I agree with all of the set standards that are currently in place for students learning technology. Of the standards mentioned above, I have found in my life experience that there is an emphasis on communication, research, and creative technologies. I really feel that communication and research seem to out-weigh some of the others in daily application. Communication technology is so prevalent and keeps getting bigger and better, so I think that it is important that students are well versed in using and understanding such technologies as email, blogs, messaging, chatting, video conferencing, etc. I also feel that being able to use technologies to research to find valuable and accurate information efficiently is key. Students should definitely be taught the skills to use internet search engines and other resources to find information to further their own learning. I have found it amazing how much more I learn by my own curiosity every day by having access to Google. Lastly, the many computer technologies out there allow people's creativity to soar. I am very into music. I started using computer based recording software in 2001 to create music. Before that, recording was an overwhelmingly expensive time consuming endeavor. Computer technologies have made the creative process so much more accessible, and since then I have been able to build my own business around such technologies. If students are made aware of what is out there, I think they will very willingly seek these technologies out in order to tap into their own creativity.
The technology standards that are set forth for teachers are good, but may be hard for some teachers who aren't very tech savvy or who refuse to utilize technology in the classroom. It has been apparent to me that for most of my life as a student up until very recently I have always felt that I know much more about the technology in the classroom setting than most of my teachers. It seems to me that just like playing certains sports, some people have the knack for technology, and some don't. That doesn't mean that they cannot learn technology, because just like anything else, if you put enough time and effort into it you will succeed. Because of this knack or lack of knack, the two toughest standards for some teachers to master will be the Digital-Age Work & Learning and Professional Growth & Leadership standards. Both of these standards require teachers to be on top of their game and well above students knowledge. I do believe as the next generation of teachers rolls in, this will become less and less of a problem as they will have been completely immersed in technology their entire lives. Most people my age that I know are decently tech savvy already and the younger generations are already right there.One thing I think that is not mentioned, but should be a standard for both students and teachers is an understanding of hardware and software concepts. What I mean by these concepts is knowledge of what makes these things tick. A student who knows how a computer is put together, what an operating system is, how it works, then when it any kind of problem arises, they will have a good idea of how to solve it. Once these basic concepts of technology are learned, they can be applied to just about any technological device. I think this type of knowledge will benefit those people who fear or disregard technology the most. People fear what they don't understand. They should be in control of the technology and not let the technology control them.
