New Oregon Diploma and Standards

As I was growing up, I watched as schools become more and more technologically advanced. I started out in elementary using floppy disks to save my work and now in college I'm using Google Docs and flash drives to save my work. It's only natural for technology to become a center piece to education which is why I'm not surprised that Oregon is now creating a standard devoted to technology and expects every student to meet these standards in order to graduate from high school. Below are a few of the standards my students will need to meet and how I can help them meet those standards in a high school setting.

1) Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, across the global community, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
A. Interact and collaborate with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
B. Effectively communicate and publish to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
C. Engage with learners from other cultures to develop cultural understanding and global awareness.
D. Contribute to project teams. Produce original works or solve problems in a team setting.

To meet this standard I would have my students use a combination of Skype and Teamviewer. I would have them Skype as a research tool for class. I could set them up with some of my college professors and have the students ask my professor questions about books and authors we have studied in class. They could than build presentations on an author of their choice and use teamviewer to collaborate on the project. They could all be in their homes as they worked on the project rather than relying on the schools computers.

2) Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to digital technology and practice legal, ethical, and responsible behavior. Students:
A. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and digital technology.
B. Model and practice a positive attitude toward using digital technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
C. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.

I think this standard could be easily met in a Social Studies classroom. They could do a research project on the history of technology and copy right laws and present it using a variety of new Web2.0 applications. This would give the students an idea of what is considered legal uses of technology and what is considered illegal.