Children are surrounded by technology from an extremely young age. These days children have the world wide web at their fingertips--they can access information on any desired subject in seconds, they Instant Message on their computer and/or cell phone, text on their cell phones, capture and listen to their favorite music on a pocket-sized contraption called an IPod, play special-effects filled interactive video games with people from around the globe, communicate with anyone in the world connected to the Internet via webblogs or email, and they can even reach others via video-to-video connections on skype. These technologies afford children almost instantaneous gratification. Our children quickly get accustomed to immediate results or responses. So why would children who have access to such fast-paced technological tools be engaged in school when teachers are still using lecturing and/or paper and pencil methods of learning? As teachers and parents, we must find an effective way in which to engage and challenge our 21st century learners.
Using lessons involving digital storytellings, utilizing Internet research rather than book research, webquests, blogs that showcase student work and blogs for content-based projects, interactive computer games, and powerpoint presentations are a number of ways we can engage this new type of learner. We must design lessons that employ creativity, encourage self-directed learning, and scaffold academic independence. Implementing technology into our classrooms improves student engagement, empowers our 21st century learners, and lessens negative behaviors we often encounter.

Please forward suggestions of what parents need to do in order to support and track progress of student academic achivement with and without technology.

I need everything you have on these subjects...constantly searching for the best ways to reach all my learners