- Speak Up is an annual national research project that collects data through online surveys from K-12 students, teachers, parents, and administrators to understand perspectives on 21st century learning and education technology. - Over 1.3 million individuals from over 18,000 schools have participated in Speak Up since 2003, providing insights into technology access and use, digital skills, and preferences for teaching and learning tools. - Key findings show a "digital disconnect" between how students live and learn, with students considering themselves more advanced technology users than teachers and desiring more technology access and skills development at school.

1. Students “Speak Up” about 21 st Century Learning and Education Games FETC Virtual Conference ‘09 April 23, 2009 Julie Evans Chief Executive Officer Project Tomorrow

2. Annual national research project Online surveys + focus groups 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 services, webinars NCES back end database – provide statistically significant samplings 6 years of empowering authentic voices – since 2003: 1.3 million K-12 students 103,000 teachers 54,000 parents 6,300 school leaders 18,000 schools – from all 50 states, DC, American military base schools, Canada, Mexico, Australia What is Speak Up? 1.5 million respondents

3. To give stakeholders a voice in national and state policy To collect unique data from stakeholders Benchmark with national and state data To inform programs, policies and purchases High value of having an outside “unbiased guardian” collecting the data To support specific initiatives such as online learning, 1:1 programs or new teacher professional development programs To validate direction and approach – pre and post To build support To generate new ideas To model for students the value of being part of the national discussion – civic engagement To be recognized as innovative and part of a national initiative To demonstrate to students, teachers and parents that their ideas are valued by their education leaders Why do schools, districts, states participate?

4. Speak Up is facilitated annually by Project Tomorrow (formerly known as NetDay) Project Tomorrow is the nation’s leading education nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of student voices in education.

5. We would like to recognize our Speak Up Sponsors:

6. And the support of our Speak Up National Champion Outreach Partners: + 75 other national education associations & nonprofit groups

7. Learning & Teaching with Technology Web 2.0 in Education 21st Century Skills Science Instruction & Global Competitiveness Emerging Technologies in the Classroom Mobile Devices Games within Instruction Online Learning Designing the 21st Century School Speak Up survey question themes

8. K-12 Students 281,500 Teachers 29,644 Parents (in English & Spanish) 21,309 School/District Administrators 3,114 Schools 4,379 Districts 868 States All 50 Top 10: TX, CA, AZ, AL, IL, MD, FL, NC, NE, WI About Speak Up Schools: 95% public, 3% private, 2% virtual 35% urban, 32% suburban, 33% rural 45% Title 1 eligible 34% majority-minority student population National Speak Up 2008 Participation

9. Students, teachers, parents & administrators Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations Disconnects & Differences Trends & Leverage Points Key findings from Speak Up data:

10. “ Digital disconnect” is alive & well: the gap between how today’s students learn and how they live! Key findings from Speak Up data:

11. “ Digital disconnect” is alive & well: Between students and teachers Between advanced tech students and other students Between girls and boys Between older and younger students Key findings from Speak Up data:

12. Let’s get to know each other! Audience Response How would you assess your own technology skills compared to your peers? A. Beginner B. Average C. Advanced

13. Parents, Teachers, Principals: What kind of tech user are you?

14. 7% 22% 71% Audience Response: What % of students in 9th grade consider themselves “advanced tech users?”

15. How tech-savvy are today’s students? 22% - Advanced

16. Gender: Girls are still less likely to view their tech skills as advanced – only 16% of 9 th grade girls chose “advanced”

17. Students: What do you do regularly with technology?

18. The “Big 4”: Online and computer gaming Download music Communications – email, IM, Txt Maintain a personal website Students: What do you do regularly with technology?

19. The “Big 4” Online and computer gaming Over 64% of students K-12 play Download music #1 with students in grades 6-12 Communications – email, IM, Txt Girls still lead in usage Maintain a personal website #1 usage - communications

20. On the horizon – coming quickly to a tipping point near you! Virtual worlds 38% of students gr 3-5 participate regularly (a 58% increase from 2007) Create/modify digital media 32% of students in gr 3-9 50% in focus groups have posted a video Writing collaboratively 19% of middle/high school students using these tools now

21. Top responses (besides communications): Writing assignments (78%) Online research (75%) Access class/grade information (67%) Creating slideshows, videos, webpages (64%) Use MySpace to collaborate on a class project (46%) Students: What do you do regularly with technology – for schoolwork?

22. Top responses (besides communications): 6. Play educational games: K-2 54% Gr 3-5 52% Gr 6-8 45% Gr 9-12 29% Students: What do you do regularly with technology – for schoolwork?

23. How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school?

24. How satisfied are today’s students with technology use at their school? Students say: Not very!

25. Top responses: School filters and firewalls block websites I need Teachers limit our technology use Too many rules! Cannot use my own devices Cannot access my communications tools Rules that limit use of my school’s technology Besides time, what are the major obstacles students face using technology at your school?

26. Top responses: Let me use my own laptop, cell phone or mobile device Give me unlimited Internet access Let me access my school projects from any computer – home or at school How schools make it easier for students to work electronically?

