Taking the Pulse of eLearning Today: The Views of K12 Students, Educators and Parents Presenter Info

Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit organization Programs: Research & evaluation studies STEM education programs Advocacy for digital learning Mission: To ensure that today’s students are prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and engaged citizens of the world.

Something new in the air in schools today...

Connecting digital learning with global skill development New classroom models gaining acceptance Criticality of connectivity – in school and at home Changing ideals for measuring outcomes and results New approaches to developing teacher capacity Evolving culture for professional development Key trends from our research:

Learning is a 24/7 enterprise for students Blurring of informal and formal arenas for learning Students as content producers not just consumers, especially in the arts Game-based learning is changing classroom dynamics Self-directed, collaborative learning is preferred Desire for greater personalization Key trends from our research:

Learning is a 24/7 enterprise for students Blurring of informal and formal arenas for learning Students as content producers not just consumers, especially in the arts Game-based learning is changing classroom dynamics Self-directed, collaborative learning is preferred Desire for greater personalization Connecting digital learning with global skill development New classroom models gaining acceptance Criticality of connectivity – in school and at home Changing ideals for measuring outcomes and results New approaches to developing teacher capacity Evolving culture for professional development New sense of urgency to get it right

Key finding from our research: Students, educators and parents agree – we need a different kind of learning experience to prepare students for the future

“Knowing it and seeing it are two different things.” Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

“Without data, you are just another person with an opinion … Introducing the Speak Up data to inform new discussions and better decision- making around the use of technology for learning

Annual research project  Using online surveys + focus groups  Surveys for: K-12 Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators, Community Members  Special: Pre-Service Teachers in Schools of Education  Open for all K-12 schools and schools of education  Schools, districts & colleges receive free report with their own data  Questions about how eLearning = 21c education Speak Up Research Project 4.5 million surveys since 2003 Data informs: policies, programs, funding at local, state and federal levels

 Learning & Teaching with Technology  College and career ready skills  Students’ Career Interests in STEM  Professional Development / Teacher Preparation  Internet Safety / Data Privacy Issues  Administrators’ Challenges / Bandwidth Capacity  Emerging Technologies both in & out of the Classroom  Mobile Devices, Online Learning, Digital Content, E-texts  Educational Games, Social Media tools and applications  Flipped Classroom, Print to Digital, Online Assessments  Designing the Ultimate School/Classroom Speak Up survey question themes

o K-12 Students o Teachers o Parents o Administrators Activities Attitudes Aspirations To understand the pulse of e-learning, let’s examine a sampling of key Speak Up data findings from California schools:

Speak Up 2015 national participation: 505,676 Survey Audience# of Surveys Submitted K-12 Students415,686 Parents (in English and Spanish)38,613 Teachers & Librarians40,218 Administrators – school, district, technology, communications 4,536 Community members6,623

[State/District] total surveys in 2015: [XXXX] Survey Audience# of Surveys Submitted K-12 Studentsxx Parents (in English and Spanish)xx Teachers & Librariansxx Administrators – school, technology, communications xx Community membersxx

Mobile Learning Digital Content New Classroom Models Sampling of Speak Up data findings

Mobile Learning

[School/district] students’ personal access to mobile devices

Do [school/district] students have access to mobile devices in their classroom? Types of access[School/ district] Teachers report: National Teachers report: Students use their own devices (loaners available too) xx% School assigns devices to students – use at school only xx% School assigns devices to students – use at school and at home xx% Teacher can check out devices to use in classxx% Students do not have regular access to devicesxx%

Benefits to using mobile devices in the classroom Top benefits as articulated by [school/district] parents, teachers and administrators: 1.Increases student engagement in learning 2.Extends learning beyond the school day – providing opportunities for self-remediation by students 3.Provides access to online textbooks 4.Enables more personalized learning 5.Supports greater student ownership of the learning process 6.Facilitates stronger teacher-parent-student communications 7.Helps students develop workplace ready skills

Parents are “mobilists” also – and believe in potential of mobile learning xx% of [school/district] parents say they would purchase a mobile device for their child to use in school – xx% say they already have!

Digital Content

Types of digital content Teachers – [school/district] Teachers – Nationwide Videos or movies that I find online xx% Powerpoints, Prezis xx% Game based environments xx% Google Apps xx% Digital content subscriptions xx% Online curriculum xx% What digital content are you using in your classroom?

How are you using videos, movies or animations within instruction? [School/district] teachers report various instructional goals: Activate students’ prior knowledgexx% Engage students in materialxx% Introduce a lesson or unitxx% Illustrate a difficult conceptxx% Make lesson more relevantxx% Facilitate a class discussionxx% Address different learning stylesxx%

Student question: In what class are you watching videos for learning?

[School/district] students: In what subjects have you watched online videos or movies for schoolwork?

