Instructional Strategies and the Value They Add to Education in the 21st Century

As students are introduced to new varieties of technology, and more technology is being introduced into their classrooms, they must learn how to use these resources correctly and responsibly.  Children within the 21st century are not oblivious to technology, and many of them have a large variety of technological resources right at their fingertips.  It is amazing to see how fast technology advances.  New improvements to technology come at full force and there is no stopping it.  As an educator, I believe that it is only a matter of time before every class is loaded with many different types of technology.  Textbooks, pens, pencils, notebooks, chalkboards, etc. will all be replaced by technology.  People learn in many different ways, and it is important that the express what they have learned in the most creative way possible.  Technology is lending a major hand by allowing teachers to use many instructional strategies using technological resources.  New and amazing technology such as the SMART table are entering the classroom, which is bringing collaboration to a new level.  The constructivist can present their students with a problem and the students can immediately use the resources they have been provided to solve a problem.

Behaviorists can use technology to track and monitor student's behavior and progress at the click of a button.  It seems that children relate better to technology.  With that said, a piece of paper or token economy that once tracked behavior can now be transformed into a computerized program.  Students can immediately view comments posted by their teacher, and in turn reflect on their individual behaviors and/or progress in class.  

Cognivists now have the opportunity to use technological programs to enhance the ways students learn and organize their work.  There are many programs that collect and organize audio, video, text, and more that can be organized, edited, and saved for future reference.  Many programs such as Inspiration, or Kidspiration are available for classroom use.  Students now have the opportunity to organize their work technologically with graphics, and in their own way.

The Social Psychological perspective allows teachers to use a community as a whole to monitor the way a classroom performs.  As students within a class behave positively or negatively, they in turn will have rewards or consequences.  Technology offers many opportunities for teachers monitor their classroom community while expressing the behaviors that they think are appropriate.  Their are apps or programs such as Class Dojo that allow students to technologically be monitored, at at the same time be able to see the behaviors that give their classmates positive or negative scores.  

As I continue to become more advanced with technology in the 21st century, I am excited to introduce my students to new technological resources that will enhance the ways they learn.  Technology will provide my student's with excellent opportunities to express themselves in many different ways.  Technology will also give me as an educator new and exciting ways to monitor my student's progress.  I personally see myself as a constructivist that wants to give my children the tools that will help them solve any problem they may face throughout their academic careers and also in their adult lives.