This week we were asked to first start by reviewing the ISTE Standards. I found that it provides a framework for effectively integrating technology into education to create high impact, sustainable, and equitable learning experiences. These standards are grounded in learning science research and practitioner experience, ensuring they reflect best practices in educational technology. For students these standards outline the skills and knowledge students need to thrive in a digital world, emphasizing competencies such as creative problem solving, critical thinking, innovation, and effective collaboration. For educators it provides a roadmap to design and implement technology enhanced learning experiences, fostering an environment where students can achieve these competencies. The ISTE Standards have been adopted by all U.S. states and many countries worldwide, noting its global relevance and applicability. It is available in 9 languages and are aligned with UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their commitment to advancing global educational objectives. My main takeaway was that by adhering to the ISTE Standards, educators can ensure technology is being used to create engaging, inclusive, and effective learning environments that prepare students for success in the digital age.

To read more about ISTE Standards you can go to their website here: https://iste.org/standards

To read more about UNESCO you can go to their website here: https://www.unesco.org/en

We then learned how to set up our websites and began personalizing them. Which is how you are here now, on my website, that will continue to grow and develop as the term goes on.

The final piece I want to reflect on is the film we were asked to watch, Most Likely to Succeed. This was a documentary filmed in 2015, directed by Greg Whiteley. It explored the shortcomings of the traditional education system and proposes innovative approaches to better prepare students for the modern workforce. The film specifically focused on High Tech High, a project based learning school in San Diego. In the school students engage in collaborative, hands on projects rather than traditional lectures and standardized testing. The documentary critiqued the conventional education model, which has remained largely unchanged and argues that it no longer meets the needs of a rapidly evolving job market. It highlighted hoe skills like critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving are more valuable than memorization. By showcasing the successes and challenges of students and teachers I found it truly sparks the discussion of reimagining education and encourages schools to adopt more student centered, experiential learning methods. The film served as a call to action for educators, parents, but overall policymakers to rethink how schools should be preparing students for the future. I found the film fascinating because it introduced a school model unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I found that it grossly highlighted the fact that the traditional school curriculum was designed for a past society and no longer aligns with today’s workforce needs, especially as technology eliminates many jobs. I agree that shifting education to focus on critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, leadership skills, resilience, learning from trial and error and develop GRIT would better prepare students for modern society. A key moment that reinforced this idea was seeing students’ test scores drop drastically after three months, emphasizing the need for meaningful, lasting learning rather than memorization of facts they will soon forget