KNOW THE

nets

Can you observe the NETS for Students in

practice? Try this exercise: Read the scenario below,

then check off any NETSS performance indicators

(on the right) that you think the lesson addresses.
Then turn to page 40 to see how ISTEs Research &
Evaluation Department would rate this lesson against
the NETS using the ISTE Classroom Observation Tool
(ICOT, iste.org/icot). You can also do this exercise
online at surveymonkey.com/s/knowthenets.

n eighth grade science teacher projects a ques-

tion on the screen: My first grade nephew has
a penny collection. Many of the pennies are old
and tarnished. Use this website to find a way to help
him clean the coins: http://chemistry.about.com/cs/
demonstrations/a/aa022204a.htm.
Using web browsers on laptops, students discover that
household acids, such as lemon juice and vinegar, will
clean pennies. Students enter their answers on a digital
lab sheet stored in Google Docs. Some have problems
because of incorrect browser settings, but others in
the class help them overcome the issues with minimal
teacher intervention.
The teacher projects a second question: What is it
about vinegar and lemon juice that cleans the pennies?
The teacher encourages students to discuss the issue
in their groups before entering answers on their lab
sheets. The teacher then leads a whole-class discussion
that reaches a consensus that acid, along with salt in the
cleaning solution, is what removes the tarnish.
The teacher explains that the class will be doing a lab
about how to measure the pH of different solutions using digital probes. She sets up lab stations with probes and
numbered but unlabeled beakers of water, salt water, diluted lemon juice, and a baking-soda solution. Working in
groups, students measure the pH of each solution and enter
their data into the lab sheets, along with predictions about
which solutions will do the best job of cleaning pennies.
The teacher hands out five tarnished pennies to each
group: one for each beaker plus a control. The teacher
directs the students in a procedure to clean each penny
in one of the beakers and record their observations of
how each penny differs from the control. At the end of
the experiment, the teacher reveals the contents of the
beakers and gives a short lecture on how the solutions
interact chemically with copper.
Finally, the teacher asks students to write a paragraph
in their online journals explaining which solution did
the best job of cleaning the pennies and how they arrived at their conclusions.

Creativity and Innovation

h 1a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products,

or processes
h 1b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
h 1c. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems

and issues
h 1d. Identify trends and forecast possibilities
Communication and Collaboration
h 2a. Interact, collaborate, and publish w/peers, experts, or others

employing a variety of digital environments and media

h 2b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple

audiences using a variety of media and formats

h 2c. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging

with learners of other cultures

h 2d. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve

problems
Research and Information Fluency
h 3a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
h 3b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use

information from a variety of sources and media

h 3c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on

the appropriateness to specific tasks

h 3d. Process data and report results
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
h 4a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions

for investigation
h 4b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete

a project
h 4c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed

decisions
h 4d. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore

alternative solutions
Digital Citizenship
h 5a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of

information and technology

h 5b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward technology that supports

collaboration, learning, and productivity

h 5c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
h 5d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Technology Operations and Concepts
h 6a. Understand and use technology systems
h 6b. Select and use applications effectively and productively
h 6c. Troubleshoot systems and applications
h 6d. Transfer current knowledge to learning new technologies

Find our answers on page 40.

Copyright 2012, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Intl), iste@iste.org, www.iste.org. All rights reserved.

June/July 2012 | Learning & Leading with Technology 11

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