Topic: Using a variety of instructional strategies, incorporating technology, the value and impact it has on teaching

The use of multiple instructional strategies is an invaluable practice to prepare students for the 21^st century.  Students learn in different ways not to mention the different types of learners in one classroom vary greatly.  Teachers must select a strategy to use for a lesson based on several factors .   Instructional Technology and Media for Learning, reminds us that when selecting a strategy we must consider what the learning outcome, the age, and the teacher’s comfort of using a specific strategy.  According to the article “21st Century Skills: The Challenges Ahead” written by Andrew J. Rotherham and Daniel Willingham “Advocates of 21st century skills favor student-centered methods—for example, problem-based learning and project-based learning—that allow students to collaborate, work on authentic problems, and engage with the community. These approaches are widely acclaimed and can be found in any pedagogical methods textbook; teachers know about them and believe they're effective.”

 These strategies are effective because they allow teachers to facilitate the learning, students to be creative, problem solvers who work with other students in a collaborative effort.  The strategies do not allow students to sit and listen to a lecture.  They require students to be involved in the lesson using different intelligences and reaching diverse learning styles.  Technology also allows the use of strategies that would not be possible otherwise.  A PowerPoint can include multiple types of media to reach all types of learners.  Using the computer can require students to create and alter sound, video, pictures and other forms of technology.  Students can even participate in lessons and learning with students in different geographical areas of the world or see distant lands in the world.  This provides an experience that students will remember and learn from better than a description or picture.  Technology opens more learning and the facilitation of lessons in a different way than before when incorporated with instructional strategies. 

Musing various instructional strategies with technology will impact teaching by requiring teachers to stay informed and educated and pass the knowledge on to students.  Students to become and stay engrossed in the lesson, intrigued by what they saw and curious about how it was done.  Students will be reached where it is appropriate for individuals.  Students will be better prepared for the future.   Time stands still for no one, and neither does technology.  Technology continues to change and be revolutionized.  In preparation of these changes students must be taught how to properly use technology.  The ISTE-NETS has designed standards for students and teachers as to prepare both for the 21^st century in education with technology.  These standards are to aid in teachers’ and students’ preparation for the future.  These are combined with the effort to reach all pupils.  To do so teachers must use a variety of instructional strategies that integrate technology.