A New Vision for 21st Century Learning: Students "Speak Up" about Emerging Technologies

© Project Tomorrow 2011
Welcome to
A New Vision for 21st Century Learning:
Students “Speak Up”
about Emerging Technologies
Julie Evans
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org

Download presentation materials, share ideas, and discuss
concepts shared in this session by joining our Edmodo
Group with the following code: FETC42
Join the FETC Community at
http://www.edmodo.com/fetc

Today’s Discussion: The Big Questions
• What are the expectations of K-12 students for 21st century
learning?
• How does that student vision compare with the educators’
reality?
• How well are today’s K-12 schools meeting the expectations
of students?
• What is the future of learning?

Today’s Agenda:
 Speak Up National Research Project
 Student Vision for 21st Century Education
 Meet the Free Agent Learner!
 Conversation Time
Speak Up Research Project:
Views of Students, Teachers,
Parents and Administrators

Defining 21st century education . . .
“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.”
11th
grade student
Pittsburgh PA

• Annual national research project
 Online surveys + focus groups
 Open for all K-12 schools and schools of education
 Institutions receive free report with their own data
• Collect ideas ↔ Stimulate conversations
 K-12 Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators
• Inform policies & programs
 Analysis and reporting
 Services to help transform teaching and learning
Speak Up National Research Project

Speak Up is facilitated annually
by Project Tomorrow
(formerly known as NetDay)
Project Tomorrow
(www.tomorrow.org)
is the leading education nonprofit
organization dedicated to the
empowerment of student voices in
education.

• Empowering authentic voices – since 2003:
 1.9 million K-12 students
 180,000 teachers and librarians
 124,000 parents
 15,500 school and district leaders
 30,000 K-12 schools – from all 50 states, DC,
American military base schools, Canada, Mexico,
Australia, int’l schools . . .
Speak Up National Research Project
2.2 million respondents

 Learning & Teaching with Technology
 21st
Century Skills: Digital Citizenship
 Science and Math Instruction / STEM Career Interests
 Professional Development / Teacher Preparation
 Internet Safety
 Administrators’ Challenges
 Emerging Technologies in the Classroom
 Online Learning, Mobile Devices, Digital Content
 Educational Games, Web 2.0 tools and
applications
 Designing the 21st Century School
Speak Up survey question themes

Saluting our Speak Up Sponsors:

And the 75+ other national education and business
associations & nonprofit groups that promote Speak Up to
their stakeholders, members & affiliates.
Thank you to our K-12 National Champion
Outreach Partners:

 K-12 Students 294,399
 Teachers 35,525
 Librarians 2,135
 Parents (in English & Spanish) 42,267
 School/District Administrators 3,578
 Technology Leaders 1,391
 Schools / Districts 6,541 / 1,340
Participating States for Student Surveys: 48 states
Top 12 (# of participants):
TX, CA, AL, AZ, FL, NC, IL, MD, IN, NV, PA, WI
National Speak Up 2010 Participation: 379,355

About our K-12 Schools:
– 34% urban, 29% suburban, 37% rural
– 51% Title 1 eligible – indicating community
poverty
– 34% majority-minority student population

Release of national findings:
Student & Parent Data: April 1
Educator Data: early May
Stay tuned to all Speak Up announcements:
www.tomorrow.org
SpeakUpEd – Twitter and Facebook

Key Findings: Speak Up 2003 – 2010
 Students function as a “Digital Advance Team”
 Students regularly adopt and adapt emerging technologies
for learning
 Students’ frustrations with the unsophisticated use of
technologies within education
 Lack of relevancy in education exacerbated
 Persistent digital disconnect between students and adults
 Emergence of the new Free Agent Learner!

What can the Speak Up
findings tell us about the
future of learning?

Increasingly, students’ aspirations around
the use of emerging technologies within
education is a reflection of their desired
vision for learning in general.
What can the Speak Up data tell us about the
future of learning?

Result:
A new uniquely “student vision” for
leveraging emerging technologies to
drive achievement and educational
productivity

Creating Our Future: Students Speak Up about
theirVision for 21st Century Learning
Social–based learning
Un–tethered learning
Digitally–rich learning

Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations
Disconnects & Differences
Trends & Leverage Points
Speak Up 2009 Data Results
+ Preliminary Speak Up 2010 Data Results

Three Essential Elements
Social–based learning
Students want to leverage emerging
communications and collaboration tools
to create personal networks of experts

Students’ use of collaboration and
communications tools for school work
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Online tutoring
Tweet/micro-blog
Post to blogs/wikis
Communicate w/teachers
Collaborate thru Facebook
Communicate w/peers
Gr 9-12
Gr 6-8
Gr 3-5

