Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced the Next Generation Learning Challenges initiative. This multi-year project aims to help improve both college readiness and college completion in the U.S. through the use of technology. Administered through the nonprofit EDUCAUSE, the program will provide grants to organization that will help develop technology tools to more teachers, students, and schools.
Interesting article in the NY Times about online language learning resources. Some are free. Some include online communities that use VoIP to allow learners to converse with native speakers.