1.4: Analyze the Language of an ISTE Standard 

Directions  

In this section, we will complete the first phase of the ISTE Unpacking Process: Analysis of Language.  

To complete this task, you will need to download and use your own copy of: ISTE Standard Unpacking Process Graphic Organizer – BLANK. Fill in each corresponding section of this document as it is discussed below.  

Meet Ms. Franklin, a High School ELA Teacher  

As we work through the unpacking process, we’ll check in with Ms. Franklin, an 11th grade High School ELA Teacher working in an urban North Carolina school district. Ms. Franklin’s unpacking process will serve as a model as you go through the steps yourself. To see a completed version of her unpacking process, download the ISTE Standard Unpacking Process Graphic Organizer – COMPLETED SAMPLE.  

In this section, you will see Ms. Franklin choose an ISTE standard and analyze its language to determine what the standard suggests students should be able to know and do. Most unpacking processes begin with (or at least include) this step because it helps educators identify the key concepts and skills the standard requires students to demonstrate in order to achieve mastery. Without this step, an educator cannot later create objectives aligned to the standard.   

Step 1: Choose an ISTE Standard to Implement into Your Instruction  

The first step in the unpacking process is to choose an ISTE Student Standard to implement into your classroom instruction. To do that, visit the ISTE Standards for Students website: https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students. For this task, you may choose EITHER one of the seven generic standards (notated as 1, 2, 3, etc.) OR a substandard (noted as 1a, 2a, 3a, etc.). After you select a standard, write it in the “ISTE Standard” section of your graphic organizer at the top of the page.  

For this task, Ms. Franklin chose Standard 2: Digital Citizen, and added it to her graphic organizer in this way:  

Step 2: Analyze the Verbs to Determine What Students Should be able to DO 

Next, highlight the verbs (using the highlight tool in your word processor). Ms. Franklin identified the following verbs in her ISTE standard:  

After, answer the question, “What does the ISTE standard suggest students should be able to DO?” Your responses should include specific verbs that describe the actions students should be able to take if they meet the standard. For Standard 2, Ms. Franklin identified the following: 

Step 3: Analyze the Nouns to Determine What Students Should be able to KNOW  

The next step is to highlight the nouns (using the highlight tool in your word processor). Ms. Franklin identified the following nouns in her standard:  

After, answer the question, “What does the ISTE standard suggest students should be able to KNOW? Your responses should be specific, concrete descriptions. Ms. Franklin answered:  

At this point, you should have completed Step 1 and Step in your ISTE Unpacking Process graphic organizer (i.e Phase 1 of the unpacking process). Ms. Franklin’s completed phase 1 of unpacking looks like this:  

Go to 1.5: Reflection on Phase 1 of the ISTE Standard Unpacking Process