Testimonials - Instruction

How has the completion of the JMU NETS•T Certification Program
improved instruction in your classroom?
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Select topic Instruction | Achievement | Impact

Credible, authentic, integrated professional development opportunity

I’ve seen what NETS▪T certification can do for a teacher. I’ve seen them reflect on their current practice, understand how technology can improve their instruction, and how this leads to improved student achievement. I’ve also seen what happens when groups or cohorts of teachers at the same school pursue NETS▪T and the excitement and innovation this generates within in a school. We are dealing with 21st century learners who need 21st century skills. Shouldn’t these students be taught by teachers who possess these skills? The refresh of the NETS standards at all levels is being done to address what is needed to be successful in today’s world. Infusion of technology into the curriculum in all subject areas is a real-world-today type of thinking. We are not just using technology to learn technology. We’re using technology to learn math and science. The only way we will be able to produce 21st century learners is by providing them teachers with 21st century skills themselves. This starts with the teacher, not the student. The NETS▪T SVTC project was one of the most credible, authentic, integrated professional development opportunities I provided while at SCPS [Shenandoah County Public Schools, VA].

Pam Smith
NETS▪T Evaluator
NETS▪T rubric co-author

Self-evaluation and Reflection; Self-satisfaction

We have consistently observed in Rockingham County that our teachers admit, more than anything else, that they appreciate the self-evaluation and reflection components of the NETS▪T certification process. While teachers surely learn about new technology tools, skills, and resources available to them, they learn even more about their own strengths and weaknesses as teachers as they carefully scrutinize how they’re integrating technology into their daily instruction. As they move through the process, they see the bigger picture as the standards ask them to reflect on such things as their goals, teaching strategies, methods for differentiating instruction based on learning styles and various types of diversity present in their populations, assessment of technology, and even the management of their resources. The process is rigorous and fosters thorough examination of all they do in the context of using technology in instruction yet certainly yields a high degree of satisfaction among those who complete.

Stephanie Failes
NETS▪T Evaluator
NETS▪T rubric co-author
Rockingham County Public Schools

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