The document summarizes the results of the 2012 Speak Up survey conducted by Project Tomorrow. It provided an overview of the participation in Alabama, including that 34,053 surveys were submitted. Several Alabama school districts were recognized for high participation. The document reviewed some of the key national findings on trends like digital conversion, personalized learning, and the evolving role of mobile devices. It encouraged participants to analyze the data to understand realities of ed tech and evaluate if there is a shared vision for the future.

1. Alabama Speaks Up!
Speak Up 2012 Data Results
Planning for Speak Up 2013
Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow CEO
September 30, 2013

2. Today’s discussion – the big questions:

What are some realities about ed tech in our schools
today – from the perspective of Alabama students,
parents, teachers & administrators?

Do we have a shared vision for digital learning?

What are the big trends to watch?

How can your district participate in Speak Up 2013?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

3. Today’s discussion – the big questions:

What are some realities about ed tech in our schools
today – from the perspective of Alabama students,
parents, teachers & administrators?

Do we have a shared vision for digital learning?

What are the big trends to watch?

How can your district participate in Speak Up 2013?
Use the 2012 data to demonstrate
value of participation
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

4. Project Tomorrow, a national
education nonprofit organization
Programs:
• Research & evaluation studies
• School and community programs
• Events for students
Mission: To ensure that today’s
students are prepared to become
tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and
engaged citizens of the world.
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

5. Speak Up National Research Project
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
 Pre-Service Teachers in Schools of Education
Inform policies & programs
 Analysis and reporting of findings and trends
 Consulting services to help transform teaching and learning
+ 3 million surveys since 2003
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

6. Speak Up survey question themes
 Learning & Teaching with Technology
 21st Century Skills: Digital Citizenship & Global Awareness
 Math and Science Instruction
 Students’ Career Interests in STEM
 Professional Development / Teacher Preparation
 Internet Safety
 Administrators’ Challenges
 Emerging Technologies both in & out of the Classroom
 Mobile Devices, Online Learning, Digital Content, E-textbooks
 Educational Games, Social Media tools and applications
 Flipped Classroom, Print to Digital, Online Assessments
 Designing the 21st Century School
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

7. Speak Up survey question themes








Learning & Teaching with Technology
21st Century Skills: Digital Citizenship & Global Awareness
Math and Science Instruction
Students’ Career Interests in STEM
Professional Development / Teacher Preparation
Internet Safety
Administrators’ Challenges
Emerging Technologies both in & out of the Classroom
 Mobile Devices, Online Learning, Digital Content, E-textbooks
 Educational Games, Social Media tools and applications
 Flipped Classroom, Print to Digital, Online Assessments
 Designing the 21st Century School
Activities
Value Propositions
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
Aspirations

8. Why participate in Speak Up?
 Power of local data
 Use data as input for planning
 To justify budget and purchasing decisions
 Inform new initiatives – as an evaluation tool
.
 As a tool to engage parents
 Demonstrate interest in students’ ideas
 Use for grant writing and fund development
 Content for professional development
 As a competitive tool
 And more . . . . . . .
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

9. National Speak Up 2012 Participation: 466,303

K-12 Students
 Teachers & Librarians
 Parents (in English & Spanish)
 School/District Administrators

364,233
56,346
39,713
6,011
About the participating schools & districts
o 8,020 schools and 2,431 districts
o 30% urban / 43% rural / 27% suburban
o All 50 states + DC

Honor Roll of States with highest participation:
TX, CA, OH, IN, AL, NC, WI, AZ, FL, PA
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

10. Alabama Speaks Up!
34,053 Online Surveys Submitted
K-12 Students
27,561
Teachers & Librarians
3,836
Parents
2,369
School/District Administrators 287
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

11. Bravo!

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
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Shelby County School District
Madison County School District
Lee County Schools
Coffee County School District
Gadsen City School District
Chilton County School District
Decatur City School District
Calhoun County School District
Satsuma City School District
Mountain Brook School District
Salem Community Schools
Piedmont City Schools
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

