Elementary school libraries are not often thought of as suitable spaces for learning commons because most elementary school libraries operate on a fixed schedule, allowing only one class at a time to use the space. Elementary school libraries are too often the drop-off location for a specific class during the classroom teacher's planning period.…

A makerspace is a physical place in the library where informal, collaborative learning can happen through hands-on creation, using any combination of technology, industrial arts, and fine arts that is not readily available for home use. The underlying goal of a makerspace is to encourage innovation and creativity through the use of technology-to…

Colleges have been building so-called smart classrooms for years, equipping them with computerized projectors, digital whiteboards, and other tools. Now some of those once-high-tech rooms are starting to show their age at many colleges. At the Auraria Higher Education Center, a facility used by three colleges in Denver, a group of high-school…

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation are proud to celebrate a fifth round of the MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards. For the past five years, we have collaborated to highlight the work of quality afterschool programs that support children, families and communities across the nation. This compendium is a compilation of four…

The value of creating an interactive science centre in a school context is explored. Practical advice is given about how to go about this, and its possible impact on the school and the improved perceptions of science are discussed. (Contains 12 figures and 3 resources.)

This article explores potential uses for MP3 players in secondary classrooms. It presents an overview of current applications and describes an exploratory study of classroom uses. Seven high school teachers and one teacher educator participated in a three-month project to examine MP3 technology as applied to high school instruction. Their ideas…

Library media centers can evolve into technological, informational, and recreational hub of schools and can help technophobes access their many resources. A greater and better understanding of what it is exactly that library media specialists do can thus be achieved.

Four years ago, the staff at our school (Marie C. Graham Elementary School in Harrison Township, Michigan) agreed to take an evaluative look at the use of technology in the classroom. Through a self-study process and a district technology initiative called Project 2000, teachers had the opportunity for change relative to technology integration.…

Many children today have never lived in a home without a computer. They are the "Net Generation," constantly "connected" by iPod, cell phone, keyboard, digital video camera, or game controller to various technologies. Recent studies have found that Net Genners see technology as "embedded in society," a primary means of connection with friends, and…

The use of technology is integral to learning at the Minnesota State Arts High School (Golden Valley, Minnesota), an arts-integrated school where students focus on dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. This article discusses technology use in the arts curriculum and in the learning resource center. (PEN)

Examines the integration of technology in Iowa high schools. Highlights include rural versus urban schools; available technology in the classrooms, labs, media centers, and administrative offices; uses of technology; the perceived impact of using technology; administrative support; teacher motivation; and community support. (LRW)

Describes how the media center at Mt. Bethel Elementary School (Marietta, Georgia) was redesigned to make better use of electronic resources. Discusses the initial preparations and the remodelling process. Outlines the four components of managing change--vision, planning, funding and implementation. (AEF)

The new library at Eastern Michigan University provided Learning Resources and Technologies (LR&T) with an opportunity to restructure its services and fully integrate technologies and technology services for the 21st century. Challenges facing LR&T include the need to reallocate and/or reclassify staff positions, extend the campus network…

Presents a framework to help media specialists and other educators facilitate the process of integrating computer technology and the Internet into classroom instruction and curriculum design. Highlights include planning, including concept maps; research, including critical thinking; development, including knowledge construction and higher-order…

Discusses how to integrate a computer lab with a school library media center. Topics include planning; management issues; printing guidelines; scheduling; instruction and integration; staff development; supervision while classes are in the computer lab; and technical issues. (LRW)