Computer and Information Literacy

Computer and information literacy, which supports skills in information-gathering, information-organizing, and problem solving, has become critical for every student whether college- or workplace-bound. Colleges and employers are now demanding that students and employees possess a broad range of computer and information literacy proficiencies. More and more retail purchasing is being done on-line every year, and all but the most menial of positions now require a significant understanding of computer and information literacy. To ensure that students are computer literate, a separate standard that defines rigorous, in-depth learning has been included. The computer and information literacy standard is designed to be integrated and applied in all of the content areas of the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Technology Education

The technology education standard was developed to ensure the literacy needed by all students to succeed in a highly technological world. Business and industry has clearly stated the need for technological skills in the workplace of the 21st Century.

This standard is based on the Standards for Technological Literacy (STL): Content for the Study of Technology (ITEA, 2000), developed as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF)/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funded by the Technology for All Americans (TfAA) project.

A study by DeKlerk has found that students form negative attitudes about the technological world if there are no formal technological experiences during the early school years. This finding is a great concern to New Jersey business and industry. Other cognitive research suggests that “design-based learning” is important. Early studies with design and technology curriculum indicate that students who learn important technological concepts develop positive attitudes about technology, math, science and learning in general.  For these reasons, an introduction to technology education, including engineering and technological design, is an essential component of a thorough and efficient
K-12 education.

World Language

New Jersey hosts a growing economy that is oriented toward agriculture, industry, finance, education, and research—an economy that demands contact and interaction with the global marketplace. For New Jersey students, the need to function competently in more than one language has therefore become increasingly important in order to participate fully in the economic, political, and social life of a state with over 100 ethnic groups, and where more than 150 different languages are spoken. In the twenty-first century, students must be able to participate in culturally appropriate ways in face-to-face interaction with members of other cultures in order to be productive members of the diverse communities in which we all live. Only by preparing students with an education comparable to the best that schools around the world offer—one that includes the study of world languages—can the goal of leaving no child behind be achieved.

• The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for World Languages envision all of New Jersey’s students prepared for the demands of an interdependent world by:
  • Teaching world languages for communication;
  • Heightening students’ linguistic and cultural awareness of their local, state, and world community;
  • Encouraging interdisciplinary and workplace readiness connections that may involve business and community members as mentors and models; and
  • Preparing students for using a world language(s) in whatever career choices they make.

Career & Technical Education

The career and technical arts standards at the elementary and middle school levels are designed to prepare students for further study at the high school level in career and technical education, formerly known as practical arts. These courses typically include business education, family and consumer sciences, and other courses related to career education and consumer, family, and life skills. In early elementary grades, career and technical education is designed to be integrated with other core content. At the middle and junior high school levels, the standard may be integrated or taught through rotational programs as students work on interdisciplinary projects that develop employability and academic skills. At the high school level, career and technical education programs establish necessary pathways for entering the world of work as well as continuing education, such as college, post-secondary vocational-technical education, specialized certification and/or registered apprenticeships. They also support lifelong learning. These essential elements include preparation for post-secondary pursuits as well as providing an essential foundation in everyday living skills. In essence, career and technical education is the application of life, academic, and occupational skills demonstrated by student-centered experiences in courses related to the sixteen States’ Career Clusters supported by state vocational technical directors from across the country. Career and technical education provides a variety of learning experiences to meet the needs of students having multiple learning styles.