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To counter common misconceptions and bring clarity to discussions about "Flipped Learning," the governing board and key leaders of the Flipped Learning Network (FLN) announced a formal definition of the term. They also released the Four Pillars of F-L-I-P™ and a checklist of eleven indicators that educators must incorporate into their practice. The group of experienced flipped educators also draws a distinction between Flipped Learning and a Flipped Classroom.

While often defined simplistically as "school work at home and home work at school," Flipped Learning
is an approach that allows teachers to implement a methodology, or various methodologies, in their
classrooms.

To counter some of the misconceptions about this term, the governing board and key leaders of the Flipped Learning Network (FLN), all experienced Flipped Educators, have composed a formal definition of "Flipped Learning." Explicitly defining the term may dispel some of the myths repeatedly promulgated by teachers, the media, and researchers.

These Flipped Learning leaders also distinguish between a Flipped Classroom and Flipped Learning. These terms are not interchangeable. Flipping a class can, but does not necessarily, lead to Flipped Learning. Many teachers may already flip their classes by having students read text outside of class, watch supplemental videos, or solve additional problems, but to engage in Flipped Learning, teachers must incorporate the following four pillars into their practice.

Citation: Flipped Learning Network (FLN). (2014) The Four Pillars of F-L-I-P™ Reproducible PDF can be found at www.flippedlearning.org/definition.

Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International ( CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

The Flipped Learning Network is a 501 (c) 3 with the mission of providing educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources to implement Flipped Learning successfully. The Four Pillars of F-L-I-P™ and the definition were written by the FLN's board members: Aaron Sams, Jon Bergmann, Kristin Daniels, Brian Bennett, Helaine W. Marshall, Ph.D., and Kari M. Arfstrom, Ph.D., executive director, with additional support from experienced Flipped Educators.

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Definition of Flipped Learning - Flipped Learning Network Hub

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Released March 12, 2014 To counter common misconceptions and bring clarity to discussions about "Flipped Learning," the governing board and key leaders of the Flipped Learning Network (FLN) announced a formal definition of the term. They also released the Four Pillars of F-L-I-P™ and a checklist of eleven indicators that educators must incorporate into their [...]

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Gateway B1 Unit 8 Friendship and Feelings Flashcards | Quizlet

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Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like circle of friends, classmate, close friend and others.

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Wordwall - Create better lessons quicker

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Random wheel - Spin the wheel to see which item comes up next.

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Voice Spice - Record and Share your voice

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The Voice Spice Online Recorder allows you to record a voice or audio message for free from your Web browser or mobile app

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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

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Voice Dictation - Type with your voice using Google Speech Recognition

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Looking for a free alternative to Dragon Naturally speaking for speech recognition? Voice Notepad lets you type with your voice in any language.

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What Is Multimodal Learning? 35 Strategies and Examples to Empower Your Teaching

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What Is Multimodal Learning? 35 Strategies and Examples to Empower Your Teaching

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Even the most confident educational leaders can find themselves asking the same questions, over and over.
Are students listening? Are they engaged? Are they learning the way they should?
All kids learn differently, and sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to find a curriculum or plan that works for an entire school. That's where multimodal learning comes in.

Most schools see hundreds of students every day -- and they all have different learning styles. One student might need as many visuals as possible, while another would swap a picture for a verbal explanation in a heartbeat. Other students need information in multiple formats for concepts to stick. This is why a multimodal approach to education is best.

Wondering what that looks like? Keep reading.

Try Prodigy Math Game - the adaptive, curriculum-aligned math platform that helps students love learning math

eachers can use Prodigy to:

Align in-game adventures with classroom lessons

Collect insights into student progress and learning gaps

Send differentiated content and Assessments in just a few clicks

Sign up for your free teacher account today!

What is multimodal learning?

Multimodal learning in education means teaching concepts using multiple modes.

Modes are channels of information, or anything that communicates meaning in some way, including:

And much more!

Modes are experienced in different ways by each of the senses - usually visual, auditory or tactile. They often interact with each other, creating a dynamic learning experience. For instance, an educational video might include speech, images, music and text - all of which can enhance a student's learning experience.

Teachers should combine two or more multimodal learning modes to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Since school environments have diverse student populations with a wide variety of learning styles, a multimodal approach helps each student achieve academic success in their own way.

To properly implement multimodal learning, you first need to understand learning styles.

What are learning styles?

Learning styles group together different ways individuals prefer to learn. They categorize people based on their "style" of learning, or the way they learn best. Every individual has a unique learning preference that falls into one, some or all of these categories.

Consider this scenario:

Imagine someone is explaining a new concept to you, and you're having trouble understanding them.What will help you understand the best -- is it:

Seeing a diagram or illustration about the concept?

The person repeating themselves, or explaining things verbally in further detail?

Seeing a written explanation?

Connecting the concept to a real-life example?

Think about your answer to this question, then consider what your friends or family would pick. Are the answers different?

Many people have different answers and some might wish to choose a combination of them. This is the concept of learning styles, at its core.

The VARK model of learning

There are a few different models to explain learning styles. One of the most popular is the VARK model, created by New Zealand teacher, Neil Fleming.

VARK model. Image source: Kompas Muda

The subsections of the VARK model are:

Visual -- these people learn best by seeing, responding to visual cues like images, graphs or charts. They might be distracted by seeing things outside.

