1. (c) Project Tomorrow 20091 Tomorrow’s Students, Today’s K-12 Digital Learners - Are we ready for them? ELI Web Seminar February 2, 2009 Julie Evans

2. (c) Project Tomorrow 20092 What are the expectations of our future students? How do we prepare for these students of tomorrow? What are the important trends in education & technology that we should be discussing today? Our discussion today: 2

3. (c) Project Tomorrow 20093 “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 3

4. (c) Project Tomorrow 20094 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? 1.46 million respondents 4

5. (c) Project Tomorrow 20095 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 5

6. (c) Project Tomorrow 20096  Learning & Teaching with Technology  Web 2.0 in Education  Broadband Access & Policy  Information and Media Literacy Skills  Science Instruction & Global Competitiveness  Emerging Technologies in the Classroom  Mobile Devices  Online Learning  Digital Content  Designing the 21st Century School Speak Up 2008 survey question themes 6

7. (c) Project Tomorrow 20097 K-12 Students260,231 Teachers29,645 Parents (in English & Spanish)21,139 School/District Administrators3,115 States All 50 oTop 10: TX, CA, AZ, AL, IL, MD, FL, NC, NE, WI About Speak Up Schools: –97% public, 3% private –32% urban, 40% suburban, 29% rural –43% Title 1 eligible –29% majority-minority student population National Speak Up 2008 Participation 7

8. (c) Project Tomorrow 20098 Creating context: How do we prepare for the students of tomorrow? Tomorrow’s Students Current Forces @ Work ? 8

9. (c) Project Tomorrow 20099 Tomorrow’s Students Millennial Attitudes & Values K-12 Education Priorities Technology-Infused Learning Current Forces @ Work Creating context: How do we prepare for the students of tomorrow? 9

10. (c) Project Tomorrow 200910 K-12 Education Priorities What issues are “waking up” our nation’s K-12 administrators in the middle of the night? What issues are driving their priorities and education vision? 10

11. (c) Project Tomorrow 200911 K-12 Education Priorities What issues are waking up our K-12 education administrators in the middle of the night? Top 5 List – Speak Up 2008 data: Funding Test scores Communications with parents School safety Student diversity 11

12. (c) Project Tomorrow 200912 Seismic changes in K-12 education since early 1970’s A sampling of those “earthquakes” Standards based education Teacher quality/retention issues Role of education More education stakeholders Expectations for success for all Diversity of languages, styles, cultures A different kind of learner K-12 Education Priorities 12

13. (c) Project Tomorrow 200913 Tomorrow’s Students Millennial Attitudes & Values K-12 Education Priorities Technology-Infused Learning Current Forces @ Work Creating context: How do we prepare for the students of tomorrow? 13

14. (c) Project Tomorrow 200914 Millennial Attitudes & Values Millennials Rising (Neil Howe and William Strauss) How do they want to learn? Collaboratively Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any pace Structured activities Relevancy with real world And with all kinds of technology 14

15. (c) Project Tomorrow 200915 Creating context: How do we prepare for the students of tomorrow? Tomorrow’s Students Millennial Attitudes & Values K-12 Education Priorities Technology-Infused Learning Current Forces @ Work 15

16. (c) Project Tomorrow 200916 Students, technology & learning: Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations Disconnects & Differences Trends & Leverage Points Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 16

17. (c) Project Tomorrow 200917 “Digital disconnect” is alive & well: the gap between how today’s students learn and how they live! Key findings from Speak Up 2008 data: 17

18. (c) Project Tomorrow 200918 “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 Key findings from Speak Up 2008 data: 18

19. (c) Project Tomorrow 200919 Let’s get to know each other! Audience Response How would you assess your own technology skills compared to your peers? Beginner Average Advanced 19

20. (c) Project Tomorrow 200920 Parents, Teachers, Principals: What kind of tech user are you? 20

21. (c) Project Tomorrow 200921 a.6% b.24% c.70% Audience Response: What % of students in grades 6-12 consider themselves “advanced tech users?” 21

22. (c) Project Tomorrow 200922 What % of students in grades 6-12 consider themselves “advanced tech users?” 70% 24% 6% C B A 22

23. (c) Project Tomorrow 200923 How are today’s students using technology for schoolwork? 23

24. (c) Project Tomorrow 200924 How are today’s students using technology for schoolwork? Top 5 responses: 1. Writing assignments (78%) 2. Online research (75%) 3. Access class info – grades, notes (67%) 4. Creating slideshows, videos, webpages (64%) 5. Communications with email/IM/text (64%) 24

25. (c) Project Tomorrow 200925 How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school? 25

26. (c) Project Tomorrow 200926 How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school? Students say: Not very! 26

27. (c) Project Tomorrow 200927 Top responses: Filters block websites I need Teachers limit tech use Lots of rules –Cannot use my own devices –Cannot access my communications tools –Rules that limit use of my school’s technology Students say: Major obstacles to student tech use at school 27

28. (c) Project Tomorrow 200928 How could your school make it easier for you to use technology? Top 5 student demands: 1.Let me use my own tools & devices 2.Give me unlimited Internet access 3.Let me access my projects anywhere 4.Provide me w/communication - organization tools 5.Give me access to my social networking sites 28

29. (c) Project Tomorrow 200929 Question & Answer Period 1 29

30. (c) Project Tomorrow 200930 Mobile devices Online learning Digital content Digital Disconnect: A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education 30

31. (c) Project Tomorrow 200931 Mobile devices @ school –Cell phones –Laptops –MP3 players –Smartphones & PDAs Digital Disconnect: A new battleground with emerging technologies in education 31

