About the Platform

Whether it’s in the classroom, after-school or online, Evanston youth now have one place to go to explore what’s possible based on their interests. Select what you like to do and what career you want to have and start your learning journey. Be it an online coding game, a program at Evanston Public Library, a free event at ETHS, or a special project within your science class, Digital Backpack 65 (DB65) offers a variety of engaging opportunities.

Digital Backpack 65 is a collaboration between Evanston-Skokie School District 65, Northwestern's Digital Youth Network and Evanston's out-of-school organizations. As an online learning platform, DB65 is a space where you can build your "digital backpack" to show what you have learned and what you can do—to friends, teachers, or parents.

Our Mission

Powered by District 65 in partnership with Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy’s Office of Community Education Partnerships (OCEP), DB65 is a place where youth can find learning opportunities to pursue either online, in school, or out-of school -- Evanston Learns: (1) in school, (2) out-of-school, and (3) online. Through DB65, young people can discover new paths and interests, explore Evanston’s rich resources, and find out what they can learn, make, do and, ultimately, become.

More than just a tool to search and find programs that interest students, DB65 becomes a space for young people to develop their respective learning history. Each program they attend, each skill they master, each APP they conquer, and each project they complete via DB65 is included as part of their learning profile.

Organizations

Our learning ecosystem depends upon all schools, programs and educators to work together to provide engaging and accessible learning opportunities. Learn more by clicking the link below

Become a Partner

Students

On EL3, students have the power to:

  • Share their completed projects with friends, teachers, and mentors.
  • Seek activities where they can level-up their skills.
Be Curious