Aural -- these people learn best by hearing, responding to auditory cues like verbal instruction, discussions or songs. They might be distracted by outside noises.

Read/Write -- this is sometimes listed as a subsection of the visual category, but the VARK model puts it in its own category. These people learn best by reading and writing, responding to written cues like lecture notes, books and cue cards. They might be distracted by poorly worded text, or text that doesn't match speech.

Kinesthetic -- these people learn best by doing, responding to tactile cues like movement, actions and real-life examples. They might be distracted by uncomfortable seats or room temperatures.

Students can answer the VARK questionnaire to discover their own learning style. Other personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, offer more insight into how individuals learn best.

The multimodal learning style

Some people strongly prefer one of the four learning types. But many others have a shared preference among two or more types, making them multimodal learners.

Multimodal learners have a near-equal preference for different learning modes and can receive input from any of these modes. Some multimodal learners, however, are different and require multiple inputs to learn.

Image source: VARK

A multimodal learning style works most effectively with many communication inputs, or modes. A multimodal learner will thrive in a comprehensive learning environment that uses visual, auditory and kinesthetic inputs -- both verbal and non-verbal -- including videos, images, actions, real-life examples and hands-on activities.

Why is multimodal learning important?

Students come to school with a wide variety of learning styles. As such, the ideal educational experience should represent all modes and support each of these styles.

Multimodality supports a universal design for learning by communicating concepts in the most effective ways and making sure everyone gets exactly what they need. For instance, having:

Both text and audio supports reading and hearing

Images and animation can help focus attention

Examples can aid understanding

Multimodal learning can also benefit children and improve abilities. Research from Cisco found students who were given a combination of text and visuals learned better than those who only received text inputs. Compared to the more rigid unimodal learning you might picture when you think of traditional classroom settings, multimodal learning is more effective at teaching.

Source: Cisco

Similarly, a study on English language learners found improvements in student writing abilities when they used multimodal learning strategies. Another study found most students prefer to have visual inputs involved in lessons, rather than text alone.

Most interactions are multimodal. There are very few occasions where someone communicates using just one mode, so teaching children should be the same. Using one mode to teach -- for example, reading from a textbook -- doesn't stimulate students' minds or prepare them for real world situations.

Multimodal learning strategies

You know it's important, but how can you support multimodal learning at your school?

To come up with useful multimodal learning strategies, it's best to look at strategies for each learning style.

The chart below outlines strategies for educators to support each learning style. It also includes studying strategies for students, often referred to as SWOT, or "study without tears."

Multimodal learning strategies

Since the multimodal learning style involves a combination of learning modalities, multimodal learning strategies require strategies from each style. Multimodal learning incorporates multimedia and uses different strategies at once. An ideal multimodal learning environment would incorporate as many of the above strategies as possible.

Let 's look at an example of using multimodal strategies in the classroom.

To help students understand textbook material, a teacher might assign the reading and then give a lecture using a multimedia presentation, including videos and images. Then, they may plan an in-class activity to give real-life perspective and let students engage with the content in more concrete ways.

In this scenario, teachers are simultaneously exposing students to strategies from each learning style! Doing this gives students a well-rounded representation of course material for all learning needs.

5 Guidelines for a multimodal learning environment

Multimodal learning environments support the need for differentiated instruction, considering all learning needs and helping every student succeed.\Follow these five classroom guidelines to create a multimodal learning environment at your school.

1. Use multimodal texts

Multimodal texts are forms of communication that use a variety of modes. They're seen in multimedia -- a form of content delivery that strategically involves words, visuals, sounds and other components to enrich learners.

For example, a video shown in class should involve captions, images, narration, music and examples to be multimodal.

Students today regularly interact with many different forms of text, so educators should reflect this in their classroom lessons.

As another example, instead of leaning on more traditional, lecture-style math lessons, teachers can use math puzzles to help teach the same concept. The puzzle would be a form of multimodal text that provides interaction and visual stimulation.

Multimodal texts in the classroom could include many other things that contribute to a full learning experience, such as:

Infographics

Videos

Slides

Visual worksheets

Interactive learning

Online learning

Communication aids, such as PECS, are another useful form of multimodal text that let students practice different methods of communication. Traditionally, teachers use PECS to target those with communication difficulties, but they can be beneficial to all students.

2. Reduce overload

Multimodal learning involves interaction with many different inputs at once. If the teacher doesn't properly organize the output, students can reach overload, becoming overwhelmed, overstimulated and, ultimately, disengaged in class.

To combat this, multimodal learning plans should be organized and strategic. Multimedia in learning must provide enough stimulation to foster a positive learning environment, but not so much that it overwhelms students. Include every mode, but make sure placement, timing and implementation is thoughtful and considerate of students' learning.

The best ways to reduce overload are:

Consider timing and spacing of multimodal texts -- Present words and pictures that describe the same concept close to each other and at the same time. This reduces confusion and ensures students can process both forms of input simultaneously, interpreting meaning from the combined sources.

Limit distractions -- Take steps to limit unnecessary outside input so students can focus on the important things. Reduce outside noise and visuals, ensure comfortable seating and avoid strong lighting or smells.

Take frequent breaks-- Give students brain breaks every 20 minutes, where they'll get up and move around with a fun activity to recharge the brain and regain focus.

Change activities often -- A multimodal activity should engage your students, but doing the same activity for too long can get stale. Make sure to switch between different learning formats to keep students interested.

