Serving school media and information technology professionals in Minnesota

MEMO Information and Technology Literacy Standards

MEMO Standards

2009 Standards Refresh Project

The goal of our project was to update the MEMO Guidelines for Standards in Information and Technology Literacy. The new standards reflect 21st century skills and provide a bridge between K-12 and higher education expectations for students. Beginning in June and continuing throughout the summer and fall, advisory and writing groups met, and determined the framework, standards and benchmarks. The groups included library media specialists and technology integration teachers as well as representatives from public libraries, higher education, and business.

The goal of our project to to update the MEMO Guidelines for Standards in Information and Technology Literacy. The new standards will reflect 21st century skills and provide a bridge between K-12 and higher education expectations for students. We will convene a K-12 and higher education advisory committee to revise and update the Minnesota Education Media Organization (MEMO) Information and Technology Literacy Standards.

The original standards were approved by the MEMO membership in 2004. Some of the sources for that version were the ISTE standards published in 1998, AASL standards published in 1998, various research process models, and suggestions from the MEMO membership from conference presentation in 2003.

In 2006, MEMO developed a scope & sequence that further developed those standards. To develop the grade level benchmarks, we used various scope and sequence documents that had been created by districts since the introduction of the 2004 standards. Other sources included curriculum work done by New York City schools and sites detailing information on responsible use. Working in grade level teams, a group of media and library leaders use this foundation to create the benchmarks in a series of meetings and in online work. See the links at the top of the page to find copies of the scope & sequence.

The MEMO standards have been used as an information source in the refresh of Minnesota Content standards, as defined by law. "The commissioner of education must revise and appropriately embed technology and information literacy standards consistent with recommendations from school media specialists..." 120B.023, Minnesota Statutes 2007

Content Standards in math, science and the arts have been approved by the Minnesota Department of Education embedded with information and technology benchmarks. See the links below for the content standards documents with the information and technology benchmarks highlighted.

In 2007, ISTE approved new technology standards, that focus on learning with technology, including using technology creatively and collaboratively. They include both a problem solving and research process model.

In 2007, AASL also approved new Standards for the 21st Century Learner. Research process is an embedded theme in these standards.

The 21st Century skills group is also promoting a Framework for 21st Century Learning that include information, media and technology skills.

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