(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Students, Parents & Teachers Speak Up about Online Learning New research on behaviors and aspirations Speak Up 2008 National Findings Julie Evans Chief Executive Officer Project Tomorrow

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Our Discussion Today What is Speak Up? Invitation to participate in Speak Up 2009 Review of National Data Findings Trends to Watch Expert Panel – Virtual Panel of Students

(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, Administrators, Pre-Service Teachers –National Findings Release annually in Washington DC Inform policies & programs –Analysis and reporting – national reports, state reports, district reports –Services: custom reports, consulting services, webinars –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 –18,000 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) Project Tomorrow ( is the leading education nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of student voices in education.

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Learning & Teaching with Technology Web 2.0 in Education Broadband Access & Policy 21 st Century Skills: Digital Citizenship Science & Math Instruction & Global Competitiveness Emerging Technologies in the Classroom Mobile Devices Online Learning Digital Content Designing the 21st Century School Speak Up survey question themes

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online surveys available for: K-12 students Parents Teachers Administrators New! Pre-service teachers Surveys open through Dec 18, 2009 Inviting all K-12 Schools, Districts, States, Virtual Schools and Schools of Education to participate in Speak Up 2009 Free online report for all Speak Up participating districts w/ your local data: Feb 2010 Release of National Speak Up Findings in Congressional Briefings: Mar & May 2010 No fee to participate. No limit on the # of surveys submitted. 100% confidential.

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 We would like to recognize our Speak Up 2009 Sponsors:

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Speak Up 2009 Oct 19 – Dec 18 Outreach for participation Data analysis & reporting Sharing insights Comparative analysis Demonstrating innovation Speak Up National Outreach Champion Partner

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Collect unique data from stakeholders Give stakeholders a voice in national/state policy Support specific initiatives such as digital content, online learning, mobile devices, 1:1 programs or new teacher professional development programs Model for students the value of civic engagement and being part of a national discussion Recognition as an innovation leader Demonstrate to students, teachers and parents that their ideas are valued by their education leaders Understand the future of K-12 education Learn more at Why do schools, districts, & states participate in Speak Up?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Selected National Data Findings Speak Up 2008 K-12 Students, Parents, Teachers & Administrators Focus: Online Learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 K-12 Students281,500 Teachers29,644 Parents (in English & Spanish)21,309 School/District Administrators3,114 Schools / Districts4,379 / 868 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 Speak Up 2008 Data Findings Who am I? Warm Up Exercise

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Who am I? Profile characteristics: Wishes for their ultimate school Online classes (27%) High tech science tools (39%) Online tools for organization (35%) Access to mobile devices: MP3 player (44%) Game player (53%) Laptop (44%) Participates in immersive virtual reality environments (39%) Uses Internet for education research (51%) and online assessments (35%)

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Audience Response: Who am I? 1. Kindergarten Boy 2. 3rd Grade Girl 3. 7th Grade Boy 4. 10th Grade Girl 5. Teacher

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Who am I? 3 rd Grade Girl

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Meet the profile of todays 3rd grade girls: Wishes for their ultimate school Online classes (27%) High tech science tools (39%) Online tools for organization (35%) Access to mobile devices: MP3 player (44%) Game player (53%) Laptop (44%) Participates in immersive virtual reality environments (39%) Uses Internet for education research (51%) and online assessments (35%)

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing the Digital Advance Team Todays K-12 Students Adopting/adapting technologies for learning Tech trend setters Their use predicts widespread acceptance Out of school use drives in school use Pace car for others Teachers ultimately catch up

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing the Digital Advance Team So, what are the next emerging technologies to be paced by the Digital Advance Team?

(c) Project Tomorrow The mobile learner 2.Its a Web 2.0 World 3.Ill take that class to go! 4.Digital content & online textbooks 5.Exploring STEM careers Digital Advance Team Trends

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing the Digital Advance Team Lets listen in and learn! Activities, Attitudes and Aspirations Disconnects and Differences Trends and Leverage Points

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Digital disconnect is alive & well: the gap between how todays students learn and how they live! Key findings from Speak Up data

(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 Key findings from Speak Up data:

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How are students using technology for schoolwork?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How are students using technology for schoolwork?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Student interest in online learning continues to increase... Key findings from Speak Up data

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Student interest in online learning continues to increase... But district priorities and availability are not keeping pace with demand Key findings from Speak Up data

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Disrupting Class says: By 2019, 50% of all high school classes will be online

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Disrupting Class says: By 2019, 50% of all high school classes will be online Todays students say: We want it now!