12. Bravo!


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








Shelby County School District = #2
Madison County School District = #5
Lee County Schools
Coffee County School District
Gadsen City School District
Chilton County School District
Decatur City School District
Calhoun County School District
Satsuma City School District
Mountain Brook School District
Salem Community Schools
Piedmont City Schools
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

13. Speak Up 2012
National Reports
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

14. Digital Conversion
Personalized
Learning
K-12 Digital Learner

15. Speak Up 2012 National Findings
From Chalkboards to Tablets
Digital Conversion
A shift in what we do, but
also our attitudes and
values
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

16. Speak Up 2012 National Findings
From Chalkboards to Tablets
Digital Conversion
Why the new momentum in
K-12 education?
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

17. Why the new momentum for digital
conversions in K-12 education?
1. Common Core State Standards
2. Educators’ personal use of digital tools
3. Sustained budget stress
4. Emergence of the new digital parent
5. Employers’ demands for better skilled employees
6. New student expectations for learning processes
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

18. What can the Speak Up
findings tell us about the
future of learning?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

19. Speak Up National Findings: 2003 - 2012

Students function as a “Digital Advance Team”

Students regularly adopt and adapt emerging
technologies for learning

Students’ frustrations focus on the unsophisticated
use of technologies within education

Persistent digital disconnect between students and
adults

Exacerbation of lack of relevancy in current
education

Students want a more personalized learning
environment
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

20. The New Student Vision for Learning
Social–based learning
Un–tethered learning
Digitally–rich learning
Personalized
Learning
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

21. Personalizing learning
through digital tools
8 things you need
to know about
ed tech in Alabama
(with some bonus
data!)
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

22. Be a Speak Up Analyst!
Your assignment:
 Debunk myths
 Uncover hidden digital divides
 Evaluate your vision
 Do you have a shared vision
of the future?
 How can the Speak Up data
help you?
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

23. 1. Alabama students are using social media
tools to connect, collaborate and create
Texting:
71% of Gr 9-12, 66% of Gr 6-8
(nat’l growth of 44% since 2008)
Twitter:
4 out of 10 students in Gr 9 -12
(only 1/3 nationally)
Videos:
32% of students in Gr 6-8
(nat’l - only 15% in 2007)
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

24. 1. Alabama students are using social media
tools to connect, collaborate and create
Massively multi-player
online games (MMOG)
¼ of students in Gr 6-8
Facebook
53% of students in Gr 9-12
(nat’l decrease of 21%
since 2007)
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

25. Bonus: Alabama parents, teachers and
administrators are using social media, also!
Social Media Tools
Parents
Teachers
Principals
Texting
88%
82%
91%
Twitter
17%
17%
26%
YouTube
17%
15%
16%
Games
3%
3%
3%
Facebook
59%
56%
48%
Skype
37%
43%
52%
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

26. 2. Alabama students are multi-mobilists
79%
66%
59%58%
47%
52%
48%
44%
45%
45%
40%
37%
25%
21%
16%
Cell Phone
16%
Smartphone
K-2
Gr 3-5
Tablet
Gr 6-8
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
Digital Reader
Gr 9-12

27. 2. Alabama students are multi-mobilists
Perspectives on out of school Internet access
is changing – even in Alabama
“My home internet access is through a
mobile, 3G/4G device”
Grade 6-8
57%
Grade 9-12
68%
 Weekly Internet access for homework?
66% of Alabama high school students
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

28. 3. Changing views on mobile learning
Growth in mobile device access by parents
90%
73%
49%
35%
32%
5%
2008
Tablets
2012
Smartphones
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
Cellphones

29. 3. Changing views on mobile learning
The mobilist parents – are you ready for them?
Smartphones
Tablets
Digital readers
Nat’l
73%
49%
37%
Alabama
78%
48%
39%
44% of Alabama parents want their school or
child’s teacher to communicate with them via
text message (37% nationwide)
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

