Next Generation of Learners

Next Generation of Learners –
Florida Style!
Speak Up 2010 Florida Data Results
High School Student Surveys
Julie Evans
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
© Project Tomorrow 2011

Today’s Discussion Questions

• Who is this “next generation learner?”

• What do we know about this learner?

• How are we “adapting” to the needs of
this new learner profile?
Focus: Florida high school students


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

• Inform policies & programs
Analysis and reporting
Services to help transform teaching and learning


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.

Speak Up National Research Project

• 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 . . .

2.2 million respondents


Speak Up survey question themes

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


National Speak Up 2010 Participation: 379,355

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


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?


What can the Speak Up data 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.


Result:

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


Creating Our Future: Students Speak Up about
their Vision for 21st Century Learning

Social–based learning
Un–tethered learning
Digitally–rich learning


Special partnership with Florida Department of Education

Customized questions

Focus on personalized learning

To inform state and district plans


National Speak Up 2010 Participation: 379,355

Florida participation:
K-12 Students

Elementary 6812

Middle School 4481

High School 3120

Teachers & Librarians 2170

Parents (in English & Spanish) 1148

School/District Administrators 241


Florida High School Student Profile

Snapshot

67% view themselves as average tech users

50% have a smart phone

53% say best use of technology is in English
class

56% say school is doing a good job using

technology for learning


Speak Up National Data Findings

The era of the technology-enabled

Free Agent Learner


Meet the Free Agent Learner!
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!

Florida National
Self-directed learning 53% 40%
source
Took online class 33% 11%

Facebook 25% 23%
collaboration
Podcasts/videos 24% 18%

Cell phone app for 22% 21%
organization
Found experts online 16% 13%

Used writing tools 15% 14%


What is the activity or teaching approach
that is the best way for you to learn?

1. Doing hands on, interactive experiments (56%)

2. Teacher led traditional class (45%)

3. Teacher led online class (37%)

4. Watching videos (34%)

5. Working in small groups on projects (33%)

Florida High School Students 2010


What is the best way for you to demonstrate to
your teacher what you have learned?

1. Creating media (47%)

2. Mini quizzes with clickers (38%)

3. Online tests (36%)

4. Group projects (28%)

5. E-portfolios (25%)



As a result of technology, the role of the teacher
in many classes is changing. Which of these do
you think is the most effective role for a teacher
today?



Which of these do you think is the most effective
role for a teacher today?

Different roles:
Teacher resource recommender 55%
Teacher coach 48%
Teacher collaborator 46%
Teacher assessor 42%
Teacher facilitator 40%
Teacher content expert 37%
Teacher partner 36%


What if your science class was like this:

Each day you received a personalized set of learning goals
and you worked at your own pace moving ahead in the
curriculum only once you had mastered the material. During
class you would have the flexibility to use computer based
games, collaborate with other students on experiments and
problem solving exercises, receive one-on-one tutoring from
a teacher as needed, and use a variety of digital resources
and tools. What would be the benefits of this kind of
learning environment for you?


What would be the benefits of this kind of
learning environment for you?
I like working at my own pace 67%

I would be in control of my learning 58%

I would have a greater sense of independence 49%

It would be easier for me to succeed 45%

I would be more motivated to learn 44%

It would be easier to review class materials 43%

I would learn more science 42%



Key trends we are watching:

• 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


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.


Next Generation of Learners

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