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Students: Have you taken or researched taking an online class? 20% of high school students 26% of middle school students

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 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 Students that have not taken an online class:

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Is there interest in taking online classes? Yes! Interest in taking an online class: + 40% of high school students + 35% of middle school students 21% 46% Students that have not taken an online class:

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

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Why take an online class?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How would online classes make school more interesting for students? 1.Puts me 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%)

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Familiarity with online learning = stronger benefits

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The administrator point of view What the barriers that are preventing you from implementing or expanding online learning? Principals say: #1 Funding #2 Teacher Preparation

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The administrator point of view Barriers to implementing online classes #1 Funding Not a funding priority in my district Limited state funding

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The administrator point of view Barriers to implementing online classes #2 Teacher Preparation Not comfortable with tools Not comfortable with teaching online Reluctant to try it No expertise to develop courses

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The teacher point of view Teachers become online learners 1/3 of teachers have taken online PD 1/5 of teachers participate regularly in online PLC

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The teacher point of view Teachers become online learners 1/3 of teachers have taken online PD 1/5 of teachers participate regularly in online PLC But only 3% have taught an online class Only 13% are even interested!

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Teachers and online learning

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Should students be required to take an online class to graduate?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 What if you could design the ultimate school.... what technologies would have the greatest impact on your learning? Many districts are looking at this data to inform ARRA grants and other funding applications.

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 a.Games and virtual simulations b.Interactive whiteboards c.Personal laptops for each student d.Student access to and IM at school e.Using mobile devices for learning f.Online classes g.Digital content Audience Response: What do K-12 students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 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?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 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? Give me a laptop for my personal use at school and at home

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 What if you could design the ultimate school for 21st century learning?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 What if you could design the ultimate school for 21st century learning?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online learning - continuing digital disconnect

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing the Digital Advance Team Todays K-12 Students Adopting/adapting technologies for learning Tech trend setters Their use predicts widespread acceptance Out of school use drives in school use Pace car for others Teachers ultimately catch up

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 How do todays students define the ultimate learning environment? Un-tethered learning New learning spaces Social based learning Digital resources add relevancy Go beyond classroom walls

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Learning that is Enabled Engaging Empowered How do todays students define the ultimate learning environment? And how do we get there? Are we listening?

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Students: If you were the school principal... Listen to students ideas (59%) Students feel safe at school (58%) Treat all students equally (57%) Teachers interested in student success (56%) Let student earn college credits (53%) Give students flexibility to work on projects that interest them (51%)

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 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? Special Speak Up 2008 Question over 150,000 responses from students nationwide! Speak Up video of students ideas Our website / YouTube / SchoolTube

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

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Online surveys available for: K-12 students Parents Teachers Administrators New! Pre-service teachers Listen to your stakeholders! Open until Dec 18, 2009 Inviting all K-12 Schools, Districts, States, Virtual Schools and Schools of Education to participate in Speak Up 2009 Free online report for all Speak Up participating districts w/ your local data: Feb 2010 Release of National Speak Up Findings in Congressional Briefings: Mar & May 2010 No fee to participate. No limit on the # of surveys submitted. 100% confidential.

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Surveys open until Dec 18, 2009 Inviting all K-12 Schools, Districts, States, Virtual Schools and Schools of Education to participate in Speak Up 2009 Activate your school/district registration Promote to your stakeholders Leverage incentives or specific motivators Use our tools: banner ads, text Plan for how you will use the data Track participation – we provide weekly updates We are here to help you!

(c) Project Tomorrow

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 Introducing our virtual student panel: Corine 7th Grade Florida Virtual School Paige 11th Grade Westwood Cyber High School Simon 11th Grade Bob Jones High School

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The Future Voice of Education? It is here today...

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 The Future Voice of Education? It is here today... I believe that "the purpose of education is not to make men carpenters, but to make carpenters men." To be competitive in a workplace that is changing and will change continuously throughout our careers, my peers and I need to be able to read and understand new information at a level never before prevalent. This should be, however, a familiar aim for the forces of academia, however, since what we must learn, in essence, is to learn. I would ensure a broad and balanced education that exposes every student to rigorous inquiry in every discipline, from physics to pottery and makes them active participants in the process of inquiry and learning. (11 th grader, Pittsburgh PA)

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009 More data and reports are available on our website: 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. Thank you.