Literacy, Instruction, and Technology: Meeting Millennials on Their Own Turf.

Novice teachers today struggle to integrate engaging pedagogy into their standards based curriculum. 21st century students have been immersed in technology from birth and are accustomed to multi-tasking with several types of technology each day. Students no longer rely on the traditional ways of communication and absorb their information via multiple technologies. This research project examines one university course that prepares teachers, with limited technology skills, to utilize cutting edge technologies along with engaging and challenging pedagogy in integrated lessons designed to meet curriculum standards as well as to promote creativity, problem solving skills, cooperative relationships, and critical thinking skills. Research findings showed that preservice teachers fears about using technology in the classroom decreased as their understanding and experience levels increased. At the end of the course data revealed that preservice teachers were excited about and confident in their ability to use and teach various technologies to their K-12 students.

Marks, D. (2009). Literacy, Instruction, and Technology: Meeting Millennials on Their Own Turf. AACE Journal, 363-377.