(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Future of Education Interview Series February 11, 2009 Top Ten Things We Have Learned From K-12 Students About Educational Technology Julie Evans Chief Executive Officer Project Tomorrow

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 “We want technology to be almost a thoughtless, seamless process. When you go to a classroom, you pick up a piece of chalk. Technology should be as automatic as picking up the chalk. The newer teachers are expecting it and our students are expecting it when they come into the classroom.” Irving (Nick) Nicholson Director of eLearning Programs Chicago Public Schools

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Annual national research project –Online surveys + focus groups –Open for all K-12 schools –Schools/districts get back their own data for planning and budgeting Collect data ↔ Stimulate conversations –K-12 Students, Teachers, Parents and Administrators Inform policies & programs –Analysis and reporting – national reports, state reports, district reports –Services: custom reports, consulting with districts and state agencies –NCES back end database – provide statistically significant samplings 6 years of empowering authentic voices – since 2003: –1.3 million K-12 students –103,000 teachers –54,000 parents –6,300 school leaders –17,000 schools – from all 50 states, DC, American military base schools, Canada, Mexico, Australia What is Speak Up? 1.5 million respondents

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Speak Up is facilitated annually by Project Tomorrow (formerly known as NetDay) About Project Tomorrow: A national education nonprofit organization providing leadership, research and programs to support science, math and technology education in America’s schools

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 To give stakeholders a voice in national and state policy To collect unique data from stakeholders –Benchmark with national and state data –To inform programs, policies and purchases –High value of having an outside “unbiased guardian” collecting the data To support specific initiatives such as online learning, 1:1 programs or new teacher professional development programs –To validate direction and approach – pre and post –To build support –To generate new ideas To model for students the value of being part of the national discussion – civic engagement To be recognized as innovative and part of a national initiative To demonstrate to students, teachers and parents that their ideas are valued by their education leaders Why do schools, districts, states participate?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Visit Student, Teacher, Parent & Administrator Data Findings – updated annually National Data Release March 24 Congressional Briefing Key findings available online More Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Reports such as: Learning in the 21 st Century: A National Report of Online Learning (Oct 2007, Updated Jun 2008) Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators Students, Teachers and Parents Speak Up about Science Education (June 2008) Leadership in the 21 st Century: The New Visionary Administrator (October 2008) More Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Top Ten Things We Have Learned From K-12 Students About Educational Technology From Speak Up 2007/2008 Data

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 K-12 Students281,500 Teachers29,644 Parents (in English & Spanish)21,309 School/District Administrators3,114 States All 50 oTop 10: TX, CA, AZ, AL, IL, MD, FL, NC, NE, WI About Speak Up Schools: 95% public, 3% private, 2% virtual 35% urban, 32% suburban, 33% rural 45% Title 1 eligible 34% majority-minority student population National Speak Up 2008 Participation

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009  Learning & Teaching with Technology  Web 2.0 in Education  21st Century Skills  Science Instruction & Global Competitiveness  Emerging Technologies in the Classroom  Mobile Devices  Gaming  Online Learning  Designing the 21st Century School Speak Up survey question themes

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Students, technology & learning: Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations Disconnects & Differences Trends & Leverage Points Speak Up Data Findings

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 “Digital disconnect” is alive & well: the gap between how today’s students learn and how they live! Top Ten Things - #1

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 “Digital disconnect” is alive & well:  Between students and teachers  Between advanced tech students and other students  Between girls and boys  Between older and younger students

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 a.6% b.24% c.70% Audience Response: What % of students grades 6-12 consider themselves “advanced tech users?”

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 What % of students grades 6-12 consider themselves “advanced tech users?” 70% 24% 6%

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Spectrum of digital native-ness Top Ten Things - #2

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Setting a context

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Spectrum of “digital native-ness” 1996: 12 th Graders were in 1 st grade 1999: 9 th Graders were in 1 st grade 2002: 6 th Graders were in 1 st grade

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The “Big 4”today : Online and computer gaming Download music Communications – , IM, Txt Maintain a personal website Students: What do you do regularly with technology?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The “Big 4” Online and computer gaming –Over 64% of students K-12 play Download music –#1 with students in grades 6-12 Communications – , IM, Txt –Girls still lead in usage Maintain a personal website –40% of students grades 6-8 –67% of students grades 9-12

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 On the horizon – coming quickly to a tipping point near you! Virtual worlds –38% of students gr 3-5 participate regularly Vs. 16% of students in gr 6-8, 13% in grades 9-12 Video creation/sharing –32% of middle school students –50% in focus groups have posted a video Mashup of content –24% of middle school students are doing this now

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Explosion of access to mobile devices Top Ten Things - #3

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Using Mobile Devices for Learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 New obstacles to tech school Top Ten Things - #4

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school? Students say: Not very!

