Systemic change in education can happen if technology is an integral part of learning. As shown in the figure to the left, technology is an important part of systemic change. One third of teachers surveyed about the use of the Internet in education stated that their pre-service training did not adequately prepare them to integrate technology into classroom instruction (NetDay).

The National Education Technology Plan outlines steps for administrators and educators to incorporate technology into the classroom (National Education Technology Plan, U.S. Department of Education, 2006). Building upon the National Plan, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has provided the tools necessary to incorporate technology standards into strategic planning.

More than 90 percent of the U.S. states have adopted, adapted or referenced the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) in state department of education documents, (ISTE, NETS and the States).

Leadership is is integral to the successful integration of technology. Teachers must prepare students to apply strategies for solving problems and to use appropriate technology tools for learning. ISTE outlines technology standards for students, teachers and administrators, providing a framework for teacher-leaders and administrator-leaders to incorporate technology into the classroom.

The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) describes systemic change in education as change that occurs at various levels and in all aspects of the educational process. This type of change affects everyone, including students, teachers, parents, administrators, and community members. Systemic change in education is a dynamic process that requires constant communication and evaluation and has implications for curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development, (NCREL, 2006).

SUMMARY

This web page is a summary of a research paper entitled: (PDF) Incorporating Technology
into Curriculum Using National Education Technology Standards. This paper is the product of a review of educational concepts, such as systemic change and the application of technology standards confronting the field of educational technology. It is also the product of exploring technology use in environmental education programs.

REFERENCES

NetDay, Speak Up Day for Teachers, 2004, http://www.netday.org.
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, Critical Issue: Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement, 1999, updated 2005. Accessed March 27, 2006, http://www.ncrel.org.
U.S. Department of Education, National Education Technology Plan, 2004. Accessed March 27, 2006, http://nationaledtechplan.org.
International Society for Technology in Education, National Educational Technology Standards, http://www.iste.org.