"Today we're going to take a little bit of a twist. We're going to project you into the future," said Ms. Gilbert.

Of course, Conrad Ball Middle School in Loveland doesn't really have a time machine, but advances in technology have allowed Lynn's students to pretend that they're time traveling scientists. They solve problems on the computer using the lessons they've learned in the classroom.

"They're actually using the principles now to solve these medical mysteries from the year 2254 according to the computer program," Lynn said.

One experiment, created by Rice University, has students testing oranges for bacteria.

"It's a very interactive program. Here students are actually becoming scientists and they are collecting evidence," she explained as students examined the oranges on their computer.

Lynn knows the middle school students are at home in cyber space, so she believes that's exactly where they need to be to explore science.

"She does a lot of really cool interactive experiments," said student Bela Erekson. "It's a lot of fun being in her class with all of the things she does."

While teaching 7th graders can seem like a formidable challenge for any teacher because of all of the hormones, Ms. Gilbert says she loves this age.

"With these middle school kids it such a time of change for them," she explained. "They're trying to find their way and where they fit in with their peers and their families. They're fitting all that together–the social, emotional and then the academics on top of it."

Please join 9NEWS, CollegeInvest, and Metropolitan State College in congratulating Lynn Gilbert, the May 2008 9Teacher Who Cares.