Instructional Strategies in the 21st Century

     Using a variety of instructional strategies within the classroom is a necessity for the 21st century classroom.  Between teacher centered strategies and student centered strategies there are numerous ways to introduce, involve, and examine information as well as ways to deliver and assess the gained information.  I would like to look at one strategy from teacher centered and one from student centered: presentations and discussion.

Presentations
    While this is a teacher centered strategy it is not a lecture.  A presentation uses various forms of media to engage students in a topic and inform them of needed information.  A presentation may be done on several formats such as PowerPoint, Prezi, Present Me, Keynote, or video.  An effective information would be appealing to several learning styles, not just the visual learner.  Using a creative presentation to interest students in a topic at the beginning of each unit is one way that teachers implement them to their classroom.  Using presentations as the only method of delivery or using them repetitiously would not be effective. 

Discussion
    While discussions are very similar to cooperative learning, the important thing to remember is that they are content driven discussions.  This student centered strategy is also a wonderful tool for CLD and ELL students as they are given a chance to use the academic vocabulary along with their social vocabulary.  Discussions also allow students to debate and solve problems that in the past would just have been answered for them.  Integrating technology with this strategy could be easily done by allowing students to share a tablet, computer, or create a presentation focusing on their discussion.