[School/district] students: What are the benefits of watching videos for learning? BenefitsGrade 6-8 who agree I can watch it over and over xx% Easy to access on mobile devices xx% Makes it easier for difficult concepts xx% Connects learning to real world xx% Easy to find all kinds of videos xx% Fits my learning style xx% More engaging; keeps my attention xx% I feel more in control of my learning xx% I learn more from watching a video than reading a book xx%

[School/district] parents: What are the benefits of students watching videos for learning? Top benefits reported: 1.Complements what the teachers shares in class 2.Connects what students are learning to the real world 3.Fits different students’ learning styles 4.Students can self-remediate by watching over again 5.Provides a different learning approach than offered by the teacher

Benefits Increases student engagement Enhances relevancy and quality of instructional materials Personalizes learning Extends learning day Differentiates school as innovative Concerns Teacher training Providing enough computers/devices Balancing instructional priorities Evaluating quality of digital content Student safety Integration Principals’ take on digital content

Metrics for evaluating digital content quality

Effective use of technology in specific content areas Content areas[School/district] Principals National Principals English/Language Arts xx% Sciencexx% Computer Sciencexx% Mathxx% CTExx% Principals say:

What do [school/district] teachers say they need to more effectively use digital content in the classroom? 1.Planning time with colleagues 2.Classroom set of laptops, tablets, or Chromebooks for student use 3.Professional development 4.Tech support when I need it 5.Funds to purchase digital content or apps 6.Consistent, reliable, high speed Internet access

New Classroom Models – Virtual, Blended, Flipped

What best represents your [school/district] classroom?

Where are districts seeing positive outcomes from digital initiatives including new classroom models? Digital Solutions Implemented – positive results Implemented – too early for results Considering for this year Using student data to inform instruction xx% Use of digital content in the classroom xx% Online classes for studentsxx% Blended learning implementations xx% Use of digital textbooks rather than print textbooks xx% Competency based learningxx%

Defining blended learning:  Hybrid learning approach combining supervised learning in a brick and mortar school with self-paced learning that is online  Students have some element of control over time, place, path and pace of their learning online Source: Christensen Institute and iNACOL

Which of these classroom models would be best for your child? [School/district] Parents say: Blended learning classxx% Traditional classxx% Flipped learning classxx% Virtual class xx%

Principals: Benefits of blended learning BenefitsPrincipals – [school/district] Principals – nationwide Extends learning beyond class time xx% Personalized learning xx% Increased student engagement xx% Students take more responsibility for learning xx% Enhanced relevancy of curriculum xx% Improved student outcomes xx% Technology is used effectively xx%

Principals: Challenges with blended learning ChallengesPrincipals – [school/district] Principals – nationwide Educating parents on their role xx% Identifying best practices for teachers xx% Securing funding to support plans xx% Metrics for evaluating program success xx% Identifying/procuring curriculum or content xx% Identifying best model for your school xx% Integration of the content within instruction xx%

California parents are more willing to help with funding for digital learning Willingness to support a school technology fee?

Another type of new learning environment [School/district] students are “self-blending” outside of school to pursue self-directed, academic passions o Watching a video to learn how to do something (xx%) o Research a website to learn more about a topic (xx%) o Using social media to follow experts or learn what people are thinking about (xx%) o Playing online games or simulations (xx%) o Using online writing tools to improve writing skills (xx%)

Something new in the air in schools today... But, what is needed to take our digital learning plans to the next level?

“Imagine you are designing the ultimate school for today’s students, what technologies would have the greatest impact on learning?” Favorite Speak Up Question: Education Decision-Makers

Do we have a shared vision in California around digital learning solutions?

. 1. Engaging parents in digital learning plans What topics would you like to know more about? o Apps/software that could help my child with learning at home o Technology in use at my child’s school o Internet safety in place at my child’s school o Student data privacy policies o What technology I should have at home to help my child succeed at school o How can I work with my child’s teacher to improve learning o Different classroom models at my child’s school

2.Supporting teachers with appropriate professional development What is on your wish list for professional development? o Using technology to differentiate instruction o Using educational games within instruction o Using technology tools for formative assessment o Using mobile devices in the classroom o Identifying mobile apps for classroom use

3. Appreciating the benefits of digital learning from the student perspective As a result of using technology, I am … o Developing creativity skills o Collaborating with other students more o Learning in a way that fits my personal style o Applying knowledge to practical problems o Better understanding class materials o In control of my learning o Developing critical thinking skills o Communicating with my teachers more often

4. Articulating needs for enhanced teacher skills with digital tools to our preparation programs Principals’ expectations for new teachers: o Know how to differentiate instruction with technology (xx%) o Use digital content effectively within instruction (xx%) o Use technology to communicate with parents & students (xx%) o Create/source multi-media for classroom use (xx%) o Fluency with online assessments (xx%) o Manage a class where every student has a device (xx%) o Setup and implement blended learning (xx%)

Key finding from our research: Students, educators and parents agree – we need a different kind of learning experience to prepare students for the future

Understanding the pulse of e-learning today – look beyond the obvious and realize that it is really about new learning paradigms

National Speak Up reports and infographics Targeted and thematic reports Digital learning trends Mobile learning & social media Games in the classroom Blended learning outcomes Presentations, podcasts and webinars Services: consulting, workshops, evaluation and efficacy studies More Speak Up? New national report to be released in May 2016

Online surveys for: o K-12 students – individual + group o Parents – English and Spanish o Teachers o Librarians/Media Specialists o School Site & District Administrators o Technology Leaders o Community Members All schools are invited to participate Surveys open October 2016 Participate in Speak Up! Sign up to receive information at:

Your thoughts, ideas, questions

Thank you for this conversation today! Julie Evans x15 Twitter: JulieEvans_PT and SpeakUpEd Copyright Project Tomorrow 2016 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.