Using higher order thinking skills when designing lesson plans forces not only the teacher to prepare students for learning higher order thinking skills, but allows students to really demonstrate their learning in creative ways. When students have to construct or create something, they must think not only about the foundations of a topic, but all the parts that make it up, and how you arrive at the bigger picture/topic or issue.
I found this website through reading my blogs called Pixton. Pixton allows students to create their own comic strips, backdrops, etc. This site is used not only by students, but by all sorts of people. I think allowing students to create a comic strip to understand a concept is an excellent way to engage students, and practice 21st century skills. Students have a variety of backdrops, characters, and colors to choose from. On the other hand, the student can start from scratch and create all of these things themselves. It is an excellent tool to use!
