This year Digital Learning Day takes place on February 27! According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, “Digital Learning Day was started as a way to actively spread innovative practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-quality digital learning no matter where they live.” They define digital learning as “any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience.” The Digital Learning Day website contains a multitude of resources for participation in Digital Learning Day. Resources include a list of digital tools, lesson plans, a listing of online resources, and real-life video stories of digital learning in action. Be sure to follow along on social media!
Digital resources can transform your teaching and your students’ learning in many ways. How do you know what is best? Simple, you use what works best for you and your students. Personalization of student learning in a classroom with a variety of learners is made easier and more effective with the use of digital tools. Explore current digital trends and digital transformational trends; experiment! There are pros and cons to digital learning; the key is finding what works for your classroom.
Digital learning day is a great way to make an entry into digital learning. Whether you start small or go big, the main thing is to start. Experiment with digital collaboration tools. Get creative with Chromebooks. Use digital tools for formative assessment. Explore history (TeachersFirst review) with digital tools like those found at Teachinghistory.org (reviewed here). Have your students create digital content. Create digital art. Teach digital citizenship with resources like those found at digcitcommit.org (TeachersFirst review). The possibilities are endless!
TeachersFirst is an excellent resource to jumpstart your Digital Learning Day planning. Explore past blog posts. Search for resources. Check out What’s Hot! Try out a Reading Trek. Use a Ready to Go item. Make Digital Learning Day an opportunity for your classroom!