AASL celebrates innovative teaching during Digital Learning Day

CHICAGO — The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) again joins the Alliance for Excellent Education and other national educational associations and organizations in celebrating the third annual Digital Learning Day on Feb. 5, 2014. Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of teaching and learning through digital media and technology that engages students and provides them with a rich, personalized, education experience.

Digital Learning Day is a national campaign is designed to celebrate innovative teaching and highlight practices that make learning more personalized and engaging for students. It explores how digital learning can provide all students with the opportunities they deserve – to build the skills needed to succeed in college, career, and life. School librarians have the opportunity to increase awareness, thinking, and discussion around technology and digital learning before Digital Learning Day by reaching out to administrators, district leaders, parents, students, and community members.

"School librarians have always been in the forefront of new ways to teach and learn," said Gail Dickinson, AASL president. "In the digital age, school libraries become makerspaces as learners gather to explore digital tools, resources, and techniques to match the needs of today's students."

School librarians are encouraged to participate in events and contribute resources through the Digital Learning Day website located at www.digitallearningday.org. Once registered, school librarians can share success stories, join a community of practice, download tools to promote the celebration and add their Digital Learning Day activities to an interactive map. The website also hosts tips on how to incorporate technology into classroom instruction through free resources, toolkits, blogs and webinars. The website also includes links to videos about Digital Learning day from a student and a teacher perspective.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.

The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, D.C.-based national policy and advocacy organization that works to improve national and federal policy so that all students can achieve at high academic levels and graduate from high school ready for success in college, work and citizenship in the twenty-first century. For more information about the Alliance for Excellent Education, please visit http://www.all4ed.org.