About ET, NETS and 21st Century Skills
ISTE published the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) in 1998 after almost three years of development engaging a broad range of stakeholders. They documented a U.S. consensus defining what students needed to know about and be able to do with technology. The standards, used in every U.S. state and many countries, are credited by most with significantly influencing expectations for students and creating a target of excellence relating to technology.

In 2006, ISTE began work on the next generation of NETS for Students, which focuses more on skills and expertise and less on tools. Specifically, they address creativity and innovation; communication and collaboration; research and information fluency; critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts. NETS for Students will be unveiled at NECC 2007. NETS for Teachers (NETS•T) will be introduced in 2008, and NETS for Administrators (NETS•A) in 2009.

The clickable map to the left links to pages that describe each area. The second floor level of the ET Idea Library is provided for discussions about how all ET elements can combine to meet the objectives outlined in NETS for Students. Each room on this floor is dedicated to one of the six elements shown in the framework graphic. Signs at the entrance and exits of each room describe the particular focus of each room, and there are links to each respective topic area on the ET Blog.
Return to ISTE Emerging Technologies Idea Library Page