ISTE developed the ISTE Standards (formerly known as the NETS) with input from the field and pioneered their use among educators.

The ISTE Standards are the standards for learning, teaching and leading in the digital age and are widely recognized and adopted worldwide. The family of ISTE Standards — ISTE Standards for Students (ISTE Standards•S), ISTE Standards for Teachers (ISTE Standards•T), ISTE Standards for Administrators (ISTE Standards•A), ISTE Standards for Coaches (ISTE Standards•C), and ISTE Standards for Computer Science Teachers (ISTE Standards•CSE) — work together to transform education.

Technology has forever changed not only what we need to learn, but the way we learn.

The ISTE Standards set a standard of excellence and best practices in learning, teaching and leading with technology in education. The benefits of using the ISTE Standards include:

• Improving higher-order thinking skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity
• Preparing students for their future in a competitive global job market
• Designing student-centered, project-based and online learning environments
• Guiding systemic change in our schools to create digital places of learning
• Inspiring digital age professional models for working, collaborating and decision making

ISTE Standards for Students (ISTE Standards•S): The standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge students need to learn effectively and live productively in an increasingly global and digital world

ISTE Standards for Teachers (ISTE Standards•T): The standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge educators need to teach, work and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society

ISTE Standards for Administrators (ISTE Standards•A): The standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge school administrators and leaders need to support digital age learning, implement technology and transform the instruction landscape

ISTE Standards for Coaches (ISTE Standards•C): The skills and knowledge technology coaches need to support peers in becoming digital educators

ISTE Standards for Computer Science Educators (ISTE Standards•CSE): The skills and knowledge that computer science educators need to reach, inspire and teach students in computing

ISTE offers a host of resources to help teachers and administrators learn about the ISTE Standards and how to use them.

• Essential Conditions for the ISTE Standards
• ISTE Standards Implementation Wiki
• ISTE Standards Leadership Academy
• Learning Labs for the Elementary Classroom
• Digital Citizenship Online Course