Summary

= Summary =

Twenty-first century learners enter the classroom with experiences and expectations that are vastly different from those of previous generations. These students come from diverse backgrounds, have a wide range of learning styles and preferences, and present a unique set of education challenges. Our goal was to help teachers address these education challenges by suggesting technologies that can be used inside and outside of the classroom to support and enhance research-based instructional strategies. Through effective technology integration across the content areas, educators will not only improve student learning, but also provide students with the 21st century skills that are vital to their future success.

In selecting the technology, we strove to identify high-quality, reliable hardware, software, and Web resources that allow students to create, manipulate, modify, and explore information in a variety of formats. All of these technologies support a specific instructional strategy, will help teachers address today's education challenges, and will contribute to student achievement. The following table summarizes the technologies we have suggested and the instructional strategies that they address.
 * ** Strategy ** || ** Technology ** || ** Category ** ||
 * **Cues, questions and advance organizers** || WebQuests || Web as resource ||
 * || Fact Check Website || Web as resource ||
 * || Inspiration and SMART Board || Software, hardware ||
 * **Generating and testing hypotheses** || Microsoft Excel || Software ||
 * || LabQuest Data Collection System || Handheld ||
 * || Funderstanding and Roller Coaster Tycoon || Software ||
 * **Homework and practice** || Online Homework Help || Web as resource ||
 * || Edu2.0 || Web environment ||
 * || ProgressBook || Web environment ||
 * **Identifying similarities and differences** || Wordle || Software, Web as resource ||
 * || PageFlakes and Weebly || Web environment ||
 * || Google Docs || Web as resource, Web environment ||
 * **Nonlinguistic representation** || VoiceThread || Web environment ||
 * || Inspiration || Software ||
 * || GeoGebra || Software ||
 * **Providing feedback** || Google Presentations || Software ||
 * || Funnel Brain || Web as resource ||
 * || Etherpad || Web environment ||
 * || Edu2.0 || Web environment ||
 * || ProgressBook || Web environment ||
 * || Classroom feedback systems || Handheld ||
 * **Reinforcing effort** || Classroom performance system || Handheld ||
 * || A+ Anywhere Learning System || Software ||
 * || Moodle || Web environment ||
 * **Simulations and games** || My Amazing Human Body || Software ||
 * || FunBrain || Web as resource ||
 * || Digital camcorders and MovieMaker || Hardware, software ||
 * **Summarizing and note taking** || Microsoft Word || Software ||
 * || Microsoft Outlook || Software ||
 * || SMART Board || Hardware ||

By incorporating these technologies and strategies into the core curriculum, we will be setting the stage for a 21st century learning environment in which students will learn life-long skills. As outlined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills ([]) innovative learning methods that integrate the use of supportive technologies, such as those included in this project, are vital to the future success of today's students. The technologies that we suggested promote creativity, flexibility, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration - all of which are important 21st century skills. It is our hope that this educational approach will prepare our students for the increasingly complex life and work environments of the 21st century.