The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) sponsors the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) with a broad range of professional and curricular standards and resources to help institutions attain and assess learning, competency, and programs in relation to NETS.

The EDTEC program is focused of NETS-based programs, resources, and research at Ball State University. Originating in the PT3 project (1999-2003), EDTEC faculty have lead the integration of NETS standards in courses for teacher education majors.

Resources | Courses | Programs | Research | Profile-it


NETS for Students. The technology foundation standards for students are divided into six broad categories. Standards within each category are to be introduced, reinforced, and mastered by students. These categories provide a framework for linking performance indicators within the Profiles for Technology Literate Students to the standards. Teachers can use these standards and profiles as guidelines for planning technology-based activities in which students achieve success in learning, communication, and life skills.

NETS for Teachers. These are the standards for all K-12 teachers and, via the NETS Performance Profiles, they represent the target competencies for teacher education programs.

NETS for Administrators. The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Administrators developed through the Technology Standards for School Administrators (TSSA) Collaborative identifies knowledge and skills constituting the "core" of what every P-12 administrator needs to know about and be able to do with technology regardless of specific job role. ISTE has embraced the TSSA standards as the national standards and extended the "core" skills and knowledge to include the specific provisions for administrators in three job roles:

NETS for Technology Facilitators. These are program standards for programs seeking recognition for Technology Facilitation (TF) endorsement programs meeting ISTE standards prepare candidates to serve as building/campus-level technology facilitators. Candidates completing this program will exhibit knowledge, skills, and dispositions equipping them to teach technology applications; demonstrate effective use of technology to support student learning of content; and provide professional development, mentoring, and basic technical assistance for other teachers who require support in their efforts to apply technology to support student learning.

NETS for Technology Leaders. Technology Leadership (TL) advanced programs meeting ISTE standards prepare candidates to serve as technology directors, coordinators, or specialists. Special preparation in computing systems, facilities planning and management, instructional program development, staff development, and other advanced applications of technology to support student learning and assessment will prepare candidates to serve in technology-related leadership positions at district, regional, and/or state levels. (Revised -- Fall 2001)