Students’ use of technology for communication
and collaboration outside of school
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Contribute to wiki
Contribute to blog
Communicate: Facebook, discussion
boards, chats
Update Facebook profile
Communicate: IM, email, text
Gr 9-12
Gr 6-8
Gr 3-5

Students’ use of social networking sites – for
schoolwork and personal activities
Primary communications vehicle 59%
Use it to get help on schoolwork 34%
When I get home, first thing I check 30%
Helps me keep better organized 20%

Students’ use of social networking sites – for
schoolwork and personal activities
Primary communications vehicle 59%
Use it to get help on schoolwork 34%
When I get home, first thing I check 30%
Helps me keep better organized 20%
Friends with parents thru site 35%
Friends with teacher(s) thru site 18%

Un-tethered learning
Students envision technology-enabled
learning that transcends classroom walls

Students face obstacles using technology at school
(preliminary Speak Up 2010 data findings)
Top responses from students:
1. I cannot use my mobile device (53%)
2. School filters and firewalls block websites I need (51%)
3. Teachers limit our technology use (35%)
4. Too many rules! (30%)
• Cannot access my communications tools
• Rules that limit use of my school’s technology

How schools could make it easier to use technology
Students say:
1. Allow greater access to websites I need (67%)
2. Let me use my own mobile device (55%)
3. Give me unlimited Internet access on campus (43%)
4. Let me use my own laptop (40%)
5. I want to access my social networking site and communications
tools (38%)
6. Provide classwork and resources online (36%)
7. Let me recharge my devices (30%)

K-12 students’ personal access to mobile devices
Device K-2 Gr 3-5 Gr 6-8 Gr 9-12
Cell
phone
21% 29% 51% 56%
Smart
phone
16% 19% 34% 46%
Laptop 37% 42% 60% 67%
MP3 37% 55% 79% 85%
iPad 10% 8% 13% 10%

How would you use your mobile device to help
you with schoolwork?
Top vote getters:
Check grades 74%
Internet research 68%
Take notes for class 59%
Text or IM classmate or teacher re: schoolwork 53%
Use the calendar 50%
It’s all about productivity!

How likely are you this year to allow students to
use their own mobile devices for instructional
purposes at school?
Administrators say:
Likely
22%
Unlikely
63%

So, what prevents you from allowing students to
use their own devices at school?
Administrators say:
1. Teachers are not trained
2. Concerns about network security
3. Concerns about theft
4. Devices could be distraction
5. Digital equity issues

Would parents purchase a mobile device for
their child to use at school?
Parents say:
Likely
67%
Unlikely
11%

Would parents purchase a data plan to support
their child’s use of the mobile device at school?
Parents say:
Likely
54%
Unlikely
16%

Who is learning online?
Growth in student experiences with academic online learning
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
2008
2009
2010
Students Gr 9-12
Students Gr 6-8
Includes:
• Online class taught by a teacher
• Self-study online class
• Blended class environment

Productivity
Class schedule – better fit (54%)
Earn college credit (53%)
Get extra help (38%)
Review materials as needed (38%)
Learning
In control of my learning (52%)
Work at own pace (49%)
Improve my tech skills (36%)
The student value proposition on online learning

Do you know someone who has taken an
online class?
Yes: 65% of high school students
Yes: 53% of middle school students

Do you know someone who has taken an
online class?
Yes: 65% of high school students
Yes: 53% of middle school students
1/3 of parents have taken an online
class for work or personal reasons

Students face obstacles with online learning
If you have not taken an online class, why not?
“I don’t know about the classes offered at my school” (34%)
“My school does not offer online classes” (29%)
“I don’t know how to sign up for online classes” (24%)
“I don’t know how to find information about online classes”
(23%)

Who is your primary audience for online
classes in your district?
1. Teachers (53%)
2. Students (40%)
3. Administrators (36%)
Administrators Speak Up about online learning

How is online learning implemented?
Administrators: Types of Online Learning Provided to Students
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
100% class - our teachers
100% class - other teachers
Blended class
Self directed class
2010
2009

Priorities for online learning
What are the top 5 priorities you are
addressing with online classes for students?
1. Keep students engaged in school
2. Offer academic remediation
3. Increase graduation rates
4. Offer scheduling alternatives
5. Provide programs for at risk students/credit
recovery students

Digitally-rich learning
Students see the use of relevancy-based
digital tools, content and resources as
key to education productivity

Three themes emerge from the data:
 Students want interactivity and relevancy
 They want tools to facilitate collaboration
 They want ways to personalize learning
Students’ desires for the features and
functionality of online textbooks

