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.