Find a good balance -- Using multiple modes doesn't mean including everything you possibly can. Inputs that are too busy can become overwhelming for students, so choose a few key components for each mode to keep things simple.

3. Support digital learning opportunities

In today's society, learning should reflect new digital modes that are used in the real world. Incorporating technology into learning helps teachers and students keep up with an ever-changing landscape of communication, and stimulates multiple senses at once.

Digital platforms are constantly gaining popularity among youth -- and very young children are no exception. A 2018 study on children's media devices in the United States found nearly 40% of American children owned their own smartphones.

Image source: Statista

New technologies mean new modes of communication for students to adapt to, and educators should include these modes to prepare students for careers in an increasingly digital landscape.

Another study on student engagement and multimodal learning showed student engagement is the biggest motivator for adding educational technologies to the classroom. Technological modes are familiar and engaging to children.

Students are excited about technology and want to use it, so digital learning opportunities are necessary for a well-rounded multimodal learning environment. Some of those ways can include game-based learning, online research, tests, assignments and much more.

4. Offer multimodal assignments

When teaching is multimodal, assignments and assessments should be, too. The best way to create a positive school culture that encourages two-way communication is to encourage students to use multiple modes in their assignments.

Good multimodal learning is interactive and puts student involvement first -- i.e., learning relies on how students react to the material they learn.

To do this, create dynamic assignments that give students freedom to express their understanding of concepts in many creative ways.

Multimodal assignments -- e.g., guided activities, group projects, reflection exercises, presentations and tests -- get students using multiple modes of communication so they can positively exercise their individual learning styles.

5. Provide multimodal feedback

If teaching and assignments are multimodal, feedback should be too.

To give effective multimodal feedback, you should consider two things:

1. What is being assessed?

2. How are you giving feedback?

When students are free to express their ideas in dynamic ways, criteria for grading should reflect these methods of delivery. The understanding, expression, and use of multimodality should all be part of the grading process. Clear guidelines of expectations on the use of multimedia should be outlined to students in their assignment rubrics.

The feedback process should also reflect multimodality and learning differences. For example, giving a visual learner traditional number grades and written statements won't have the same impact as visual feedback would.

Although teachers traditionally offer feedback in printed forms, they should also use multimodal formats to reach every student and encourage two-way dialogue.

5 Examples of multimodal learning activities

Now that you know the basics, get inspired by these five examples of multimodal learning in the classroom.

1. Educational games

Almost all games naturally use many modes at once -- words, images, colors, shapes, speech, movement and more. Plus, kids can't get enough of them. Students have so much fun playing games that they often don't realize they're learning at the same time!

Teachers can bring many different games to their classrooms to help students learn and practice relevant skills. For example, after a traditional multiplication lesson, classes can play multiplication games for a fun, multimodal experience that solidifies learning.

Digital game platforms like Prodigy are another great option for classrooms, adding an extra mode to the learning experience: technology.

Prodigy Math Game is an adaptive math platform that helps students from 1st to 8th grade practice more than 1,500 curriculum-aligned math skills in an engaging, multimodal format.

Used by millions of teachers and students around the world, this interactive game provides written questions, visual representations, adaptive feedback, supportive technology and collaboration - incorporating many different communication modes into one highly engaging math activity.

Since the platform uses multimedia, its educational benefits can reach kids with varied learning styles and support their individual development in math.

Prodigy makes it easy to reinforce in-class lessons and target specific student needs using differentiated instruction. Plus, the Reports tool helps teachers track student comprehension, progress and engagement. This means you can quickly access important data to ensure students are supported and able to reach their full potentials.

Students are more confident because of the extra practice they receive with Prodigy. My students typically score higher than others on district screeners and math benchmarks because I am able to individualize and differentiate instruction using the Prodigy reports. Kimberly Martin 2nd Grade Teacher Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools

2. Think-pair-share

This collaborative learning strategy improves student understanding of material, cooperation with classmates and expression of ideas. It's also a great method for conducting formative assessments.

Image source: Giulia Forsythe on Flickr

Think-pair-share follows three simple steps:

1. Think -- students take time to think about the lesson material individually.

2. Pair -- students pair up to discuss their ideas and findings with each other.

3. Share -- each pair shares their thoughts with the class and answers questions from classmates.

Pair students with similar learning styles or put different styles together for more compelling conversations and learning opportunities.

3. Case-based learning

Use real-life scenarios to introduce or supplement lessons and make relevant connections to school curriculum.

Case-based learning means lessons revolve around actual case studies. Students read, hear or see real examples that relate to the concepts they're learning in class. Teachers facilitate class discussions about these cases and ensure students are making important connections. To take learning even further, teachers can also assign questions or projects about the cases.

This method gives concrete evidence that the things learned in class are actually useful and meaningful in the real world, motivating students to learn more.

4. Personalized journal entries

Journal entries are a tried-and-true reflection exercise, where students can put class material into their own words and think about what they've learned.

Turn journal entries into a multimodal activity by making them personalized. Let students complete entries in a way that helps them express their thoughts best. This could include written entries, charts, illustrations, videos, podcasts or example stories.

5. Multimedia research projects

Encourage multimodal research with projects that require various sources and modes.

New forms of media are growing in popularity, giving students many avenues to find information. Multimedia research projects require students to find information from different media sources, both traditionally and digitally.

