First Blog ISTE/AASL Standards and Resources
As I explored the comparisons and contrasts between the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) standards and the AASL (American Association of School Librarians) standards, using encouragement from “The Start of Something New: The Relationship between the AASL Standards Framework for Learners and IB Approaches to Learning” by Calypso Gilstrap.
While exploring the similarities, differences, and synergy of AASL and ISTE. We as educators don't should not have to choose between technology and literacy, we should integrate both to formulate students for a world that stresses digital influences, critical thinking, and creativity.
AASL
and ISTE standards are keystone frameworks that make the wheels turn on the bus
for maximum results for scholars and classroom teachers. AASL standards focus
on inquiry, information literacy, ethical use, and digital
citizenship, ISTE centers around technology integration and
computational rationale
Differences Between AASL and ISTE Standards
|
AASL -
2018 |
ISTE -
2016 |
|
Built
around six shared foundations: Engage, Include, Collaborate, Explore, Curate,
Inquire |
Seven standards
for students including knowledge constructor, digital citizen and empowered learner |
|
Highlights
ethical information use, library-centered learning and inquiry-based learning |
Underscores
technology skills, creation using digital fluency and digital tools |
|
Emphases on
student empowerment through responsible information use, research, and reading |
Emphases
on leaners as designers, global collaborators and computational thinkers |
|
Promotes curation
and deep dives into information assessment |
Reassures innovation,
computational problem solving and design thinking |
|
Engrained
in the librarianship and media specialist's role |
Planned
for to library/media specialists and teachers |
The ISTE Standards are a framework that guides educators, leaders and coaches in using technology to create high-impact, sustainable, scalable and equitable learning experiences. https://iste.org/standards
The mission of the American Association of School
Librarians is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, and develop leaders in
the school library media field. https://www.wemta.org/learn/aasl.cfm
AASL and ISTE - There are powerful overlaps despite their different origins:
*Student-Centered Learning: Both emphasize
student voice, choice, and agency
*Inquiry & Exploration: Encouraged to
research, ask questions, and solve problems
*Collaboration: Requires peer-to-peer learning
and building teamwork is preliminary
*Digital Citizenship: Both encourage safety
online and ethics as priorities
*Future-Ready Skills: They foster creativity,
critical thinking, and lifelong learning.
An example of this integration might include:
A student investigating global climate change. IB ATL - Thinking Skills, Research: Examines information and assesses solutions. AASL - Curate, Inquire: Classifies credible sources and verbalizes deep questions. Results are more affluent, skills-based learning involvement reinforced by multiple frameworks. IB ATL - Thinking Skills, Research: Analyzer’s data and assesses explanations
Implications for Practice include curriculum planning so educators can map AASL competencies straight to ATL skill classes to ensure consistency across disciplines. Collaboration is critical for classroom teachers and librarians to work together to co-teach lessons that sustain both frameworks. Assessments are shared with reflective practices and rubrics can integrate language from both standards to assess scholar progress in skills.
VIDEOS:
Introducing the ISTE Standards for Students
Reference(s):
American Association of School Librarians.
(n.d.). Purpose & Structure. Standards Structure.
https://aasl.ala.org/standards/overview/
Comerford, Anja (2022). AASL Standards Overview [Video].
YouTube. Retrieved June 27,
2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RRc6tmKcjY
International Society for Technology in Education. (n.d.). ISTE Standards: For Students. ISTE.
https://iste.org/standards/students#1-1-empowered-learner
International Society for Technology in Education.
(n.d.). Standards. ISTE.
https://iste.org/standards
ISTE June 2016. Introducing the ISTE Standards for
Students [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved June
27, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDCAnJ8NnFA
Robinson, A., & Freedman, J. (2019). School
Librarians Level Up!: Transform Your Teaching
by Unpacking the AASL
Standards Framework and Implementing Shared Foundation V:
Explore. In Knowledge
Quest: Journeying with the AASL standards (5th ed., Vol. 47, pp.
12–17). essay, American
Association of School Librarians.
Hi Angelia,
ReplyDeleteYour insight on how educators should not have to choose between meaningful literacy and technology education is something I had not thought about while exploring the two sets of standards. I think both types of learning are important in the school library setting and the "National School Library Standards crosswalk with ISTE Standards for Students and Educators" resource is incredible at helping educators find meaningful ways to connect the two sets of standards. The AASL standards being more focused on processes of learning presents opportunities for educators to facilitate opportunities that involve inquiry and exploitation coupled with technology.