32. (c) Project Tomorrow 200932 Using Mobile Devices for Learning 32

33. (c) Project Tomorrow 200933 Communications Collaborations Creativity Productivity How students want to use mobile devices to support learning 33

34. (c) Project Tomorrow 200934 Communications –Email teachers, classmates –Access personal websites Collaborations –Projects and calendars Creativity –Create/share documents, videos Productivity –Research, downloads, ed games –Get alerts and reminders How students want to use mobile devices to support learning 34

35. (c) Project Tomorrow 200935 Online learning –Dedicated online class –Blended class –On own or through school Digital Disconnect: A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education 35

36. (c) Project Tomorrow 200936 Online learning and K-12 students Current online learning experience: 16% of high school students 14% of middle school students 36

37. (c) Project Tomorrow 200937 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 37

38. (c) Project Tomorrow 200938 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 34% increase in the past year! 38

39. (c) Project Tomorrow 200939 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? 39

40. (c) Project Tomorrow 200940 What is the #1 reason middle school students want to take an online class? 40

41. (c) Project Tomorrow 200941 How would online classes make school more interesting? 1.In control of my learning (47%) 2.Easier to review class materials (38%) 3.Easier for me to succeed (32%) 4.More comfortable asking questions (29%) 5.More motivated to learn (27%) 41

42. (c) Project Tomorrow 200942 Policy: Online class requirement for high school graduation? 42

43. (c) Project Tomorrow 200943 Digital Content Digital Disconnect: A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education 43

44. (c) Project Tomorrow 200944 Digital Content –Online textbook –Information and Media Literacy Digital Disconnect: A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education 44

45. (c) Project Tomorrow 200945 Desired features: –Electronic note taking and highlighting –Self assessments –Links to useful website –Animations/simulations to explain concepts –Access to online tutors –Powerpoint presentations of lectures –Games to explore concepts/ideas Students design an online textbook 45

46. (c) Project Tomorrow 200946 Top 5 responses: 1.Teacher/parent recommendation 2.Info is current, accurate, impartial 3.Domain extension 4.Author is expert 5.Website is cited in multiple resources How students authenticate online resources 46

47. (c) Project Tomorrow 200947 Question & Answer Period 2 47

48. (c) Project Tomorrow 200948 What if you could design the ultimate school.... what technologies would have the greatest impact on your learning? 48

49. (c) Project Tomorrow 200949 a.Digital media tools for creating projects b.Games and virtual simulations c.Personal laptops for each student d.Student access to email and IM at school e.Using mobile devices like cellphones, MP3 players and PDAs f.Online classes g.Digital content inc. online textbooks Audience Response: What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning? 49

50. (c) Project Tomorrow 200950 Students in Kindergarten thru 12 th grade say the same thing every year: What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning? 50

51. (c) Project Tomorrow 200951 Students in Kindergarten thru 12 th grade say the same thing every year: “Give me a laptop for my personal use at school and at home” What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning? 51

52. (c) Project Tomorrow 200952 What if you could design the ultimate school? 52

53. (c) Project Tomorrow 200953 Key trends to watch: Continuing “digital disconnects” Spectrum of digital native-ness Multiple “computers” in the backpack Embracing & adapting new technologies Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any pace learning Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 53

54. (c) Project Tomorrow 200954 Key trends to watch: Self directed learning for student & teacher Everyone is a content developer Make it relevant to me! Blend of informal & formal learning opps Beyond engagement to productivity benefits “Long tail” of training & education Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 54

55. (c) Project Tomorrow 200955 But what is the #1 trend that you should watch regarding your future students? Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 55

56. (c) Project Tomorrow 200956 #1 Trend to watch for your future students: The era of the technology-enabled Free Agent Learner Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 56

57. (c) Project Tomorrow 200957 Free Agent Learner Characteristics: –Self directed learning –Un-tethered to trad’l education –Expert at personal data aggregation Examples: Online learning Control over knowledge authenticity Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 57

58. (c) Project Tomorrow 200958 Free Agent Learner Characteristics: –Power of connections –Creating new communities –Not tethered to physical networks Example: Mobile devices Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 58

59. (c) Project Tomorrow 200959 Free Agent Learner Characteristics: –Experiential learning – make it real –Content developers –Process as important as knowledge gained (sometimes more important) Example: Gaming, simulations, animations, multimedia content Speak Up 2008 Data Findings 59

60. (c) Project Tomorrow 200960 What is the impact of this Free Agent Learner on your institution? What is the impact of these other emerging trends? What are the tough questions you need to be asking today? 60

61. (c) Project Tomorrow 200961 Content Culture Competition Control Tough questions to think about today: 61

62. (c) Project Tomorrow 200962 Tough questions to think about today: Content –What is content today, what will define it tomorrow? Culture –How will these Free Agents fit into our existing culture or is a new culture required/preferred? Competition –Do we need new “business models?” Control –Who controls the learning process in this new world? 62

63. (c) Project Tomorrow 200963 Visit www.tomorrow.orgwww.tomorrow.org Student, Teacher, Parent & Administrator Data Findings – updated annually National Data Release March 24 Congressional Briefing Key findings available online More Speak Up? 63

64. (c) Project Tomorrow 200964 Visit www.tomorrow.orgwww.tomorrow.org 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? 64

65. (c) Project Tomorrow 200965 It has been great to learn with you today. If you have any questions, please contact us: Julie Evans Project Tomorrow jevans@tomorrow.org 949-609-4660 x15 Copyright Project Tomorrow 2008. 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. 65

66. (c) Project Tomorrow 200966 Question & Answer Period 3 66