When I looked back at my notes from interviewing Vygotsky, I had to ponder how these principles that he taught me could be used in the real world. What types of teaching strategies would I use while implementing 21st century technology? Here are a couple of ideas I came up with:

• If I were to use a computer lab environment, I would need programs that not only functioned on the computer but also involved the students in the physical "real world" environment. For example, if I were teaching a science lesson, what computer programs are there out there that would allow me to build models or make things that were relevant to lessons. The students would see the idea on screen and then would be able to print up the plans and the actually use them. This would satisfy Vygotsky's "hands on" experience approach. Here are some programs that I have found that would meet this criteria: Model Bridge Software, Working Model Software, Simulations-Plus, Owl and Mouse Software

• Vygotsky made it very clear that students learned many things through cultural and social settings. I would need to make sure that some of the lessons that I planned would involve groups or pairs of students working in a lab environment. The lab would also have to be oriented in such a manner that it would be conducive to this type of learning strategy.

• Students needed to be encouraged to use their imaginations when give a task or a problem to solve. This would enable them to internalize how they would perform before they would actually try to do the task. This would mean that the lessons would have to be challenging to the students and yet fun enough for them to really think about what they are doing.

• To make sure that the students learning process was given to them in stages they could handle, I would have to do a thorough job of long range planning. The teaching would have one stage built upon another in an effective manner so that the students would have the previous learning experiences to build their knowledge base on.

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