National Digital Learning Day by Laura

February 1, 2012 was the first ever national Digital Learning Day. Schools around the country participated with nearly two million students participating in some way.

Poughkeepsie Day School is a technology enhanced place of learning.  Because our students use laptops in every class, we know that digital learning takes place consistently.  For Digital Learning Day, we decided to celebrate what the teachers were learning.  In the week preceding February 1st, we wrote to our colleagues daily, asking them to try to learn one  new thing.  We didn't care if the new thing was a technique or tool, or if it was particular content learned through digital means.  We also thought that both professional and personal learning was appropriate--anything adults learn in one area of their lives cascades to enhance the other.

We set our 6th and 7th graders off on Digital Learning Day to film as many teachers, staff and administrators as possible.  When the footage was strung together, we had video of well over ten minutes!

After an extensive editing process, a two minute movie has emerged.  For me, this was a learning experience in itself.  I am gradually trying to accumulate some iMovie skill.  I know I have a lot to learn!  The movie is framed by the words of Will Richardson.  He has been a strong and articulate proponent of teacher engagement with digital learning in order to create 21st century bold schools that prepare students to take advantage of the myriad of ways they can learn.