School librarians shine as part of Digital Learning Day

CHICAGO — Digital Learning Day, taking place Feb. 6, 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.

Nine lesson plans featured as part of “Digital Learning: Lessons in Action” were created by school librarians or as part of a school librarian and teacher collaboration.

• “Inquiring Curiosity and Developing Inquiry Based Research Projects” by Ellen McNair, Stuart High School, Falls Church, Va.
• “Thirty Second Propaganda” by Preston Lazer and Rose Gallitz, Battlefield High School, Haymarket, Va.
• "Successful Student Book Review Blogging" by Julie M. Esanu and Greg Chapuis, Oakridge Elementary School, and Amy Blaine, Jamestown Elementary School, Arlington, Va.
• “Digital DNA” by Robyn Young, Avon (Ind.) High School.
• “Raving About The Raven with Touch and Learn Technologies” by Joquetta Johnson, Pikesville High School, Baltimore, Md.
• “’I declare!’ Founding Fathers Sound Off on Contemporary Issues” by Kelly Ray, General John Stricker Middle School, Baltimore, Md.
• “SAT Comic Strips” by Deborah Lambert and Kristin Nielsen, Eastern Technical High School, Baltimore, Md.
• “Collaborate with Russian School” by Lisa Norris and Bill Mcgrath, Great Seneca Creek Elementary School, Boyds, Md.
• “Visual Book Report” by Mary Beth Bauernschub, Beltsville Pk-8 Academy, Greenbelt, Md.

In addition to having plans featured on the website, two AASL members will have expanded roles in the activities planned for the day. Robyn Young will participate in two live chat sessions. The first, “Focus on Instruction, Lesson Plans, and Innovative Strategies and Tools with Digital Learning,” will take place from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Eastern time and the second, “Focus on Digital Learning Transition,” will take place from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Joquetta Johnson will present a live session on her lesson plan titled "Raving about the Raven with Touch and Learning Technologies." Johnson’s presentation, one of five educator-led demonstrations of digital learning in action, will reach a wide spectrum of educators and educational leaders, including special guest, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

The Digital Learning Day activities will culminate in a high-profile Digital Town Hall being held at the Newseum in Washington, DC from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.

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. In addition to the lesson plans, the website also hosts tips on how to incorporate technology into classroom instruction through free resources, toolkits, blogs and webinars.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), 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 American Association of School Librarians is a core partner in Digital Learning Day.