, enabling them to engage and thrive in a connected, digital world."
A glance at the standards shows they are based on mindsets: Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Knowledge Constructor, Innovative Designer, Computational Thinker, Creative Communicator, and Global Collaborator. Each of the attributes are accompanied by a description of action-oriented roles, and multiple indicators of internalizing the skills and mindsets. See the example below:
ISTE has also identified how the ISTE standards support the Common Core.
Something about the ISTE Standards is totally exciting to me. Although the AASL Standards are near and dear to my heart, I don't want to jump up and cheer when I read them in the same way I do when I look at the standards.
Consider these two:
"Follow an inquiry-based process in seeking knowledge in curricular subjects, and make the real world connection for using this process in own life."
"Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others."
Can you tell which one is ISTE and which one is AASL? There's a subtle difference in the paradigm behind these. Click on the links to find out their origin.
The ISTE Standards are open-ended and support higher-level thinking and real world problem solving. Librarians are also open and support higher-level thinking and real world problem solving. Sounds like a great match.
Something about the ISTE Standards is totally exciting to me. Although the AASL Standards are near and dear to my heart, I don't want to jump up and cheer when I read them in the same way I do when I look at the standards.
Consider these two:
"Follow an inquiry-based process in seeking knowledge in curricular subjects, and make the real world connection for using this process in own life."
"Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others."
Can you tell which one is ISTE and which one is AASL? There's a subtle difference in the paradigm behind these. Click on the links to find out their origin.
The ISTE Standards are open-ended and support higher-level thinking and real world problem solving. Librarians are also open and support higher-level thinking and real world problem solving. Sounds like a great match.