Empowering Student Leadership with OneNote (#MIEBoom presentation at ISTE)

It all started with a cape. Three years ago while training new students, I was wearing a OneNote cape. A student saw me and asked how he could get one. I told him he would have to earn it and I would get back to him with the details.​

So, I contacted the OneNote team to find out if there was a student OneNote expert program.  I found out that there wasn't an "official" program, but I was encouraged to create something.  The Microsoft Creative Team even designed these badges for it.  I felt extremely supported, and it was a bonus to be able to tell the students that the badge came straight from Microsoft!​

My next step was to ask teachers at my school what skills a OneNote Student Avenger should possess. They helped me form a list, and these skills are what students have to demonstrate in order to become a OneNote Student Avenger. When we first began, I assessed students face to face but after seeing Melinda Richwine's "Breakout with Onenote" lesson on the MEC I was inspired to create a self-paced digital breakout assessment in OneNote.  Once a student completes the breakout & becomes an Avenger, I am alerted through Forms.  I then send a congratulatory email to the student with information about how to access our class notebook.​

The class notebook is our line of communication and each student Avenger has a Work Log in the class notebook to record help given.  Data from the work log helps us see recurring issues. Students recommended that they receive a physical badge after helping 5 people and a cape after helping 10. If a student already has a badge, he/she will receive a $5 Sonic gift card! Students start out as a OneNote Avenger but can be promoted to a Tech Avenger at the end of the year based on what the work log shows.​ 

We also use the class notebook to share instructions, trouble-shooting tips and for planning.  We are a 1:1 school and have 2 days of new student training at the end of the summer.  The Avengers have been instrumental in helping me plan and train.​

Here is an example from our notebook where a student figured out what to do when others kept getting a purple screen in the app. She put her solution in the collaboration space of our class notebook.  

Avengers are encouraged to put one of the badges in their email signature.  This student discovered an issue and I love the last sentence, "I haven't found a solution yet, but I am still trying."​

All of the information regarding our program is on the MEC including the badges and Breakout.  We are growing the program into a Help Desk class, but it's just as important to have the Avengers as our 1st line of defense in the classroom.  Many teachers have told me that at the 1st sign of trouble they ask, "Is there an Avenger in the room?"​

I love this program because it allows students to practice 21st century skills and empowers them to take a leadership role at school.  Whenever someone asks, "Is there an Avenger in the room?" I hope the answer is always "YES"!​

Empowering Learners with OneNote

I have been using OneNote for about 8 years...I love it. It empowers learners and makes collaborating with other people and sharing ideas so much easier.  Recently, I surveyed three teachers at school who are Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts.  I asked them (Holley Fontenot, Ashley Lavine, and Mary Villaume) to describe how OneNote empowers and inspires learners. I compiled their answers to form a list of their ideas about OneNote's most helpful features:

• use across devices - access notebooks on your phone
• accessibility features such as Immersive Reader and Translate under the View tab
• integration with other tools and apps (EdPuzzle, Wakelet, Sway, Forms, embedding videos, etc.) which helps educators create dynamic notes/activities
• curation and organization of material with Office Lens and OneNote Web Clipper Chrome extension 
• print anything to OneNote and ink
• collaborate easily and work in real time
• distribute work, review work, and provide feedback efficiently and effectively
• take work with you wherever you go - important for graduates

The OneNote team continues to listen to educator feedback. Using that, they provide updates that enhance the experience for students and teachers.  This summer 30 updates were announced, and this school year I am most excited about a feature that should be a real lifesaver--Make it Mine (rolling out in mid to late September).

Last year our school formulated a strategic plan. One of the academic goals suggested is for students to track personal progress and data. Mia Orgeron, our Director of Student Life, suggested we use a student OneNote notebook to do the job and a few weeks ago sent an email suggesting the following sections in the notebook:
1. Grade calculator 
2. Activities, awards
3. Volunteer/service hours
4. Copy of 4-year plan with big idea or goal at the bottom

OneNote is the perfect tool for this kind of portfolio, enabling students to track and reference this important information in an easy, organized way. Our Director of Student Life said, "Bottom line is we need to help them be more intentional in identifying their passion and ultimately their vocation."  One of the new updates that will help us make this an even easier process is Publish notebook (Make it Mine) in OneNote for the web. With it, we will be able to create the notebook template for students, have it include the sections we want, and be able to share a copy with them.  

To help our students stay organized, every year I make a planner that contains calendars and other important information such as schedules and link to student handbook.  Last year, our students began using the OneNote Windows 10 app. Since I made the planner, I had to make it read-only because at that time, there wasn't a way for them to make it their own.  This school year, I will suggest that we add this planner section to the OneNote notebook portfolio. That way students will be more empowered to use it because they will be able to make it their own with the new Make it Mine feature, which will roll out some time in early fall. 

Planner example

Planner Calendar Example (adapted from a template design created by student at St. Thomas More High School)