Standard+5

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers: a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

It seems that something needs to be done that will allow teachers more access to teaching tools. At Austin, we currently have too many restrictions that are preventing us from utilizing what I'm learning. Myself and the other teachers from AASD now have some "unassigned homework" to do so we can unlock our blogs, wikis, and other great tools at school. According to blog author Chris O'Neil, "...we have laws and regulations in place designed to protect children's safety (the Children's Internet Protection Act [CIPA]) and the privacy of our children (the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act [COPPA])." There is obvious research and data to show that using 21st Century skills and higher order thinking skills will greatly improve the quality of education the students receive. Let's allow them to use it and take off and run with it.