30. Bonus: Benefits of mobile devices for
schoolwork
59%
53%
60%
Extends learning beyond school day
Provides way for students to review
materials anytime
57%
48%
52%
50%
Improves school to home
communications
Increases student engagement
55%
50%
Personalizes learning
Principals
Teachers
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013
48%
Parents
64%
63%
57%
84%
77%

31. 4. The BYOD story
New Speak Up Question on the 2012 survey:
Parents: What if there were two classes – one
allowed use of student owned devices and one
did not . . . .
How likely is it that you would want your
child in the class that allowed the devices?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

32. 4. The BYOD story
New Speak Up Question:
How likely is it that you would want your child
in the class that allowed the devices?
Result: 75% of Alabama parents said it
was likely – they want their child in that
“mobile using class”
(51% said very likely!)
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

33. Bonus: The BYOD/BYOT trend – what a
difference a year makes!
Policy/Position
Admin 2011
Admin 2012
Do not allow
52%
37%
Discretion of building
principal
16%
21%
Discretion of teacher
21%
32%
We provide devices
13%
18%
Evaluating BYOD/T
19%
28%
BYOD/T in place
17%
30%
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

34. 5. Alabama students are tech trendsetters
Students’ Philosophy: it just makes sense to use
different devices for different tasks
Create a presentation?
Communicate w/peers & teacher?
Read a book or article?
Take notes in class?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

35. 5. Alabama students are tech trendsetters
Students’ Philosophy: it just makes sense to use
different devices for different tasks
Gr 6-8
Create a
presentation
Communicate
with classmates
& teachers
Read a book or
article
Take notes in
class
Gr 9-12
Laptop
Laptop
Smartphone
Smartphone
Digital reader
Tablet
Tablet
Laptop
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

36. 6. Today’s students still face obstacles
using technology at school for learning
Obstacles, barriers, challenges
How has this changed in the
past ten years?
From 2003 to 2012 …..
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

37. Speak Up 2012 National Findings
From Chalkboards to Tablets
Obstacles to using tech @ school
Top obstacles in 2003
Internet too slow
2. Filters & firewalls
3. Not enough
computers
4. Computers are old
5. Software is old
1.
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

38. Speak Up 2012 National Findings
From Chalkboards to Tablets
Obstacles to using tech @ school
Top obstacles in 2003
Top obstacles in 2012
Internet too slow
2. Filters & firewalls
3. Not enough
computers
4. Computers are old
5. Software is old
1.
1.
Filters & firewalls
2. Cannot access my
social media
3. Cannot use my
mobile
4. Too many rules!
5. Cannot use texting
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

39. Speak Up 2012 National Findings
From Chalkboards to Tablets
Obstacles to using tech @ school
Top obstacles in 2003
Top obstacles in 2012
Internet too slow
2. Filters & firewalls
3. Not enough
computers
4. Computers are old
5. Software is old
1.
1.
Access to school tools!
Filters & firewalls
2. Cannot access my
social media
3. Cannot use my
mobile
4. Too many rules!
5. Cannot use texting
Access to my tools!
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

40. Bonus: Alabama parents have concerns
about tech use at their child’s school also!
Alabama parents say:
Not enough computers for every child to use
46%
Tech use is too teacher dependent
27%
Class or school info on portal is not updated
27%
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

41. 8. Online learning for all
Parents have first hand experiences with
online learning
I have taken an online class:
For work or job training
For an academic/college program
To learn new skills
To explore a hobby
For traffic school
Nat’l
43%
29%
22%
13%
7%
22% of parents who have not taken an
online class would like to!
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
AL
47%
32%
20%
13%
2%

42. Students and parents want more online
learning!
A “must have” for the ultimate school:
Nat’l
Alabama
Students Gr 9-12
46%
45%
Students Gr 6-8
41%
43%
Students Gr 3-5
38%
27%
Parents
36%
39%
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