27. Mobile devices Digital content Online learning Gaming Digital Disconnect: A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education

28. Students’ Access to Mobile Devices

29. Over 64% of students K-12 play regularly Average is 8 – 10 hours per week Using a wide variety of devices Gaming Technologies in Learning

30. Over 64% of students K-12 play Average is 8 – 10 hours per week Using a wide variety of devices Cell phones Computer games Console video players Handhelds Web-based: single or multi user Gaming Technologies in Learning

31. Cell phones Computer games Console video players Handhelds Web-based single user game Web-based multi-user game Audience Response: Girls are most likely to use which device for their gaming activities?

32. Cell phones Computer games Console video players Handhelds Web-based single user game Web-based multi-user game Girls are most likely to use which device for their gaming activities?

33. Gaming Technologies in Learning

34. Competition 49% Findings ways to be successful 46% Interactivity 44% Gets harder with more play 36% Customizing to my interests 35% Making my own decisions 34% Besides winning, what do you like most about playing games?

35. Easier to understand difficult concepts 51% More engaged in learning material 50% Would learn more 46% More interesting to practice problems 44% Student views – why include gaming in school?

36. Easier to understand difficult concepts 51% More engaged in learning material 50% Would learn more 46% More interesting to practice problems 44% Go beyond & try new things 37% See results of my problem solving 35% Direct my own learning 34% Student views – why include gaming in school?

37. Learn more about integration 51% Professional development 46% Learn about promising practices 29% Currently using gaming in my classroom 11% Sharing ideas with other teachers 7% Not interested 12% Teacher views – interest in educational gaming?

38. Top responses: Appeals to different learning styles 65% Increases student engagement 65% Student centered learning 47% Students develop PS/CT skills 40% Students develop creativity 39% Gain experience thru trial/error 37% Visualize difficult concepts 35% Teacher views – value as an instructional tool?

39. What if you could design the ultimate school . . . . what technologies would have the greatest impact on your learning? Many districts are looking at this data to inform stimulus funding decisions

40. Digital media tools for creating projects Games and virtual simulations Personal laptops for each student Student access to email and IM at school Using mobile devices for learning Online classes Digital content Audience Response: What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning?

41. Students in Kindergarten thru 12 th grade say the same thing every year: What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning?

42. Students in Kindergarten thru 12 th grade say the same thing every year: What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning? “ Give me a laptop for my personal use at school and at home”

43. What if you could design the ultimate school?

44. And what if students could design their own games . . . what would they design?

45. And what if students could design their own games . . . Speak Up asked that question!

46. Speak Up: Students design their own games A sampling of student designed games: An online game where the students pick a job in science, math, history A game that would help students with money management and social skills A game about High School.. where you can make choices like those you make in high school, drugs, girls, skipping school A game where you create cities. Your city would then be confronted with physical, political, and environmental issues that we as a world face today. My game would be a video game in which you are a factory owner. As the owner, you would use math and other skills to produce the most products A game about issues that affect the world like World Hunger and Global Warming + 100,000 more like this

47. Is your school doing a good job preparing students for jobs of the future?

48. Is your school doing a good job preparing students for jobs of the future? Response: Yes Principals 56% Teachers 42%

49. Is your school doing a good job preparing students for jobs of the future? Response: Yes Principals 56% Teachers 42% Parents 32% Students 39%

50. Key trends to watch: Continuing “digital disconnects” Spectrum of digital native-ness Multiple “computers” in the backpack Embracing & adapting new technologies Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, any pace learning Speak Up Data Findings

51. Key trends to watch: Self directed learning for student & teacher Everyone is a content developer Make it relevant to me! Blend of informal & formal learning opps Beyond engagement to productivity benefits “ Long tail” of training & education Speak Up Data Findings

52. But what is the #1 trend we are watching with today’s K-12 students? Speak Up Data Findings

53. #1 Trend: The era of the technology-enabled Free Agent Learner Speak Up Data Findings

54. Student, Teacher, Parent & Administrator Data Findings – updated annually National Data Release March 24 Congressional Briefing Washington DC Top level findings available online Release of the Speak Up National Findings www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html

55. 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) Leadership in the 21 st Century: The New Visionary Administrator (October 2008) More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org

56. “ Imagine you are the President and your #1 education goal is to make sure every student is prepared for the jobs and careers of the future. What is the one thing you would do to improve schools?” Special Speak Up 2008 Question

57. “ Imagine you are the President and your #1 education goal is to make sure every student is prepared for the jobs and careers of the future. What is the one thing you would do to improve schools?” Special Speak Up 2008 Question over 150,000 responses from students nationwide! See new Speak Up video with students’ comments

58. Get ready! Speak Up 2009 in October New online surveys for: K-12 Students Teachers Parents Administrators and Pre-Service Teachers (ssh – not announced yet!)

59. Get ready! Speak Up 2009 in October New online surveys for: K-12 Students Teachers Parents Administrators and Pre-Service Teachers (ssh – not announced yet!) More info to be released @ NECC 2009 New topics New reports Data back to you

60. If you have any questions about Speak Up, please contact: Julie Evans Project Tomorrow [email_address] 949-609-4660 x15 Copyright Project Tomorrow 2008. 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.