A Comparison of AASL and ISTE Standards

Image description: Logos for AASL and ISTE.

In 2018, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) created the AASL Standards Crosswalk Task Force to develop "crosswalks" between AASL Standards, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards, and the Future Ready Librarian Framework. This tool provides an easy and quick way to understand and compare standards from these organizations, linked below:

National School Library Standards crosswalk with ISTE Standards for Students and Educators

Both sets of standards take a learner-centered curricula approach, moving away from teacher-centered instruction toward methods like problem-solving that actively involve students (Freedman & Robinson, 2019). For example, the AASL standards state school librarians should encourage "learners to formulate questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic," and the ISTE standards have them "foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings," (AASL, 2018a).

Both frameworks are forward-facing, designed to equip students with the knowledge necessary for lifelong learning. The standards are intended to push the current generation of students to lead learning-centered lives. Both encourage learners to be creators rather than just consumers of information. While AASL standards focus on information literacy skills and ISTE standards are more tech-driven, they both work to inspire creativity (AASL, 2018a).

Collaboration is an important component in both sets of standards. The ISTE standards encourage educators to collaborate with other educators and students to improve their practice and share resources. The AASL framework also has collaboration as one of its six shared foundations, providing competencies for learners and librarians to foster collaborative opportunities.

GIF description: Jim and Darryl from The Office fist bumping with text "Team Work."

The biggest distinction between the AASL and ISTE standards is in their primary focus: AASL centers around information literacy, using information ethically, and evaluating sources while ISTE homes in on technology integration, digital literacy, and innovation. The AASL standards provide the foundation for using information wisely, while the ISTE standards focus on applying that knowledge in a digital context.

The organizational structure of the two sets of standards is different. The AASL standards are built around six interconnected "shared foundations" that encompass competencies for the learner, the librarian, and the library itself. The ISTE standards are broken down into distinct sets for students, educators, leaders, and coaches, making them less interconnected than the AASL framework (AASL, 2018a).

Image description: ISTE's seven standards for students, which include digital citizen, knowledge constructor, innovative designer, computational thinker, creative communicator, global collaborator, and empowered learner (21st Century Learning, n.d.).

Image description: AASL's infographic covering one of their six shared foundations, engage (AASL, 2018b).

While the AASL and ISTE standards have different primary goals and structures, they are not mutually exclusive. They complement each other in that they both encourage learning, build literacy, and prepare both students and educators for the future. The AASL standards can provide the "why" behind information use, while the ISTE standards provide the "how" in giving students the technological tools and skills to explore a digital environment.

References

21st Century Learning. (n.d.). ISTE Standards Professional Development [Infographic]. Retrieved from 21c-learning.com/iste-standards-professional-development/

AASL. (2018a). National School Library Standards Crosswalk. Retrieved from standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180828-aasl-standards-crosswalk-iste.pdf

AASL. (2018b). Shared Foundation Infographics [Infographic]. Retrieved from standards.aasl.org/project/foundations/

Freedman, J. L. & Robinson, A. (2019). School librarians level up! Knowledge Quest, 47(5), 10-15.