Assign research projects where students must reference at least three different media sources. This can include books, digital libraries, news clips, podcasts and online articles.

Then, have students create multimodal presentations of research findings, in whatever format they choose.

Final thoughts on multimodal learning

When educational environments are optimized for multimodal learning, every student has the opportunity to learn and grow in their own way. Everyday life is filled with multimodal inputs, and the best teaching methods should reflect this variety.

Remember: every student learns differently. So, a multimodal approach must provide the most relevant and effective modes of communication and options for expression.

Use the above strategies and examples to create a well-rounded multimodal environment at your school. Doing so will help every student reach their highest potential.

Looking for more multimodal learning opportunities at your school?

Try Prodigy - the adaptive curriculum-aligned math platform used by millions of teachers and students around the world.

Teachers can use Prodigy to:

Align in-game adventures with classroom lessons

Collect insights into student progress and learning gaps

Send differentiated content and Assessments in just a few clicks

Sign up for your free teacher account today!

Even the most confident educational leaders can find themselves asking the same questions, over and over.
Are students listening? Are they engaged? Are they learning the way they should?
All kids learn differently, and sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to find a curriculum or plan that works for an entire school. That's where multimodal learning comes in.

Most schools see hundreds of students every day -- and they all have different learning styles. One student might need as many visuals as possible, while another would swap a picture for a verbal explanation in a heartbeat. Other students need information in multiple formats for concepts to stick. This is why a multimodal approach to education is best.

Wondering what that looks like? Keep reading.

Try Prodigy Math Game - the adaptive, curriculum-aligned math platform that helps students love learning math

eachers can use Prodigy to:

Align in-game adventures with classroom lessons

Collect insights into student progress and learning gaps

Send differentiated content and Assessments in just a few clicks

Sign up for your free teacher account today!

What is multimodal learning?

Multimodal learning in education means teaching concepts using multiple modes.

Modes are channels of information, or anything that communicates meaning in some way, including:

And much more!

Modes are experienced in different ways by each of the senses - usually visual, auditory or tactile. They often interact with each other, creating a dynamic learning experience. For instance, an educational video might include speech, images, music and text - all of which can enhance a student's learning experience.

Teachers should combine two or more multimodal learning modes to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Since school environments have diverse student populations with a wide variety of learning styles, a multimodal approach helps each student achieve academic success in their own way.

To properly implement multimodal learning, you first need to understand learning styles.

What are learning styles?

Learning styles group together different ways individuals prefer to learn. They categorize people based on their "style" of learning, or the way they learn best. Every individual has a unique learning preference that falls into one, some or all of these categories.

Consider this scenario:

Imagine someone is explaining a new concept to you, and you're having trouble understanding them.What will help you understand the best -- is it:

Seeing a diagram or illustration about the concept?

The person repeating themselves, or explaining things verbally in further detail?

Seeing a written explanation?

Connecting the concept to a real-life example?

Think about your answer to this question, then consider what your friends or family would pick. Are the answers different?

Many people have different answers and some might wish to choose a combination of them. This is the concept of learning styles, at its core.

The VARK model of learning

There are a few different models to explain learning styles. One of the most popular is the VARK model, created by New Zealand teacher, Neil Fleming.

VARK model. Image source: Kompas Muda

The subsections of the VARK model are:

Visual -- these people learn best by seeing, responding to visual cues like images, graphs or charts. They might be distracted by seeing things outside.

Aural -- these people learn best by hearing, responding to auditory cues like verbal instruction, discussions or songs. They might be distracted by outside noises.

Read/Write -- this is sometimes listed as a subsection of the visual category, but the VARK model puts it in its own category. These people learn best by reading and writing, responding to written cues like lecture notes, books and cue cards. They might be distracted by poorly worded text, or text that doesn't match speech.

Kinesthetic -- these people learn best by doing, responding to tactile cues like movement, actions and real-life examples. They might be distracted by uncomfortable seats or room temperatures.

Students can answer the VARK questionnaire to discover their own learning style. Other personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, offer more insight into how individuals learn best.

The multimodal learning style

Some people strongly prefer one of the four learning types. But many others have a shared preference among two or more types, making them multimodal learners.

Multimodal learners have a near-equal preference for different learning modes and can receive input from any of these modes. Some multimodal learners, however, are different and require multiple inputs to learn.

Image source: VARK

A multimodal learning style works most effectively with many communication inputs, or modes. A multimodal learner will thrive in a comprehensive learning environment that uses visual, auditory and kinesthetic inputs -- both verbal and non-verbal -- including videos, images, actions, real-life examples and hands-on activities.

Why is multimodal learning important?

Students come to school with a wide variety of learning styles. As such, the ideal educational experience should represent all modes and support each of these styles.

Multimodality supports a universal design for learning by communicating concepts in the most effective ways and making sure everyone gets exactly what they need. For instance, having:

Both text and audio supports reading and hearing

Images and animation can help focus attention

Examples can aid understanding

Multimodal learning can also benefit children and improve abilities. Research from Cisco found students who were given a combination of text and visuals learned better than those who only received text inputs. Compared to the more rigid unimodal learning you might picture when you think of traditional classroom settings, multimodal learning is more effective at teaching.

Source: Cisco

Similarly, a study on English language learners found improvements in student writing abilities when they used multimodal learning strategies. Another study found most students prefer to have visual inputs involved in lessons, rather than text alone.

