What makes a lesson active and engaging?

Last night we discussed different ways to make our everyday lessons more engaging. We want active learners, not passive learners in our classrooms. One strategy we discussed at great length was the implementation of technology in the classroom. We were reminded that technology can be used in so many simple ways. For instance, in my classroom I post the homework solutions and my daily objectives on the Activboard. We are also learning how to use graphing calculators. Graphing a line on paper is good but comparing to something they created on their calculators adds more depth to the lesson and reaches different learners. In addition to the use of technology in the classroom we also discussed the need for breaks. Students can not sit and listen to a teacher lecture about a subject for very long before they begin to check out. Strategies like "Think, Pair, Share" are helpful because the require kids to work quietly for a little while and then they are given an opportunity to share their thoughts with another person. Activities that get kids up and moving around the room are also a vital part of an engaging lesson. At the end of our session, we were given a few minutes to look over a list of active learning strategies. One thing that I already use and plan to continue using in my class is journals. At the end of each lesson I ask the students to summarize what they learned that day and make a note of things they are still confused about. We will also continue to use the "Think Pair Share" strategy in class because I believe that if someone can explain their process for solving a problem to someone else then they have a deeper understanding of the subject and will retain the information longer. I may consider the use of the "Ticket to Leave" strategy in the future. This could be a fun alternative to the journal entry on occasion and would offer a quick, informal assessment for the day's lesson.