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Information and Resources
- School Leader Outreach
- Advice From Leaders For Leaders
- Showcases of Schools and Classrooms Implementing Digital Learning Effectively
- Lesson Plans to Share with Educators, Instructional Coaches, and Librarians
- Components of Whole-School Reform
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Parent Toolkit
Parents—Please Get Involved!
You have probably seen more technology in use in your children’s schools lately. Maybe your child’s class has an interactive whiteboard. Maybe your teacher uses email. Maybe they utilize Blackboard or some other platform so that students can learn anytime, anywhere. Technology has changed literally everything in our world. These developments have created jobs, made the world more connected, and changed the way we interact. They also have the power to change the way our children learn. Thanks to technology, teachers are able to offer learning experiences that are more personalized, accelerated, engaging, and connected to the world students live in.
The nation is finally at a point where the technology is available to keep up with the demands of student needs. And technology is getting more and more affordable every day. In fact, some schools are saving money by using more technology. But there is so much more that can be done, which is why the Alliance for Excellent Education is hosting the first-ever Digital Learning Day.
On February 1, 2012, educators, students, teachers, parents, and leaders across the country will celebrate the innovation in teaching and learning that technology provides by pledging to try something innovative with technology to improve the learning experience. Nearly a half million students will participate as their teachers innovate and apply best practices in teaching and learning to provide a more engaging and personalized experience for students.
Ways to Participate
- Send a letter to your local PTA, fellow parents, your child’s teacher(s), school principal, and your district’s superintendent. Parents need to know how their child’s school plans to take advantage of the benefits technology offers, and that are focused on improving student outcomes.
- Pass on the message to fellow parents with an email and/or letter.
- Read and pass on the Alliance’s open letter to parents.
- Get informed; check out examples of digital learning in real schools, and Digital Learning Day’s Getting Started page.
- Watch the Digital Learning Day broadcasts on the web all day on February 1. Digital Learning Day will kick off in the morning at 9:00 a.m., ET with a webcast looking at leadership, innovation, instruction in all the subject areas, and great teaching. Then, at 1:00 p.m., ET, watch the live town hall meeting featuring educators, students, and experts, with live video connections to classrooms across the country. Viewers can ask questions and participate in live online polling. Participation is free and all broadcasts will be available online for later viewing.
- Join in the tweet-up. Tweet your thoughts on digital learning with hashtag #DLDay. Follow the action on Twitter and Facebook.
- Check out Digital Learning Day’s exciting promotional artwork! (coming soon!)
Other Resources
- Review the Parent Discussion Guide.
- Take PBS’s quiz: Your Digital Parenting Style: Protecting and Empowering Kids.
Join Us!
Parents are critically important in ensuring the nation’s schools continue to improve. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. February 1 is just the beginning of a year-round campaign to improve outcomes for students. The potential is endless and it starts with you. Join us in a journey to bring education into the twenty-first century so the nation’s children are prepared for the world that awaits them!