Most interactions are multimodal. There are very few occasions where someone communicates using just one mode, so teaching children should be the same. Using one mode to teach -- for example, reading from a textbook -- doesn't stimulate students' minds or prepare them for real world situations.

Multimodal learning strategies

You know it's important, but how can you support multimodal learning at your school?

To come up with useful multimodal learning strategies, it's best to look at strategies for each learning style.

The chart below outlines strategies for educators to support each learning style. It also includes studying strategies for students, often referred to as SWOT, or "study without tears."

Multimodal learning strategies

Since the multimodal learning style involves a combination of learning modalities, multimodal learning strategies require strategies from each style. Multimodal learning incorporates multimedia and uses different strategies at once. An ideal multimodal learning environment would incorporate as many of the above strategies as possible.

Let 's look at an example of using multimodal strategies in the classroom.

To help students understand textbook material, a teacher might assign the reading and then give a lecture using a multimedia presentation, including videos and images. Then, they may plan an in-class activity to give real-life perspective and let students engage with the content in more concrete ways.

In this scenario, teachers are simultaneously exposing students to strategies from each learning style! Doing this gives students a well-rounded representation of course material for all learning needs.

5 Guidelines for a multimodal learning environment

Multimodal learning environments support the need for differentiated instruction, considering all learning needs and helping every student succeed.\Follow these five classroom guidelines to create a multimodal learning environment at your school.

1. Use multimodal texts

Multimodal texts are forms of communication that use a variety of modes. They're seen in multimedia -- a form of content delivery that strategically involves words, visuals, sounds and other components to enrich learners.

For example, a video shown in class should involve captions, images, narration, music and examples to be multimodal.

Students today regularly interact with many different forms of text, so educators should reflect this in their classroom lessons.

As another example, instead of leaning on more traditional, lecture-style math lessons, teachers can use math puzzles to help teach the same concept. The puzzle would be a form of multimodal text that provides interaction and visual stimulation.

Multimodal texts in the classroom could include many other things that contribute to a full learning experience, such as:

Infographics

Videos

Slides

Visual worksheets

Interactive learning

Online learning

Communication aids, such as PECS, are another useful form of multimodal text that let students practice different methods of communication. Traditionally, teachers use PECS to target those with communication difficulties, but they can be beneficial to all students.

2. Reduce overload

Multimodal learning involves interaction with many different inputs at once. If the teacher doesn't properly organize the output, students can reach overload, becoming overwhelmed, overstimulated and, ultimately, disengaged in class.

To combat this, multimodal learning plans should be organized and strategic. Multimedia in learning must provide enough stimulation to foster a positive learning environment, but not so much that it overwhelms students. Include every mode, but make sure placement, timing and implementation is thoughtful and considerate of students' learning.

The best ways to reduce overload are:

Consider timing and spacing of multimodal texts -- Present words and pictures that describe the same concept close to each other and at the same time. This reduces confusion and ensures students can process both forms of input simultaneously, interpreting meaning from the combined sources.

Limit distractions -- Take steps to limit unnecessary outside input so students can focus on the important things. Reduce outside noise and visuals, ensure comfortable seating and avoid strong lighting or smells.

Take frequent breaks-- Give students brain breaks every 20 minutes, where they'll get up and move around with a fun activity to recharge the brain and regain focus.

Change activities often -- A multimodal activity should engage your students, but doing the same activity for too long can get stale. Make sure to switch between different learning formats to keep students interested.

Find a good balance -- Using multiple modes doesn't mean including everything you possibly can. Inputs that are too busy can become overwhelming for students, so choose a few key components for each mode to keep things simple.

3. Support digital learning opportunities

In today's society, learning should reflect new digital modes that are used in the real world. Incorporating technology into learning helps teachers and students keep up with an ever-changing landscape of communication, and stimulates multiple senses at once.

Digital platforms are constantly gaining popularity among youth -- and very young children are no exception. A 2018 study on children's media devices in the United States found nearly 40% of American children owned their own smartphones.

Image source: Statista

New technologies mean new modes of communication for students to adapt to, and educators should include these modes to prepare students for careers in an increasingly digital landscape.

Another study on student engagement and multimodal learning showed student engagement is the biggest motivator for adding educational technologies to the classroom. Technological modes are familiar and engaging to children.

Students are excited about technology and want to use it, so digital learning opportunities are necessary for a well-rounded multimodal learning environment. Some of those ways can include game-based learning, online research, tests, assignments and much more.

4. Offer multimodal assignments

When teaching is multimodal, assignments and assessments should be, too. The best way to create a positive school culture that encourages two-way communication is to encourage students to use multiple modes in their assignments.

Good multimodal learning is interactive and puts student involvement first -- i.e., learning relies on how students react to the material they learn.

To do this, create dynamic assignments that give students freedom to express their understanding of concepts in many creative ways.

Multimodal assignments -- e.g., guided activities, group projects, reflection exercises, presentations and tests -- get students using multiple modes of communication so they can positively exercise their individual learning styles.

5. Provide multimodal feedback

If teaching and assignments are multimodal, feedback should be too.

To give effective multimodal feedback, you should consider two things:

1. What is being assessed?

2. How are you giving feedback?

When students are free to express their ideas in dynamic ways, criteria for grading should reflect these methods of delivery. The understanding, expression, and use of multimodality should all be part of the grading process. Clear guidelines of expectations on the use of multimedia should be outlined to students in their assignment rubrics.

