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Students' comfort with the Internet means it isn't "technology" to them—it may be a way of life.

Comfort with technology does not guarantee proficiency.

They choose when to pay attention—and what to attend to.

Students are quite comfortable with group work and interactions. One of the traits of the Net Generation is the ease with which they can form and re-form working groups.

The DIY attitude extends to their creation and consumption of content on the Internet. Reputation, as well as recommendations and referrals, are of paramount importance. Curiosity, debate, and consensus are all valued traits in the blogging world. Many of today's students possess these traits.

Used effectively and thoughtfully, technology in the hands of the instructors can bring new dimensions to the class.

Other spaces are outfitted with movable tables, chairs, and whiteboards so that seating can be reconfigured to suit the activity.

Spaces that catalyze social interaction, serendipitous meetings, and impromptu conversations contribute to personal and professional growth.

The emergence of learning commons provides another example of how out-of-class time is being enriched with learning opportunities

Creating spaces for spontaneous meetings is particularly important. "Think stops" are places for individuals to stop, relax, and meet others. Often marked by a chalkboard or whiteboard, these locations encourage impromptu meetings and conversations.

When considering the technologies to support, remember that students no longer just consume information, they construct it—in multiple media formats.

Learning is a social process. Often the most memorable college experiences involve connections with others, whether students or faculty.

Connections can be virtual as well, where students work with others who are not physically colocated (through videoconferencing, for example) or who are separated by time (through asynchronous communication).

This flexibility also allows customization, enhancing not only space utilization but also convenience.

Neither learning nor socializing is one-dimensional; the physical complements the virtual, and vice versa. Since learning can occur any place and at any time, there are few—if any—locations where wireless is not valuable.

Student mobility means that students, not just the institution, define the learning space.

Although students have little fear of technology, they are not necessarily proficient with technology, information retrieval, or cognitive skills—what many call information fluency

Some IT units locate technical support staff in classroom buildings. Learning commons create one-stop centers, incorporating services from the library, IT, and the writing center. Although they may look different or have a new name, help desks are probably here to stay.