Digital Learning Community (DLC)

I have been a member of a number of digital learning communities (DLCs) for a while, and I have different reasons for joining each of them.  My first love and passion is the teaching of English Language Arts, and I especially love CollegeBoard's Advanced Placement Program.  So, my first priority in joining a group is knowing that I strengthen my pedagogy.  In order to interest me, a group must provide real hands-on resources that I can utilize on a regular basis.  This group has to advance my teaching skills.  I look for communities that are rich in ideas with people that are forward thinking in the profession.  Other groups that I tend to select foster instructional technologies.  These sites offer resources and ideas about new ways of integrating instructional technology in the classroom.

Digital Learning Community:  Advanced Placement Yahoo Group

To advance my teaching of English Language Arts, I am a member of Advanced Placement English Yahoo Group.  This group requires membership approval, but it has done wonders for my instructional practices.  It is a cohort of AP and Pre-AP teachers that share lesson plans, ideas, student work samples, etc.  

Digital Learning Community:  Ted Ed: Lessons Worth Sharing

Most people are familiar with Ted Talks, a public forum where people can share and discuss novel ideas.  However, few educators know of Ted Ed, a free component of Ted Talks.  Ted Ed allows educators to use public YouTube videos to enrich the teaching and learning experience.  Again, this is a forum that allows teachers to flip their classrooms by integrating YouTube as an instructional tool.  But more importantly, Ted Ed also allows teachers to share their lessons and videos as instructional practices.  If a video lesson has not been created, teachers have the liberty of creating one and sharing it with other educators.  

I am sharing two Ted Ed Lessons that I have created.  One lesson discusses the Trail of Tears.  It was done for students; it has discussion questions, multiple choice questions, and conversation starters.  The other video is an instructional instrument for other teachers.  It introduces the basic changes of Common Core for English Language Arts while providing additional resources (linked to my Google Drive) to deconstruct Common Core Standards.

My Ted Ed Lesson: Common Core for ELA

My Ted Ed Lesson: The Trail of Tears

Digital Learning Community:  Diigo in Education

Diigo is a website that allows students to annotate websites.  I especially love it because it helps keep my classroom paperless!  And, it makes sharing websites and resources seamless.  The  Diigo in Education is a group that shares technology resources for instructional purposes.  Many people will post the link to resources and draft a simple annotated description of how to use the source.  

Digital Learning Community:  AP Rhetorical Analysis Blogs (Google Groups)

This is a digital learning community that I established for my AP English Language students.  One of the essays students must draft on the AP Language (AP Lang) exam is the rhetorical analysis, an essay that analyzes the rhetoric of professional writers.  This is an especially difficult essay to master in part because students never actually study how language is put together.  So, I create a digital learning community via Google Groups; I give students one released rhetorical analysis exam from College Board, and students must draft a one paragraph analysis that analyzes one rhetorical strategy.  I will post samples  of my own.  Students are then required to give commentary to another student.  We complete one blog every 3 weeks.

Digital Learning Community:  Twitter

I recently joined Twitter, and the experience has been fantastic!  I particularly follow a number of instructional tech gurus like Jeff Herb, author of Instructional Tech, a website that releases a number of new instructional technological tools.  He publishes an interactive running blog 2-3 times each week.  

Jeff Herb's Instructional Tech Talk

 What is the DLC like? What can Digital Citizens do to make the process of joining a DLC more appealing to and easier for students?

A DLC is like a discussion/sharing forum that is 24/7; it is always available and always on!  For students, this is actually quite overwhelming because they are never really using their social medias for concentrated bouts of time.  Many of the resources students use are for brainless, fun activities.  So, my first advice is to limit the number of DLCs as to not overwhelm students.  And, I would find a DLC that is actually user friendly and incorporate that DLC in my daily work.  The DLC needs to be something "shared" between the students and teacher.  

Digital Citizenship - 3 Impressive Traits

Trait 1:  The Digital Citizen can model and create appropriate digital age learning experiences.

The digital citizen does not simply use technology for the sake of using it.  Instead, they are individuals that use technology for a specific purpose, cause, means.  These tech savvy individuals even integrate multiple technologies to meet the demands of specific needs and productivity purposes.  Because of this, the digital citizen must also know how to foster learning for students in an equally meaningful way.  That means showing students Web 2.0 and 3.0 tools that help students meet their multiple needs in learning.  Digital Citizens know how to model and implement resources to solve specific problems.  And, since creative problem solving is part of the 21st Century Learning, the digital citizen can actually model the varied experiences students may face in the digital age.  This means, the digital citizen must create challenging and yet appropriate situations that inspire creative problem solving.  Likewise, the digital citizen must be a creative problem solver himself/herself.

Hidden Web Tools for the Classroom


Trait 2:  The Digital Citizen fosters responsible communication.

The ubiquitous use of social media sites, rap music, and just notorious behaviors of the rich and famous have instituted the idea that poor manners and egregious behaviors are the norm.  The digital citizen must debunk this myth and implement appropriate protocols in the area of personal and professional communication.  Students must learn that communication in the academic arena means writing and speaking American Standard English.  This also means using punctuation when it is appropriate and necessary.  In the academic arena, students must learn that they are not writing to just their friends but an entire community of academicians that value literacy!  Students must learn code switching, and the digital citizen can teach the value of multiple languages and literacies.  But, in order to access power in this country, an individual must know how to speak and write appropriately.

Trait 3:       The Digital Citizen practices what he/she preaches by staying professionally active and engaged in digital applications.

In order to stay ahead of ever-changing technologies, the digital citizen must actively participate in 21st Century Learning tools.  The digital citizen is also a member of a number of professional organizations that utilize digital tools.  The digital citizen is also a constant consumer and connoisseur of digital learning.  As an advocate and participant, this digital native constantly involves technology to keep skills current and renewed.


The 2013 Free Education Technology Resources eBook