Xs and Os to Engage Students-Final

The Xs and Os I would include in lesson planning to engage 21st century learners are giving students the opportunity to participate in the lesson by demonstrating the knowledge they posses about a topic being introduced or discussed; by putting students in groups where they can work on a project such as a game or other activity for class and collaborate with fellow students. I would let students use the current technology that is available in class such as smart boards and interactive white boards and incorporate this technology into my lesson plan and class activities. Using these techniques provide students with 21st century skills by fostering not only collaboration but digital literacy, helps them to use critical thinking and problem solving and allows them to use their strengths allowing them to be successful in school and future careers, having the skills needed to work in the 21st century with new and changing technology. I would ensure that the material is interesting and presented in a way to encourage the student to seek more information about the topic being taught on their own and for assignments.

This class has prepared me to engage 21st century learners by showing me the technology that is available and being used to keep our youth interested in their education and to continue to pursue the highest levels of education, graduating from high school, going on to college and perhaps graduate school. This class showed me some of the new technology, such as IWB and websites like Smart Tech that has lessons I can use and modify for my classes' instruction. I can also use Prezi, Google SketchUp, VisuWords, Piclits, The Hat, Blogs, Google Earth, Wordle, iEtherpad, Scratch and XtraNormal to make my lesson interesting and innovative. This new technology can be used for students as young as those in preschool and older students  in college or graduate school. This class has shown me that any instructor or teacher can use the current technology with minimal training.

I liked having a hands-on approach to the new technology so I could learn it myself, through practice, allowing me to present it to my future students. I learned that IWB draws students' into the lesson and should be utilized as much as possible and as often as possible.

IWBs & Great Lessons with Smart Boards Blog

When Interactive White Boards are used in classrooms, student achievement point gains are  16%. When a voting device which gives immediate results is used, it improves a student's achievement point gains by 26%. When additional technology is used with an Interactive White Board (IWB), such as drop and drag features, applause given when an answer is correct and covering an object's answer, the student's achievement point rises to 31%.

Using an IWB in the classroom improves the amount of material a student learns and remembers, thus improving his or her success as a student because more information is retained and used for future use. These improvements in achievement point gains allows, or rather creates a positive learning experience for the student.

The second article, "Steps to Create Great Lessons with Smart Boards gives techniques to ensure lessons are given that engage students, keep their interests and help them learn new material.

These steps are: have a well organized lesson which features interactive elements such as instant questions , games, and using creative themes which help make learning fun. Additional help can be found in "The Gallery" and "Lesson Activity Toolkit" to help make your lesson one that your students are enthusiastic about and actively participate in during class. Engaging students in this manner not only helps them to learn but makes it fun for the student and teacher and shows that learning doesn't have to be boring.

Digital Natives Digital Immigrants

Integrate technology means to use the current technology such as cell/smart phones, Facebook and Twitter to introduce new ideas and concepts to the "N-gen" and "D-gen" generation. Allow students to use and even create video games that help teach the lesson or helps students learn the lesson; using the internet as a first source of information, not as a secondary source such as books or magazines. Media familiar to the digital native is fast paced and immediate, whereas media that the digital immigrant knows is slower and takes time, using a book for research, calling on the phone instead of sending a text or instant messaging or using social networks to communicate and interact.
Technology when I was in school consisted of movies and overhead projectors.Information was passed along to large amounts of students through "Assemblies" when information was given to students at one time. Specific strategies that can be used include using/inventing games that tell/teach the lesson; allow groups of students to work together using social networks and most important, let the natives know that they, the immigrants don't have or know most of this information and welcome their expertise. Classrooms today not only use white boards or some other type of interactive board, they use the internet to bring up programs, lessons, songs, games and other activities to be used by students. This occurs in the Pre-Kindergarten class I'm an aide in. The children are engaged and love to use the technology. An important note is they know how to use this technology. These are children with Autism, so I think there is no excuse for any digital immigrant to say they can't use or understand this technology. As with me, it may take some time, but it can be done.

Initial Blog & Answers

5 Common Themes:
21st Century Technology, which includes, texting, using I-Pods and blogging is the current medium, calling on the phone is not. Using special effects and videos for reports or to make your own "home movie." Teachers need to stay current with technology and use it in their lessons and with their students and peers. Engage students using new technology in the class with homework and projects. Be interesting, creative, help students become self-directed learners which empowers them. Blogging has changed the face of news and of the general population. Blogging is for the famous, for the junior high student, for moms, dads, workers, co-workers, people in cities or in the country. Blogging isn't limited to a select few, blogging can be done by anyone (who is old enough). Blogging is used by the news media/reporters and by "everyday people." I think 21st century skills means keeping up with current trends, such as blogging, using facebook and twittering. With the exception of blogging, which I've just begun, I have not kept up with the current trends in technology.


21^st Century Technology, like white boards and Pramaeateon  boards should be used by every grade level. I see how excited 3-5 year olds are with this technology. I can imagine it making lessons exciting for junior and high school students. Use this technology for homework and projects, not just to teach and let students who have expertise teach other students and even the teacher. That would make learning fun and exciting for students.

If it weren't for this class, I wouldn't be blogging. So, I guess I'm in the 21st Century, figuratively as well as physically.