This document summarizes key findings from a new report on online learning trends. The report is based on a national research project that surveyed hundreds of thousands of K-12 students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Some key findings include: - Participation in online classes by middle and high school students has grown significantly in recent years. - Factors driving greater interest in online learning include keeping students engaged, increasing graduation rates, and providing scheduling flexibility. - Barriers to further adoption include concerns about course quality, standards alignment, and lack of support for teachers. Providing proper tools, training and incentives could help motivate more teachers to teach online.

1. Learning in the 21st Century: 2011 Trends Update – New Report Students, Parents & Educators Speak Up about Online Learning Special Webinar August 31, 2011

2. A big thank you to:

3. Series of Speak Up Reports in collaboration with Blackboard

5. Learning in the 21st Century: 2011 Trends Update Meet our expert panelists! Mary Fluharty Technology Integration Specialist Alexandria City PS (VA) Alison Schleede Technology Facilitator Mooresville Graded SD (NC)

11. The New 3 E’s of Education: Enabled, Engaged, Empowered Report #1: How today’s students are leveraging emerging technologies for learning Report #2: How today’s educators are advancing a new vision for teaching and learning Speak Up 2010 National Findings Two national releases in Washington DC April 1 and May 11, 2011

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

16. Online learning enables a greater personalization of the learning process for both students and educators and facilitates opportunities to collaborate with peers and experts , thus empowering a new sense of personal ownership of the learning process.

17. Who is learning online today? Administrators: Who is your audience for online learning? Audience 2008 2010 Administrators 21% 36% Teachers 49% 53% Traditional students 24% 40% Home-schooled students 5% 13% Students in continuation schools 3% 18% At risk students 10% 16%

18. Who is learning online today?

19. Who is learning online today? Table 1: Growth in student participation in online classes Type of online participation Middle School Students High School Students 2010 2009 2008 2010 2009 2008 Took an online class for school 19% 13% 9% 30% 18% 10% Took an online class for personal reasons 5% 8% 7% 8% 9% 4%

20. What is propelling this new interest? Table 2: Value of Online Learning for Students Value of Online Learning Principals District Administrators Keeping students engaged in school 37% 46% Increasing graduation rates 32% 44% Offering academic remediation 32% 39% Providing scheduling alternatives 25% 37% Programs for at risk students 23% 29% Offer dual enrollment courses 15% 20% Provide advanced coursework 14% 25%

21. Can online learning transform the learning process? For high school students, traditional reasons: scheduling and college credit. For middle school students, it’s about changing the learning paradigm. Students: Why do you want to take an online class?

23. Given the demand and the interest, what is standing in the way of greater adoption?

24. Given the demand and the interest, what is standing in the way of greater adoption?

25. Given the demand and the interest, what is standing in the way of greater adoption?

27. Given the demand and the interest, what is standing in the way of greater adoption?

28. What would motivate a teacher to teach an online course? Working conditions? Professional development opportunities? Professional satisfaction? Curriculum support? Job opportunities?

29. What would motivate a teacher to teach an online course? For teachers who have an interest in online teaching: Flexibility in working conditions 78% Increased compensation 65% Providing necessary tools/support 60% Learning about job opportunities 58% Working with more motivated students 53%

30. What would motivate a teacher to teach an online course? For teachers who say they are not interested : Increased compensation 37% Flexibility in working conditions 32% Providing necessary tools/support 25% Co-teaching an online course 22% Providing curriculum 21%

31. What would motivate a teacher to teach an online course? Value of first hand experience by taking an online course? Not that meaningful …. Only 26% of the interested cohort and 9% of the disinterested cohort said that would make a difference.

33. Learning in the 21st Century: 2011 Trends Update Panel Discussion Mary Fluharty Technology Integration Specialist Alexandria City PS (VA) Alison Schleede Technology Facilitator Mooresville Graded SD (NC)

35. Interested in leveraging ROI analysis to justify your online learning initiative? Special Webinar: The New Math for Justifying Online Learning: Leveraging ROI and VOI Analysis for Ed Tech Investments Date and Time: September 29, 2011 2:00 pm ET, 11:00 am PT Register at www.blackboard.com

37. A big thank you to:

38. Thank you. Let’s continue this conversation. Julie Evans Project Tomorrow [email_address] 949-609-4660 x15 Copyright Project Tomorrow 2011. 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.