Students want their digital textbooks to facilitate
collaboration
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Webcams/Video
Conferencing
Collaboration Tools
Create
podcasts/videos
Communicate w ith
classmates
Students
Gr 9-12
Students
Gr 6-8
Parents

Students want to use their digital textbooks to
personalize learning
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Self-paced tutorials
Organizational tools
Presentations
Dow nload to phone
Self directed quizzes
Search terms
Calculator
Electronic notes
Students
Gr 9-12
Students
Gr 6-8
Parents

Students want their digital textbooks to be
interactive and relevant

Students’ interest in games transcends ages and
gender
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Role play
Customize to my
interests
Interactivity
Make new friends
Play on own
Competing with
others
Gr 9 Boy
Gr 9 Girl
Gr 3 Boy
Gr 3 Girl
What do you like most about playing video/online games?

And interest in games within learning increases
with age – but without gender bias
What would be the benefits of games within learning?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Real world relevancy
Self-directed
Go beyond assignment
More engaged
Understand difficult concepts
Learn more
Gr 9 Boy
Gr 9 Girl
Gr 3 Boy
Gr 3 Girl

Imagine you are designing the
ultimate school.
Which technology tools and services
would have the greatest positive impact
on learning?

Imagine you are designing the
ultimate school.
Which technology tools and services
would have the greatest positive impact
on learning?
Are we all on the same page?

Ultimate School: Are we on the same page?
Ultimate School: Elementsof Social Based Learning
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Collaboration tools
Communications
tools
Admin
Parents
Students

Ultimate School: Elements of Un-tethered Learning
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Internet access
Laptops
Mobile devices
Online classes Admin
Parents
Students

Ultimate School: Digitally Rich Learning Environments
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Digital media tools
Games
Online textbooks
E-portfolios
Admin
Parents
Students

• Continuing “digital disconnects”
• Spectrum of digital native-ness
• Multiple “computers” in the backpack
• Adaptation trumps adoption
• Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any pace
learning
• Developing personal expert networks
Key trends we are watching:

• Self directed learning for student & teacher
• Everyone is a content developer
• Make it relevant to me!
• Blurring of informal & formal learning lines
• Beyond engagement: it’s really about
productivity!
• “Long tail” of training & education
Key trends we are watching:

The era of the technology-enabled
Free Agent Learner
Speak Up National Data Findings

Key Characteristics:
– Self directed learning
– Un-tethered to traditional education
– Expert at personal data aggregation
– Power of connections
– Creating new networks of experts
– Experiential learning is key – make it real
– Everyone is a content developer
– Process as important as knowledge gained
Meet the Free Agent Learner!

Searched online for self-directed learning 34%
Used cell phone apps to self organize 20%
Found podcasts/videos to learn about something 18%
Took an online test or assessment on their own 15%
Used online writing tools to improve writing skills 15%
Found experts online to answer questions 12%
Sampling of activities

Searched online for self-directed learning 34%
Used cell phone apps to self organize 20%
Found podcasts/videos to learn about something 18%
Took an online test or assessment on their own 15%
Used online writing tools to improve writing skills 15%
Found experts online to answer questions 12%
Sampling of activities
Who is this?

Say hello to the
Free Agent
Learner –
a typical middle
school student!

Recommendations from the
K-12 “Digital Advance Team”
Learning that is
• Enabled
• Engaging
• Empowered

• National Speak Up Findings
• Presentations, podcasts and webinars
• Evaluation services
• Reports and white papers
Want more Speak Up after FETC?
www.tomorrow.org

The Future of Learning?
What do K-12 education leaders
say schools will look like in 2019?

A vision for education in 2019
“School will become a 24 hour around the clock opportunity
with students logging into school from “home.” The role of the
teacher will be to lead and assist students in “discovering”
the uses for the technology and information. Every student
from Pre-K through twelfth grade will have access to learning
through the most advanced IT devices available. Learning will
occur online at least 80% of the time. School buildings will
be open on evenings and Saturdays for remediation, recreation
and community activities for the purpose of socialization.”
Principal from Michigan

Thank you.
Let’s continue this conversation.
Julie Evans
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
949-609-4660 x15
Copyright Project Tomorrow 2010.
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.

Evaluations
Step 1: Go to http://edmodo.com/fetcevals
Step 2: Select session number (FETC42), session title,
and evaluate.

A New Vision for 21st Century Learning: Students "Speak Up" about Emerging Technologies

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to A New Vision for 21st Century Learning: Students "Speak Up" about Emerging Technologies

Similar to A New Vision for 21st Century Learning: Students "Speak Up" about Emerging Technologies (20)

More from Julie Evans

More from Julie Evans (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

A New Vision for 21st Century Learning: Students "Speak Up" about Emerging Technologies