Ten years into the new century, people are still trying to find the web 2.0 tools that best facilitate collaboration--one of the fundamentals of 21st century learning. As the number of tools continues to grow, and fuzzy terms like "cloud computing," "hashtags," and "synchronous live platforms" are introduced into the lexicon daily, even the most…

Engagement is crucial for 21st-century students, and nowhere more so than at the middle school level. Middle school is a time of transitions for students--from a single, self-contained classroom with one teacher who knows every student well, to six or even eight classrooms in which teachers see more than 100 students every day; from a pedagogy…

Discusses logistics and design of an interactive teaching environment at Nova Southeastern University (Florida). Design elements include preparing instructional materials; monitoring progress; raising teacher awareness; support for learning; questions and answers via e-mail; timeliness of class participation; assessing student readiness; real-time…

Describes a program developed at Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College (PA) for inner-city minority girls to use computer technology that was otherwise unavailable to them. Highlights include access issues, gender issues, girls' preferences in a learning environment, making technology relevant, introducing new skills, creating Web page, and…

Illustrates the possibilities and educational benefits of virtual learning environments (VLEs), based on experiences with "Thirst for Knowledge," a VLE that simulates the workplace of a major company. While working in this virtual office world, students walk through the building, attend meetings, read reports, receive e-mail, answer the telephone,…