Instructional Media & Technology Team (IMTT)

Wisconsin Schools, Districts encouraged to Participate in Digital Learning Day 2013

Digital Learning Day is a national campaign that celebrates educators and the potential of technology in education. The national event is taking place on February 6, 2013 and local events are popping up all over the country with more than 16,000 teachers already signed up to participate across the country.

In addition, Supt. Tony Evers has proclaimed February 6, 2013 as Digital Learning Day in Wisconsin.

DPI urges you to make plans to host district wide activities and encourage teachers in in your county to sign-up TODAY to join tens of thousands of educators in a wave of innovation sweeping across our nation’s schools.

Participation is free and open to all interested education leaders. DPI has linked to  interactive lessons in multiple grade levels that teachers can use on that day, and beyond.  This is a great opportunity to highlight teachers doing great things – We would love to highlight your teachers leading up to the event and as follow up. Take a look at http://www.digitallearningday.org/participate/district-leaders/ for ideas on ways districts can participate.

 

Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative formed to provide high quality online classes

The statewide web academy, known as the Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative (WDLC) has been established pursuant to the authority granted in Wis. Stat. §115.28(53), to provide equitable access to high quality online education by offering online learning to school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, charter schools and private schools located in this state. The WDLC consists of two collaborating organizations: 1) the Wisconsin Virtual School; and 2) the Wisconsin eSchool Network.

The two organizations will collaborate with DPI to provide a single point for schools to access quality online courses, integrating them into the new student information system. Combined, these two programs provide partnership pathways for schools to provide a variety of online and blended learning opportunities.

Districts and schools interested in offering courses through the WDLC should contact:

 

Wisconsin PK-12 school may use Google SketchUp 8 Pro at no cost

Google SketchUp, is a 3D modeling software application that is used extensively by schools worldwide. Although there is a free version of SketchUp, there is also a Pro version which is typically a product schools pay for. DPI has entered into new SketchUp Pro Statewide K-12 Licensing Grant and SketchUp Pro 8 is now being offered to all K-12 schools in Wisconsin at no cost for the next 3 years. Now extended from 2013 until 7-31-2015!

If you are interested in getting the free license, have the person who manages software licenses in your school or district contact Amy French amy.french@dpi.wi.gov to be added to a Google Site with information on how to sign up. Please view this short K-12 Case Study Video to see what’s possible.