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Besides time, what are the major obstacles you face using technology at your school? Top responses: 1.School filters and firewalls block websites I need 2.Teachers limit our technology use 3.Too many rules! Cannot use my own devices Cannot access my communications tools Rules that limit use of my school’s technology

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Let me use my own devices! Top Ten Things - #5

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How could your school make it easier for you to work electronically? Top responses: 1.Let me use my own laptop, cell phone or mobile device 2.Give me unlimited Internet access 3.Let me access my school projects from any computer – home or at school

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online learning – defying conventional wisdom Top Ten Things - #6

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online learning and K-12 students Is there interest in taking online classes? Yes! Interest in taking an online class: + 40% of high school students + 35% of middle school students + 15% of students grades 3-5

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online learning and K-12 students Is there interest in taking online classes? Yes! Interest in taking an online class: + 40% of high school students + 35% of middle school students + 15% of students grades % increase in the past year!

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 a.Take class not offered at my school b.Get extra help in a subject c.Earn college credit d.To fit my class schedule e.To work at my own pace f.To complete a school requirement Audience Response: What is the #1 reason middle school students want to take an online class?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 What is the #1 reason middle school students want to take an online class?

(c) Project Tomorrow st century skills & gaming Top Ten Things - #7

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Over 64% of students K-12 play Average is 8 – 10 hours per week Using a wide variety of devices Gaming Technologies in Learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Over 64% of students K-12 play Average is 8 – 10 hours per week Using a wide variety of devices –Cell phones –Computer games –Console video players –Handhelds –Web-based: single or multi user Gaming Technologies in Learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Gaming Technologies in Learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Easier to understand difficult concepts51% More engaged in learning material50% Would learn more46% More interesting to practice problems44% Student views – why include gaming in school?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Easier to understand difficult concepts51% More engaged in learning material50% Would learn more46% More interesting to practice problems44% Go beyond & try new things37% See results of my problem solving35% Direct my own learning34% Student views – why include gaming in school?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Technology and student social activism Top Ten Things - #8

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Technology and student social activism – Gr 6-8 How I use Web 2.0 tools: Communications – 44% Share music – 36% Research local or world problems – 17% Participate in online poll about world issues – 15% Use tools to collaborate about local solutions – 11% Create special interest groups – 10% Post my ideas about solutions on my sns – 10% Collect/analyze data about local solutions – 10%

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Wake up for our nation’s schools Top Ten Things - #9

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Is your school doing a good job preparing you/your students/your child for future jobs?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 YES! School Principals66% District Administrators48% Teachers47% Parents43% Is your school doing a good job preparing you/your students/your child for future jobs?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 YES! School Principals66% District Administrators48% Teachers47% Parents43% Advanced tech students23% Is your school doing a good job preparing you/your students/your child for future jobs?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing the “Free Agent Learner” Top Ten Things - #10

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Characteristics: –Self directed learning –Un-tethered to trad’l education –Expert at personal data aggregation Examples: Online learning Control over knowledge authenticity Free Agent Learner

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Characteristics: –Power of connections –Creating new communities –Not tethered to physical networks Example: Mobile devices Free Agent Learner

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Characteristics: –Experiential learning – make it real –Content developers –Process as important as knowledge gained (sometimes more important) Example: Gaming, simulations, animations, multimedia content Free Agent Learner

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Visit Student, Teacher, Parent & Administrator Data Findings – updated annually National Data Release – March 24 New reports and presentations NECC 2009 More Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Special data collection this year: “Imagine you are the President and your #1 education goal is to make sure every student is prepared for the jobs and careers of the future. What is the one thing you would do to improve schools?” More Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Special data collection this year: “Imagine you are the President and your #1 education goal is to make sure every student is prepared for the jobs and careers of the future. What is the one thing you would do to improve schools?” over 250,000 responses from students nationwide! Stay tuned... More Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Plan to participate in Speak Up 2009 in October Sign up to receive Online surveys for: K-12 Students Teachers Administrators Parents New Question Topics Get your own school and/or district data with national data for benchmarking Have a voice in education policy!

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 It has been great to learn with you today. If you have any questions, please contact us: Julie Evans Project Tomorrow x15 Copyright Project Tomorrow This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.