43. Why take an online class?
For high school students, traditional reasons
are important such as scheduling and college
credit.
For middle school students, it’s about
changing the learning paradigm.
For all students, potential for personalization
of learning is highly valued – more today than
ever before.
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

44. Bonus: Online learning – it is all about
personalization!
Personalization benefits
Students
Grades 9-12:
2009
Students
Grades 9-12:
I would be in control of my learning
40%
57%
I could work at my own pace
51%
56%
It would be easier for me to review
course materials as often as I wish
29%
46%
I would have a greater sense of
independence
28%
42%
It would be easier for me to be
successful in class
28%
35%
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
2012

45. 8. Leveraging digital content to create new
learning environments
Types used in the classroom: Nat’l
Alabama

Videos found online
47%
47%

Games
30%
31%

Skill-based software
30%
34%

Online curriculum
21%
16%

Online textbooks
21%
17%
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013 20%
Animations
17%


46. New question area for Speak Up this year –
who is flipping?
Experience with flipped learning
Alabama
Teachers
Alabama
Principals
(about their
teachers)
Did this – with my own videos
2%
18%
Did this – with online videos
4%
22%
I’m interested in this
15%
34%
Concern: student home access
51%
45%
Concern: need PD in creating videos
21%
29%
Concern: need PD in finding videos
15%
27%
Concern: need PD in what to do in class
14%
26%
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

47. Bonus: What Alabama teachers say they
need: their wish list for PD
Preparing for the Common Core Standards 41%
Using tech to differentiate instruction
Use tech for formative assessments
39%
20%
Using a tablet within instruction
How to id mobile apps for classroom use
How to use games within instruction
How to id quality digital content
How to create videos of my lessons
32%
31%
24%
23%
18%
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

48. Imagine you are designing the ultimate
school for today’s students,
what technologies would have the
greatest impact on learning?
Do we have a shared vision
for digital learning?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

49. Do we have a shared vision of the
future of digital learning in Alabama?
Schoolwide Internet
Tablets
Social media tools
Digital textbooks
Games
Use own mobile device
Online classes
0%
Principals
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Teachers
Parents
© 2013 Project Tomorrow
Students

50. Schoolwide Internet
Tablets
Social media tools
Digital textbooks
Games
Use own mobile device
Online classes
0%
Principals
Teachers
20%
40%
Parents
60%
80%
Students
What does your district chart look like?
Do you have a shared vision of the
future of digital learning within your
district?
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

51. Key trends that we are watching ….

Continuing “digital disconnects”

Spectrum of digital native-ness

24/7 access redefined

Inadequacy of the 1-to-1 paradigm

Everyone needs a personal learning
network

Responsible use vs. acceptable use

Blurring of informal & formal learning
lines
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

52. Key trends that we are watching ….

Collaborations driving 21st century skills

Game-ification momentum – learning as
process

Students as content producers

Changing ideas for assessment

It’s really all about productivity!

Maximizing personalized learning

Emergence of Free Agent Learners!
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

53. More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org
National Speak Up Findings and reports
Targeted and thematic reports
Online learning trends
Mobile learning & social media
Print to digital migration
Social learning
Intelligent adaptive software
New digital parent series
Presentations, podcasts and webinars
Services: consulting, workshops, evaluation and efficacy
studies
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

54. Quick Facts about Speak Up 2013
Surveys open from Oct 2 thru Dec 20
Surveys: K-12 students, parents, teachers,
librarians, principals, district admin, tech leaders,
community members
PT support team: Jenny and Monique
Data back to you in February
Congressional briefings/national reports in April/May
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

55. What’s new for Speak Up 2013?
New question topics
New survey: community members
Password or secret word not required for survey taking
All schools registered already!
Learn more about www.tomorrow.org/speakup
© 2013 Project Tomorrow

56. Your thoughts, comments, questions
(c) Project Tomorrow 2013

57. Julie Evans
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
949-609-4660 x15
Twitter: JulieEvans_PT
and SpeakUpEd
Copyright Project Tomorrow 2013
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.
© 2013 Project Tomorrow