What If: ISTE Essential Conditions

In The Innovator's Mindset, George Couros concludes chapter 7 with a list of "What ifs" he has used to help him dream big and develop a vision for schools. After reading the ISTE Essential Conditions to effectively leverage technology for learning, I thought I'd try using the "What if?" strategy to identify examples of how some of the ISTE conditions might look. These "What ifs" are inspired equally by bright spots and opportunities I see in my school.

Shared Vision

What if we engaged all stakeholders (admin, teachers, students, families, community) in developing a shared vision for educational technology?

Empowered Leaders

What if we had a culture of innovation and risk-taking where teachers were empowered to influence substantive systemic change?

Equitable Access

What if every students had access to a device with internet connectivity they could use at school and at home?

Skilled Personnel

What if the adults in our school embraced a culture and practice of learning from each other, and learning from students, about ways to use technology effectively in our work?

Technical Support

What if everyone in school could easily and immediately access technical support when they needed it?

Curriculum Framework

What if the ISTE Standards for Students were embedded in all of our conversations about curriculum and instruction?

Student-Centered Learning

What if the needs of our students were always our first focus, and we used technology when it was the right tool to better meet those needs?