February 28, 2019: Digital Learning Day

WHEREAS, Digital Learning Day is an annual national and international celebration of great teaching and learning in K-12 schools, celebrating its eighth year in 2019; and,

WHEREAS, teachers, students, and schools across the nation are using innovation and technology to transform and improve education; and,

WHEREAS, since Digital Learning Day’s inception, thousands of teachers and schools across the country and around the world have held local activities supporting the event; and,

WHEREAS, digital learning offers new and exciting ways for students to learn daily; and,

WHEREAS, when used effectively, modern technology can make life more efficient, accessible, richer, and faster for all; and,

WHEREAS, Digital Learning Day provides each teacher, student, parent, and school with the opportunity to learn how to use technology in combination with great teaching to modernize, personalize, and improve learning; and,

WHEREAS, today’s world demands the nation have a highly trained workforce skilled in the use of technology and digital content in order to compete in the global economy; and,

WHEREAS, Digital Learning Day provides an opportunity for the U.S. education system to embrace the effective use of technology in a positive and transformative manner, as have most successful industries and businesses across the nation and world; and,

WHEREAS, the U.S. education system has yet to fully capture the potential that the effective use of technology can provide to improve and personalize instruction, allowing students to learn in the best individual way; and,

WHEREAS, digital learning and the effective use of technology can assist every teacher by providing real-time information to track individual student progress, create improved and efficient learning processes giving teachers more flexibility and time to spend with each student, and eliminate bureaucratic administrative burdens that take time away from teaching; and,

WHEREAS, it is important that any change in learning methods and infusion of technology in schools be done in a high-quality manner that best helps every student and ensures appropriate spending of public funds; and,

WHEREAS, the eighth annual national Digital Learning Day will take place on February 28, 2019, to educate teachers, students, schools, parents, policymakers, and the public on ways to integrate high-quality digital learning and the effective use of technology to improve the learning of every student;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim February 28, 2019, as Digital Learning Day in Michigan.