About the Award Winning Entry:
Produced by Dan Balzer of the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the IOC "Learner Roundtable" introduced an articulate group of teenage students who reflected on their current uses of technology inside and outside their high school classrooms, the social aspects of digital communications, and learning in a connected world. They discussed their expectations for their learning experiences in the future. The panelists represented the next wave of learners heading into postsecondary education and the workforce, and this session represented an important opportunity for educators at all levels to understand the mindset and behaviors of those who are or who will soon be in their classrooms or in their online courses. The session not only engaged the young learners at various sites across the United States in dialogue with one another, but also highly involved the audience of education professionals online in an active discussion with each other and with the students. The session enlightened across the board.