The feedback process should also reflect multimodality and learning differences. For example, giving a visual learner traditional number grades and written statements won't have the same impact as visual feedback would.

Although teachers traditionally offer feedback in printed forms, they should also use multimodal formats to reach every student and encourage two-way dialogue.

5 Examples of multimodal learning activities

Now that you know the basics, get inspired by these five examples of multimodal learning in the classroom.

1. Educational games

Almost all games naturally use many modes at once -- words, images, colors, shapes, speech, movement and more. Plus, kids can't get enough of them. Students have so much fun playing games that they often don't realize they're learning at the same time!

Teachers can bring many different games to their classrooms to help students learn and practice relevant skills. For example, after a traditional multiplication lesson, classes can play multiplication games for a fun, multimodal experience that solidifies learning.

Digital game platforms like Prodigy are another great option for classrooms, adding an extra mode to the learning experience: technology.

Prodigy Math Game is an adaptive math platform that helps students from 1st to 8th grade practice more than 1,500 curriculum-aligned math skills in an engaging, multimodal format.

Used by millions of teachers and students around the world, this interactive game provides written questions, visual representations, adaptive feedback, supportive technology and collaboration - incorporating many different communication modes into one highly engaging math activity.

Since the platform uses multimedia, its educational benefits can reach kids with varied learning styles and support their individual development in math.

Prodigy makes it easy to reinforce in-class lessons and target specific student needs using differentiated instruction. Plus, the Reports tool helps teachers track student comprehension, progress and engagement. This means you can quickly access important data to ensure students are supported and able to reach their full potentials.

Students are more confident because of the extra practice they receive with Prodigy. My students typically score higher than others on district screeners and math benchmarks because I am able to individualize and differentiate instruction using the Prodigy reports. Kimberly Martin 2nd Grade Teacher Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools

2. Think-pair-share

This collaborative learning strategy improves student understanding of material, cooperation with classmates and expression of ideas. It's also a great method for conducting formative assessments.

Image source: Giulia Forsythe on Flickr

Think-pair-share follows three simple steps:

1. Think -- students take time to think about the lesson material individually.

2. Pair -- students pair up to discuss their ideas and findings with each other.

3. Share -- each pair shares their thoughts with the class and answers questions from classmates.

Pair students with similar learning styles or put different styles together for more compelling conversations and learning opportunities.

3. Case-based learning

Use real-life scenarios to introduce or supplement lessons and make relevant connections to school curriculum.

Case-based learning means lessons revolve around actual case studies. Students read, hear or see real examples that relate to the concepts they're learning in class. Teachers facilitate class discussions about these cases and ensure students are making important connections. To take learning even further, teachers can also assign questions or projects about the cases.

This method gives concrete evidence that the things learned in class are actually useful and meaningful in the real world, motivating students to learn more.

4. Personalized journal entries

Journal entries are a tried-and-true reflection exercise, where students can put class material into their own words and think about what they've learned.

Turn journal entries into a multimodal activity by making them personalized. Let students complete entries in a way that helps them express their thoughts best. This could include written entries, charts, illustrations, videos, podcasts or example stories.

5. Multimedia research projects

Encourage multimodal research with projects that require various sources and modes.

New forms of media are growing in popularity, giving students many avenues to find information. Multimedia research projects require students to find information from different media sources, both traditionally and digitally.

Assign research projects where students must reference at least three different media sources. This can include books, digital libraries, news clips, podcasts and online articles.

Then, have students create multimodal presentations of research findings, in whatever format they choose.

Final thoughts on multimodal learning

When educational environments are optimized for multimodal learning, every student has the opportunity to learn and grow in their own way. Everyday life is filled with multimodal inputs, and the best teaching methods should reflect this variety.

Remember: every student learns differently. So, a multimodal approach must provide the most relevant and effective modes of communication and options for expression.

Use the above strategies and examples to create a well-rounded multimodal environment at your school. Doing so will help every student reach their highest potential.

Looking for more multimodal learning opportunities at your school?

Try Prodigy - the adaptive curriculum-aligned math platform used by millions of teachers and students around the world.

Teachers can use Prodigy to:

Align in-game adventures with classroom lessons

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What Is Multimodal Learning? 35 Strategies and Examples to Empower Your Teaching

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Even the most confident educational leaders can find themselves asking the same questions, over and over. Are students listening? Are they engaged? Are they learning the way they should? All kids learn differently, and sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to find a curriculum or plan that works for an entire school.

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Práctica online de Gerunds and Infinitives

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Actividad online de Gerund or Infinitive para Intermediate. Puedes hacer los ejercicios online o descargar la ficha como pdf.

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21st Century skills are 12 abilities that today's students need to succeed in their careers during the Information Age.
The twelve 21st Century skills are:

1. Critical thinking

2. Creativity

3. Collaboration

4. Communication

5. Information literacy

6. Media literacy

7. Technology literacy

8. Flexibility

9. Leadership

10. Initiative

11. Productivity

12. Social skills

These skills are intended to help students keep up with the lightning-pace of today's modern markets. Each skill is unique in how it helps students, but they all have one quality in common.

They're essential in the age of the Internet.
On this page, we'll take a look at what's included in 21st Century skills, how they help students, and why they're so important.
You'll also be able to download a free guide on how you can teach 21st Century skills in middle or high school courses.

