Digital Learning Day Challenge: #make4dlday

Note: Educator Innovator partners the Afterschool Alliance, the National Writing Project, Digital Is, Edutopia, YALSA and the Maker Education Initiative are all involved in this year’s Digital Learning Day

On February 5, thousands of educators will take part in the third annual Digital Learning Day, a nationwide celebration of common-sense, effective applications of digital learning that support educators, improve learning, and provide options for students to achieve at their highest potential.

Thanks to digital media and technology, our education system is undergoing a major shift in how, where and what students are learning. The organizations collaborating in this challenge – the Afterschool Alliance, Edutopia, and the National Writing Project (via its Educator Innovator Initiative and Digital Is platform) share a common belief that this shift should reflect connected learning principles: interest-driven, production-centered learning opportunities for youth, in school and out. These principles allow youth to collaborate with peers and mentors in person and via the web as they become producers of digital artifacts and not simply consumers.

To that end, we’re inviting you to join us in accepting the #Make4DLDay challenge–a set of digital storytelling activities that allow youth and adults to be makers for Digital Learning Day. So, what exactly are we making? From remixing important historical events to educating peers about issues in their community, we’re creating and sharing digital stories that reflect what interests your students. The #make4DLDay challenge allows you to “level up” and participate in a number of ways, based on your familiarity with digital tools and access to technology. All you have to do is choose your level, pick your topic and share your work on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+ or any other social media using the hashtag #make4dlday.

Stay tuned for more details about the challenge. In the meantime, check out these resources to help familiarize you with the power of storytelling as a digital learning strategy. Enjoy!

  • Webinar Series:

Storytelling and Digital-Age Civics

  • Useful Websites:

http://owpandprojectdirect.blogspot.com/2011/06/digital-story-of-teaching-digital.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_storytelling
http://www.globallyconnectedlearning.com/?page_id=8