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Seven Essential “Learnings”

Effective use of technology will require students to develop new roles in learning, living and working. The following essential “learnings” for technology should be woven into the curriculum while developing essential academic learning requirements, performance standards, and assessments for all academic areas.

1. The student as information navigator. The student recognizes and values the breadth of information sources, browses those sources, differentiates and selectively chooses sources, and retrieves appropriate information/data using all forms of media, technology and telecommunications.

2. The student as critical thinker and analyzer using technology. The student reviews data from a variety of sources, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating data to transform it into useful information and knowledge to solve problems.

3. The student as creator of knowledge using technology, media and telecommunications. The student constructs new meaning and knowledge by combining and synthesizing different types of information through technology, telecommunications and computer modeling/simulations.

4. The student as effective communicator through a variety of appropriate technologies/media. The student creates, produces and presents ideas, stories and unique representations of thoughts through a variety of media by analyzing the task before him/her, the technologies available, and appropriately selecting and using the most effective tool(s)/media for the purpose and audience.

5. The student as a discriminating selector of appropriate technology for specific purposes. The student discriminates among a variety of technologies and media to extend and expand his/her capabilities.

6. The student as technician. The student develops sufficient technical skills to successfully use the technology and telecommunications tools in his/her daily life, work situations and learning environments.

7. The student as a responsible citizen, worker, learner, community member and family member in a technological age. The student understands the ethical, cultural, environmental and societal implications of technology and telecommunications, and develops a sense of stewardship and individual responsibility regarding his/her use of technology, media and telecommunications networks, respecting historical context and enhancing cultural lineage with integrity and concern for truth.

Washington State Technology Plan for K-12 Common Schools: Legislative Charge: