Always Learning, Always Discovering

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"!​