Banner Photo: Holly M. Wells
The end of the 20th Century marked the end of a period of education where students and teachers were reliant on printed resources. The technological landscape of the 21st Century permits anywhere/anytime access to information and scientific databases, real-time collaborations, and vast communication networks, all with functionality at a cost unheard of ten years ago. This transformation is not limited to what and how technology is used or how learners interact with their environments from the personal to the educational, but also extends to how students come to know and construct knowledge. The 21st Century student communicates and creates content not only for personal viewing, but also for the globally connected community to see and respond to. Motivation and engagement of learners therefore transforms, as well. ISLS fosters personalized and networked learning environments where participants construct knowledge for the world to see from the vast online applications and resources available. Students and teachers participating in ISLS use mobile technologies, and receive professional development and support using web 2.0 technologies such as Google Apps, access to learning management systems, as well as exposure to various other forms of both educational and scientific technologies. Together through the use of the technology, participants build and share their learning experience.