In 2010, State College Area School District (SCASD) in Pennsylvania, USA, agreed to help develop a virtual international classroom exchange called the Schoolwires Greenleaf program. The program's project-based curriculum paired U.S. students with Chinese learners to collaborate, foster global citizenship, and prepare students for the digital work…

Design thinking is about using design to improve the human experience. It combines collaboration, systems thinking, and a balance of creative and analytical habits. It also fuels what the students want for themselves: making an impact on the real world in real time and having adults take their passions seriously. The process essentially comes down…

Educators are notorious for jumping on passing fads and chasing the newest innovations, from the open classrooms of the 1970s to the one-laptop-per-student initiatives of the past decade. It is not surprising that when the next new thing--the flipped classroom--hit the hallways of America's schools, it was met with hesitation and skepticism from…

Creativity matters. A shared vocabulary and lens for creativity helps teachers and students know what it means to "be creative" and where to start. J. P. Guilford's FFOE model of divergent thinking from the 1950s offers four dimensions to describe creativity: (1) Fluency; (2) Flexibility; (3) Originality; and (4) Elaboration. FFOE makes time spent…

It's no secret that fewer and fewer women are entering computer science fields. Attracting high school girls to computer science is only part of the solution. Retaining them while they are in higher education or the workforce is also a challenge. To solve this, there is a need to show girls that computer science is a wide-open field that offers…

Looking for a "habanero" (extremely hot) lesson to engage first-year Spanish language students in an in-depth study of Spanish-speaking countries? This article offers an overview of how the authors used 21st-century tools to get students excited about the not-so-new assignment of reporting on the people and culture of another country. Chances are,…

Demand for environmentally responsible stewardship is increasing, and the education technology sector is responding. Former L&L Senior Editor Caprice Lawless offers an overview of local and national e-waste legislation and resources for related classroom projects. (Contains 3 resources and 13 online resources.)

Project-based learning (PBL) provides a way of learning that seems to be particularly attractive to students who are struggling with conventional school assignments. This document proposes an approach to PBL in which the goal is to focus on thinking, making thinking processes visible to teacher and students.

This document describes a language immersion environment, a summer camp for learning languages, and the technology-rich projects that these learners were involved in. Technology projects and what is thought to have been accomplished through them is examined. It is discussed that many of the same things in a more typical school environment could be…

Two reporters walk toward the editor to share their article on Panamanian culture. Looking it over, the editor asks for a more detailed description and several pictures. Meanwhile, three other writers huddle around a computer, making decisions on the additional content they need for their article on Panamanian customs. Both articles will be…

Several years ago, upon entering eighth grade, a student was given a Microsoft iPaq Pocket PC as a birthday present. After using it for several months, he noticed a distinct improvement in my grades. During the rest of the school year, he noticed that the improved academic achievement continued. He wondered if his experience was a mere fluke or…

Presents an overview of features central to conducting assessment in project-based learning (PBL). Focuses on critical assessment issues and discusses multiple assessments; assessment as a learning activity; student involvement in setting standards for assessment; and outside assessment of the final artifact. Describes technological tools that can…

This article guides teachers in developing multimedia projects using a systems approach, based on instructional design principles. Considers analyzing the learners; selecting the topic; writing objectives; defining project type; designing text, cards, and buttons; hyperlink navigation; and evaluating multimedia projects. (LRW)

Describes the use of PowerPoint software in a cooperative setting that allows inclusion students to create presentations as part of the learning process. Discusses equipment needed, audience, teacher and student preparation, and student evaluation, and includes examples of storyboards and worksheets. (Author/LRW)

Describes the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP), a program in Kentucky that teaches students about technology so they can help troubleshoot and maintain school technology, help teachers create lessons and projects, and train fellow students, teachers, and others to use hardware and software. Discussions mission and goals of STLP;…