Commonly included in any list of 21st century skills is collaboration--and for good reason. Technology now offers more people the opportunity to work together without geographical restraint. And so collaboration should become a greater part of school curricula at all levels. But most of the work done by students in a traditional K-12 school is…

A schoolwide class called Excursions helped a rural Wisconsin school create an environment where everyone could achieve whatever they were comfortable achieving without the restrictions of time. The purpose of an Excursion is to provide students the ability to take charge of their own learning, reflect on what they do, evaluate their work, make…

Describes the learning community model that involves teachers in an ongoing process of developing and refining curriculum. Through the sharing of information teachers improve their classroom practices and are more accountable for what they teach. (MD)

Summarizes, from a teacher's viewpoint, the benefits of cooperative learning, including increased achievement and improvement of students' attitudes toward school, learning, and each other. Outlines five simple steps for teaching cooperation skills, describes two successful group activities, and shares student reactions to these exercises.…

This interview discusses control theory (based on humans' psychological needs for love, power, freedom, and fun) and its potential for transforming students' classroom learning experience. By adopting the teamwork approach used in extracurricular activities, teachers can help students gain satisfaction and a sense of their own importance. (MLH)