To start, let's dive into the three categories that 21st Century skills fall into.

The Three 21st Century Skill Categories

Each 21st Century skill is broken into one of three categories:

1. Learning skills

2. Literacy skills

3. Life skills

Learning skills (the four C's) teaches students about the mental processes required to adapt and improve upon a modern work environment.

Literacy skills (IMT) focuses on how students can discern facts, publishing outlets, and the technology behind them. There's a strong focus on determining trustworthy sources and factual information to separate it from the misinformation that floods the Internet.

Life skills (FLIPS) take a look at intangible elements of a student's everyday life. These intangibles focus on both personal and professional qualities.

Altogether, these categories cover all 12 21st Century skills that contribute to a student's future career.

This is not an exhaustive checklist of career readiness skills - but they're the career readiness skills that overlap with 21st Century skills!

Let's take a closer look at each category.

Category 1. Learning Skills (The Four C's)

The four C'sare by far the most popular 21st Century skills. These skills are also called learning skills.

More educators know about these skills because they're universal needs for any career. They also vary in terms of importance, depending on an individual's career aspirations.
The 4 C's of 21st Century Skills are:

Critical thinking: Findingsolutions to problems

Creativity: Thinking outside the box

Collaboration: Working with others

Communication: Talking to others

Arguably, critical thinking is the most important quality for someone to have in health sciences.
In business settings, critical thinking is essential to improvement. It's the mechanism that weeds out problems and replaces them with fruitful endeavors.

It's what helps students figure stuff out for themselves when they don't have a teacher at their disposal.
Related Resources:
Bonus Resource: Free Critical Thinking Lesson Download
Creativity is equally important as a means of adaptation. This skill empowers students to see concepts in a different light, which leads to innovation.
In any field, innovation is key to the adaptability and overall success of a company.

Learning creativity as a skill requires someone to understand that "the way things have always been done" may have been best 10 years ago - but someday, that has to change.
Collaboration means getting students to work together, achieve compromises, and get the best possible results from solving a problem.
Collaboration may be the most difficult concept in the four C's. But once it's mastered, it can bring companies back from the brink of bankruptcy.

The key element of collaboration is willingness. All participants have to be willing to sacrifice parts of their own ideas and adopt others to get results for the company.

That means understanding the idea of a "greater good," which in this case tends to be company-wide success.
Related Resources: Finally, communication is the glue that brings all of these educational qualities together.
Communication is a requirement for any company to maintain profitability. It's crucial for students to learn how to effectively convey ideas among different personality types.

That has the potential to eliminate confusion in a workplace, which makes your students valuable parts of their teams, departments, and companies.

Effective communication is also one of the most underrated soft skills in the United States. For many, it's viewed as a "given," and some companies may even take good communication for granted.

But when employees communicate poorly, whole projects fall apart. No one can clearly see the objectives they want to achieve. No one can take responsibility because nobody's claimed it.

Without understanding proper communication, students in the 21st Century will lack a pivotal skill to progress their careers.
Related Resources:
But the four C's are only the beginning. 21st Century skills also require students to understand the information that's around them.

Category 2. Literacy Skills (IMT)
Literacy skills are the next category of 21st Century skills.
They're sometimes called IMT skills, and they're each concerned with a different element in digital comprehension.
The three 21st Century literacy skills are:

Information literacy: Understanding facts, figures, statistics, and data

Media literacy: Understanding the methods and outlets in which information is published

Technology literacy: Understanding the machines that make the Information Age possible

Information literacy is the foundational skill. It helps students understand facts, especially data points, that they'll encounter online.
More importantly, it teaches them how to separate fact from fiction.

In an age of chronic misinformation, finding truth online has become a job all on its own. It's crucial that students can identify honesty on their own.
Related Resources: Media literacy is the practice of identifying publishing methods, outlets, and sources while distinguishing between the ones that are credible and the ones that aren't.
Otherwise, they can fall prey to myths, misconceptions, and outright lies.

Just like the previous skill, media literacy is helpful for finding truth in a world that's saturated with information.

This is how students find trustworthy sources of information in their lives. Without it, anything that lookscredible becomes credible.

But with it, they can learn which media outlets or formats to ignore. They also learn which ones to embrace, which is equally important.

Last, technology literacy goes another step further to teach students about the machines involved in the Information Age.

As computers, cloud programming, and mobile devices become more important to the world, the world needs more people to understand those concepts.

Technology literacy gives students the basic information they need to understand what gadgets perform what tasks and why.

This understanding removes the intimidating feeling that technology tends to have. After all, if you don't understand how technology works, it might as well be magic.

But technology literacy unmasks the high-powered tools that run today's world.

As a result, students can adapt to the world more effectively. They can play an important role in its evolution.

They might even guide its future.

But to truly round out a student's 21st Century skills, they need to learn from a third category.

Category 3. Life Skills (FLIPS)
The five 21st Century life skills are:
Life skills is the final category. Also called FLIPS, these skills all pertain to someone's personal life, but they also bleed into professional settings.
Flexibility is the expression of someone's ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Flexibility: Deviating from plans as needed

Leadership: Motivating a team to accomplish a goal

Initiative: Starting projects, strategies, and plans on one's own

Productivity: Maintaining efficiency in an age of distractions

Social skills: Meeting and networking with others for mutual benefit

This is one of the most challenging qualities to learn for students because it's based on two uncomfortable ideas:

1. Your way isn't always the best way

2. You have to know and admit when you're wrong

That's a struggle for a lot of students, especially in an age when you can know any bit of information at the drop of a hat.

