UPFRONT - In the National Academies Press Book, How People Learn (Bransford, et
al, 2000), the authors of the chapter "Technology to Support Learning" state that we do not
fully understand that "...technologies can be powerful pedagogical tools - not just rich
resources of information, but also extensions of human capabilities and contexts for social
interactions supporting learning." (pp 229-230) Like any cultural object, technologies operate
in a social context, mediated by teachers, students, and peers. This month's Effective Practice,
the third in our series, is an excellent example of using technology to do just this. Join Anne
Knackert and her students as she describes "connecting courtrooms to classrooms" via
videoconferencing to help students better understand the role that the court system plays
in their lives and the lives of the citizens in their community. (Rosemary Lehman)