Technology can provide engaging, efficient ways to support content learning across all areas. As our societies become more globalized and we seek to prepare students to work and live with people from diverse backgrounds, innovating--through technology and other means--to promote empathy and positive social skills becomes increasingly important.

New classroom practices can be brought into the classroom that engage students through their enjoyment of games, while building their confidence and bolstering their understanding that mistakes are valuable stops along the journey to understanding.

A case study of an elementary school in Hong Kong found students benefit most when provided many opportunities to use information technologies (IT). Teachers' attitudes influence students' attitudes toward IT, and teachers are more likely to use technology if equipment is in the classroom. Improved curriculum and teaching methods will ensure the…

Author asks whether children in becoming overdependent on technology are losing strength to function as human beings. (Author/MB)

Discusses how children's descriptions and evaluations of computer software are important ways to learn about how computers can be used in the learning process; describes how these evaluations can be an informal way of "child-testing" educational software. Offers examples of children's comments and suggests three Web sites that feature children's…