A 21st century classroom is all about collaboration, student-centered activities, and…multimedia.

Research shows that multimedia is an important element to engaging and interactive instruction.

Our students are digital natives, and technology is their native language. Since this is the world we live in, there has been a lot of study and research around how learning through technology and multimedia learning is processed by the brain - and, most importantly, the impact it has on students.

Are you like many teachers that learned in college about the different types of learning styles that all learners are supposedly prescribed to?

You may have learned them to be styles like: kinesthetic learners or visual learners or auditory learners, among others.

And, you may have learned that each of us absorb new information best when it is presented in our preferred learning style.

This theory was supported by the notion of "Multiple Intelligences" - a theory that suggests that each of us are programmed to learn through a specific learning style.

What is a 21st century classroom, anyway?

Well - one thing is for sure - a 21st century classroom is more than just existing in the year 2000 to present day.

Maybe a better question to ask is: How can we create a 21st century classroom that meets the demands of the students in our classrooms TODAY?

Let's try answering that question now be exploring the elements that make up a modern, 21st century classroom.

We know that amazing lessons don't just fall out of the sky. (Boy that would be nice, eh!?)

Teachers, namely YOU, make them happen with intentional, thoughtful instruction.

And, the components that we shared in part 1 of this series, along with the ones we'll cover today are the components that we see time and time again in lessons that make the biggest impact on student learning.

As a review, here are the first three. Successful lessons...

allow for student independence

include a variety of engaging visuals

offer opportunities for students to work at their own pace

Here are 3 more components to add to the list!

Successful lessons don’t just happen. They are designed with intention and created to be align with best teaching practices.

So, what makes a good lesson, great?

What elements turn a student from a passive learning into an engaged one?

Let's explore the first 3 components of a successful lesson in this part 2 series.