Flexibility requires them to show humility and accept that they'll always have a lot to learn - even when they're experienced.
Leadership is someone's penchant for setting goals, walking a team through the steps required, and achieving those goals collaboratively.
Still, flexibility is crucial to a student's long-term success in a career. Knowing when to change, how to change, and how to react to change is a skill that'll pay dividends for someone's entire life.

It also plays a big role in the next skill in this category.

Whether someone's a seasoned entrepreneur or a fresh hire just starting their careers, leadership applies to career.

Entry-level workers need leadership skills for several reasons. The most important is that it helps them understand the decisions that managers and business leaders make.
Related Resources: True success also requires initiative, requiring students to be self-starters.
Then, those entry-level employees canapply their leadership skills when they're promoted to middle management (or the equivalent). This is where 21st Century skill learners can apply the previous skills they've learned.

It's also where they get the real-world experience they need to lead entire companies.

As they lead individual departments, they can learn the ins and outs of their specific careers. That gives ambitious students the expertise they need to grow professionally and lead whole corporations.

Initiative only comes naturally to a handful of people. As a result, students need to learn it to fully succeed.

This is one of the hardest skills to learn and practice. Initiative often means working on projects outside of regular working hours.

The rewards for students with extreme initiative vary from person to person. Sometimes they're good grades. Other times they're new business ventures.
Along with initiative, 21st Century skills require students to learn about productivity. That's a student's ability to complete work in an appropriate amount of time.
Sometimes, it's spending an extra 30 minutes at their jobs wrapping something up before the weekend.

Regardless, initiative is an attribute that earns rewards. It's especially indicative of someone's character in terms of work ethic and professional progress.

That goes double when initiative is practiced with qualities like flexibility and leadership.

In business terms, it's called "efficiency."

The common goal of any professional - from entry-level employee to CEO - is to get more done in less time.

By understanding productivity strategies at every level, students discover the ways in which they work best while gaining an appreciation for how others work as well.

That equips them with the practical means to carry out the ideas they determine through flexibility, leadership, and initiative.

Still, there's one last skill that ties all other 21st Century skills together.

Social skills are crucial to the ongoing success of a professional. Business is frequently done through the connections one person makes with others around them.

This concept of networking is more active in some industries than others, but proper social skills are excellent tools for forging long-lasting relationships.

While these may have been implied in past generations, the rise of social media and instant communications have changed the nature of human interaction.

As a result, today's students possess a wide range of social skills. Some are more socially adept than others. Some are far behind their peers. And some lucky few may be far ahead, as socializing comes naturally to them.

But most students need a crash course in social skills at least. Etiquette, manners, politeness, and small talk still play major roles in today's world.

That means some students need to learn them in an educational setting instead of a social setting.

For them, it's another skill to add to their lives.

Now that we've established what 21st Century skills are, let's answer the next big question.

Do employers actually want people with 21st Century skills?

What's the Demand for 21st Century Skills?

While 21st Century skills have always been important, they've become essential in a worldwide market that moves faster by the day.

These skills all double back to one key focus.

Someone's ability to enact and / or adapt to change.

This is because any industry is capable of changing at a moment's notice. Industries are now regularly disrupted with new ideas and methodologies.

Those industries that haven't been disrupted aren't immune though. They just haven't been disruptedyet.

With that in mind, the world has entered an era where nothing is guaranteed.

As a result, students need to learn to guide the change that'll inundate their lives. At the very least, they need to learn how to react to it.

Otherwise, they'll be left behind.

This is especially true as customer demand accelerates in all industries along with expectations for newer features, higher-level capabilities, and lower prices.

In today's marketplace, falling behind means becoming obsolete.

That's a familiar concept to all of today's students as tomorrow's advancements make today's miracles quaint or unimpressive.

Today, the only consistency from year to year is change.

That's why many teachers like you are incorporating the 21st Century Skills Assessment into their career readiness courses.

With 21st Century skills, your students will have the adaptive qualities they need to keep up with a business environment that's constantly evolving.

How Do You Teach 21st Century Skills?
While these skills can be taught at any grade level, we find it's most important to teach 21st Century skills in middle or early high school.
Now you know what 21st Century skills are and why employers want new hires to have them.

So how do you teach them in your daily classes?

Before getting into the details, it's important to identify who should teach 21st Century skills.

This is the time when your students need to hone their career readiness skills before they enter the workforce!

So how can middle and high school teachers teach 21st Century skills effectively?

Click below to download the Ultimate Guide to Teaching 21st Century Skills in Secondary Schools and find out!

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Learn about 21st Century skills, why they're important, and how to teach them. Skills include: Critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, information literacy, media literacy, technology literacy, flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity, and social skills.

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Baamboozle - Customizable Educational Game

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RubiStar is a tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics, but does not have the time to develop them from scratch.

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SOFLA® - 8 steps to online flipped success

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SOFLA® - 8 steps to online flipped success

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Great Idea: Jigsaw Activities Play What are jigsaw activities? Jigsaw activities are a specific type of information gap activity that work best when used with the whole class. The class is first divided into groups of four to six learners who are then given some information on a particular aspect of…

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From Theory to Practice Flipping our English Language Class

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