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.