Project TestDrive: Students and Teachers “Speak Up” about NSDL NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Washington DC October 1, 2008 Julie Evans and Laurie Smith Project Tomorrow

Our discussion today: About Project TestDrive National Project Results and Findings Recommendations Next Steps Discussion – what do you think? NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

About Project Tomorrow Our Vision Preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens Our Mission To support the development of critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills in K-12 students through innovative, research-based uses of science, math and technology resources. NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

About Project Tomorrow NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL Our strengths: Provide national leadership to improve K-12 education Incubate and replicate school based science, math & technology programs that engage students & teachers Leverage online tools, resources and events to build local capacities for reform and innovation Conduct national research to inform and stimulate new discussions around education topics

About Speak Up Annual national research project Online surveys - 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 from the data 5 years of empowering authentic voices – since 2003: 1.1 million K-12 students 74,000 teachers 34,000 parents 3,200 school leaders 14,000 schools – from all 50 states, DC, American military base schools, Canada, Mexico, Australia NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL 1.2 million respondents

What is Project TestDrive? National research project on the classroom effectiveness of K-12 STEM resources in the National Science Digital Library - Supplemental to Digital Libraries go to School Goals –Evaluate the relevance and quality of existing resources, accessibility and impact in the classroom –Develop rubrics for evaluating current and future NSDL content –Develop recommendations for promoting NSDL to K-12 educators NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Why Project TestDrive? Wealth of resources have been developed for NSDL Who is using them? How are they being used? Extends DLgtS by… –Modifying workshop curriculum to create JIT training for teachers on NSDL and IA –Additional rubrics and evaluation instruments to implement with DLgtS workshop curriculum –Advertises DLgtS workshops with more audiences NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Methodology Promotion to participate: + 50,000 teachers Teacher application – screened for school diversity/mix MOU with teachers – informed consent with students Evaluation rubrics developed for the resources Just in time training provided Recommended list of resources identified Teachers select and use 7-10 resources in classroom Teacher and student feedback via surveys and focus groups NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL Link to documents on our website

Project TestDrive Participation 2007/08 School Year: 78 teacher applications approved 29 teachers used 111 resources in their classroom – 86% used at least 7 different resources 20 teachers completed online surveys 2697 students completed online surveys 11 teachers participated in focus groups NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Participation 2007/08 School Year: NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Participation 2007/08 School Year: NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Key Findings Strategy: Outreach and Awareness Building Strategy: Developing the Value Proposition NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building How did you find the resource? What is the most effective way to use the resource? How would you like to learn about resources? How to encourage more classroom usage? NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building Preference for finding and learning about resources – look at who and what did not make the list! Administrators Students District Technology Staff TV / Radio Ads NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building Recommendations to encourage classroom usage: “Inside and outside” recommendations NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building Recommendations to encourage classroom usage: “Inside” recommendations: Increase access to school technology Increase time to learn about and use resources Require as part of school projects – science fairs Funding for teachers to purchase supplies and resources NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Outreach and Awareness Building Recommendations to encourage classroom usage: “Outside” recommendations: Increase awareness – advertising, listservs Push only selected resources – targeted approach Bundle with textbooks and other resources Identify key people as advocates - librarians NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Key Findings Strategy: Outreach and Awareness Building Strategy: Developing the Value Proposition NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Resource characteristics Effectiveness for classroom use Professional impact of using the resources What do you like most/least about resources? What should be improved? NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition How would you characterize the resource? Top responses: NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition How would you characterize the resource? Top responses: Age appropriate – 70% Enhances curriculum – 68% Easy to use – 63% Relevant and useful – 61% Classroom ready / supports curriculum – 58% Easy to integrate into curriculum – 57% Accurate / teacher friendly – 54% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition How would you characterize the resource? Other responses: Student friendly – 52% Visually appealing – 49% Credibility – 48% Interactive – 45% Clear instructions – 45% Supports multiple learning styles – 31% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL Key: Very Effective Effective Not Effective

Developing the Value Proposition Value statements about NSDL resources: Appropriate for classroom use88% Content is credible87% Enhances current curriculum87% Alignment with state standards80% Increased student engagement78% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Value statements about NSDL resources: Appropriate for classroom use88% Content is credible87% Enhances current curriculum87% Alignment with state standards80% Increased student engagement78% I would use the resource again81% I would recommend the resource to others79% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Student Views NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Student Views Value statements about NSDL resources: Often + Always Subject is more interesting58% Enjoyed class participation57% Greater understanding of content56% Learned more52% Remember more about content49% More interested in subject 48% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Student Views Value statements about NSDL resources: Often + Always I would recommend resource to a friend52% I would like to use the resource again59% I would like to use NSDL again60% NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition What did you like most about the resource? NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition What did you like most about the resource? Site dependent but overall comments: Interactivity – use of animations/engaging graphics Easy to understand and use – teacher friendly Students could direct their own learning NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition What did you like least about the resource? Site dependent but one general overall comment: Depth of site content – either too much or too little NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Developing the Value Proposition Recommendations for improving the resources Site dependent but overall comments: Better grade level alignment with age appropriate activities and content More animations/visualizations More content OR less content NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Next Steps Further analysis of the data findings Such as: by contributor by resource by contributor by grade level standard changes in student views after increased usage effectiveness by resource, by contributor classroom utilization by resource selection pathways with more exposure NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Project TestDrive Next Steps Final report – to be published in January 2009 Marketing and outreach recommendations Rubrics for resource evaluations Additional data findings Also available: Resource specific data findings for the pathways and contributors NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Want more information? Speak Up teacher data on digital resources what characteristics are most important to you when choosing online resources? how have you used online resources in the past 12 months? what factors influence your inclusion of 21 st century tools in your science classroom? NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

More Speak Up? Webinars – new series Podcasts Speak Up Blog Facebook Sign up for news alerts Customized reports and consulting services Conference presentations/workshops Speak Up 2008 NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

More Speak Up findings? Visit Student, Teacher, Parent & Administrator Data Findings 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) NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

More Speak Up? Upcoming Presentations and Events: Innovative Learning Conference 2008 October 14-16, 2008 San Jose Presentation: Speak Up data on mobile devices NSBA T+L 2008 October 28-30, 2008 Seattle Presentation: Administrator data from Speak Up Release of new report: “New Visionary Administrator” NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL

Surveys for K-12 students, teachers, parents and administrators Survey for parents in English and Spanish No fee or charge to participate 100% online – each survey only takes 20 minutes 100% confidential; password protected Questions regarding: teaching and learning with technology, 21 st century skills, professional development, science instruction, STEM careers, emerging technologies and online learning New question themes Broadband access/issues – home and at school Digital content Media and information literacy Surveys open from Oct 20 thru Dec 19 Schools/districts get data back in February National data findings released in Washington DC in spring 2009 NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up 2008

Thanks! If you have any questions, please contact: Julie Evans x15 Laurie Smith x17 NSDL Annual Meeting 2008 Speak Up about NSDL