District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Review and Approval of the Updated Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations Document

The updated 2008 "Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations" document was presented to the Board for its review at the February 26, 2008 meeting. In March, Board members received additional information, including a copy of the 2001 technology literacy standards, the proposed 2008 changes to the 2001 document, and a summary of public comments with the Department's responses.

At this month's meeting, I recommend that the Board approve the updated Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations document. The standards and expectations were developed by the Department in collaboration with and at the request of the field. They have been reviewed and deemed reasonable and grade-level appropriate by hundreds of Massachusetts educators, including classroom teachers and school leaders. We believe the updated standards and expectations will be a helpful resource and guide for all schools.

The document is enclosed for your review.

Development and Review Process

The Department has collaborated with a wide range of representatives from the education, business, and technology sectors to update the standards in order to reflect 21st century skills as well as current ethical guidelines. The draft standards and expectations were reviewed by 100 teachers and 88 administrators, representing the full K-12 spectrum, at two full-day forums that we sponsored. In addition, other opportunities for public input were provided, including a workshop at the Boston Area Advanced Technological Education (BATEC) conference, a one-day blog by MassCue (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators), and through the posting of the draft document on our Web site since January 2007.

Purpose for the Update

Technology has changed substantially since 2001. Massachusetts students need to graduate knowing how to use technology tools skillfully, ethically, and responsibly. The purpose of this updated document is to assist schools in teaching students how to use technology to learn the content of the curriculum and to be well prepared for higher education, careers, and adult life. These technology literacy skills will help students function effectively in a world where technologies are constantly changing and information grows ever more abundant.

Key Changes in the Updated Standards and Expectations

In response to public input, we have made three key changes to the 2001 document:

• The revised document focuses on the research, problem-solving, and communication skills that are recommended by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills in its policy paper, The Road to 21st Century Learning. The policy paper is available online at: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Policy_Paper.pdf.

• The revised document devotes more attention to digital citizenship, ethics, society, and safety. It includes clear guidelines for students to be responsible in the use of technology, to understand general rules for safe Internet practices, to understand federal and state laws regarding computer crimes, and to exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.

• The revised document groups specific technology skills under four grade spans: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, instead of three grade spans, which makes it more usable by teachers and responds to their requests. Please note that for the K-2 grade span, the expectations are "exploratory," leaving it to teachers and school districts to determine what is appropriate to introduce to students in these grades.

Next Steps

With the Board's approval of the document, the Department will publicize the updated standards and expectations and will work with school districts, organizations, and businesses to support professional development for teachers to assist them in integrating the teaching of technology skills into the general curriculum. We will make available federal technology grants for schools to use for professional development and to disseminate promising practices in the teaching and assessment of these standards. Also, the Department will develop guidelines to help schools and districts incorporate the standards and expectations into their technology planning.

If you have any questions about the updated Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations document, we would be pleased to respond.

Enclosure:
   Updated document: The Massachusetts Technology Literacy Standards and Expectations