American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education 2008
(AACTE)
Title: ISTE/NCATE Standards develop QUALITY K-12 Technology Facilitators &
Leaders Who Can Impact Teaching & Learning!
Description (30 words):
Examine the ISTE/NCATE accreditation program standards for Technology Facilitators
(TF) and Technology Leaders (TL) used to ensure high-quality programs designed to
prepare educators to lead the comprehensive integration of technology in P-12
schools.
Section 1: Content
A. Statement of the Issue:
A great need exists to prepare highly-qualified educators to facilitate and lead 21
st
century teaching and learning in P-12 schools! The TF and TL standards are
designed to encourage the development and growth of well-prepared, capable
educational technology professionals who will shape the future of K-12 technology
integration and promote student learning through the use of technology. It is critical
that university preparation programs use these standards to develop technology
leaders who can inspire a shared vision for the comprehensive use of technology and
foster learning environments that integrate appropriate technologies to enhance
student learning.
To date, the standards movement has centered on establishing knowledge, skills,
and dispositions for students, teachers, and administrators. Standards for
technology professionals were published at a later date and have not received the
wide-scale attention associated with other technology-related standards. Many
teacher educators may not be aware that these standards exist. However, these
standards published by ISTE and NCATE are important in establishing an identity for
technology professionals and defining the critical roles and responsibilities they
assume in developing 21
st
century schools in America.
B. Literature Review:
Zhao,Pugh, Sheldon, & Byers (2002) suggest that technology professionals who
"translate" technology into practice is an essential condition for successful technology
implementations. This empirical research supports the practical literature in the field
that also suggests that experienced technology professionals are key to technology
integration that improves student learning (Lemke, 2002; ISTE, 2000; Lemke &
Coughlin, 1998). Furthermore, more recent research such as Mishra & Koehler
(2006) is unlocking the complexity of integrating technology.
Given that the role of technology facilitators and leaders are both critical and
complex, the TF and TL standards serve an important function to P-12 education.
Unfortunately, university preparation programs have not been responding fast
enough to meet the overwhelming need of including technology in their educational
leadership programs (McLeod, Hughes, Richardson, Dikkers, Becker, Quinn, Logan, &
Mayrose, 2005). Preparation programs must recognize their critical role in preparing
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