Connecting the Dots with Digital Learning

Connecting the Dots
with Digital Learning

Speak Up 2011 National Results

Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow CEO July 23, 2012

© Project Tomorrow 2011

Today’s Discussion: The Big Questions

 What are the expectations of K-12 students for
personalizing learning with digital tools?

 How well are today’s K-12 schools meeting the
expectations and needs of students? What are the
realities around educational technology in K-12?

 What are the key trends and issues that we should
all be watching?


Discussion Agenda:

 Speak Up National Research Project
 Student Vision of Personalized Learning
 K-12 Landscape and Trends
 Enabling technologies
 Intermediate outcomes
 “Sticky wickets”

Speak Up 2011 National Findings
Views of K-12 Students, Teachers,
Parents and Administrators

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

+ 2.6 million surveys since 2003

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


National Speak Up 2011 Participation: 416,758

 K-12 Students 330,117
 Parents (in English & Spanish) 44,006
 Teachers 36,477
 Librarians 2,025
 School Site Administrators 3,319
 District Office Administrators 814

About the participating schools & districts
o 5,616 schools and 1,250 districts
o 24% urban / 35% rural / 41% suburban
o Over ½ of the schools are Title 1 eligible
o All 50 states + DC


Speak Up 2011 Congressional Briefings
Washington DC
April 24 and May 23, 2012


Other Speak Up 2012 Reports

Online learning trends report:

Learning in the 21st Century: A 5 Year Retrospective
on the Growth of Online Learning

Social learning white paper:

Defining the Emerging Role of Social Learning Tools to Connect
Students, Parents & Educators

 Intelligent adaptive learning white paper – fall release

 Print to digital migration considerations white paper – fall release

 Mobile learning report – fall release

 Aspiring teachers report – winter release


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


Speak Up National Research Project
Key Findings: Speak Up 2003 – 2011

 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


The Student Vision for Personalized Learning

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

Let’s set some context . . . .


Administrators’ Realities



What has the greatest potential to enhance student
achievement?
School Site District Level
Enhancing teacher 59% 59%
effectiveness

21st century skills 49% 55%
integration

Leveraging 38% 52%
technology
Common Core 39% 34%
Standards

Engaging parents as co- 37% 31%
teachers


How important is the effective use of
technology within instruction?



How does your ed tech budget today compare to
your budget in 2008/09?


Impact of recent fiscal crisis on budgets

What tech solutions are you considering to help with
your budget situation?

1. Digital textbooks 43%
2. Tablets instead of laptops for students 39%
3. Online teacher PD 37%
4. Cloud computing solutions 35%
5. Online classes for students 30%
6. Allowing student use of personal devices 27%


Parents’ top concerns about their child’s future

Concerns CA Parents – CA Parents –
English Survey Spanish Survey
Learning the right skills 72% 68%
to be successful in the
future

Getting into a good 53% 68%
college
My child doing better 39% 40%
financially than I have
done

My child graduating 18% 61%
from high school


Students: How do you define success with
your schoolwork?
80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
Good grades Getting into a good Family pride School honors Personal learning
college goals
Gr 6-8 Gr 9-12


Enabling Technologies

Online learning

Social media for collaborations

Games

Mobile learning


Enabler: Online learning

Student interest in taking an online class
5 year retrospective
Yes I am interested No I am not interested

53%

47%
45%
42%
38%

33% 32%

24%

Students Gr 6-8 Students Gr 6-8 Students Gr 9-12 Students Gr 9-12
(2007) (2011) (2007) (2011)


Why take an online class?
For high school students, traditional reasons:
scheduling and college credit.
For middle school students, it’s about changing the
learning paradigm.
 Get extra help in a tough subject
 More comfortable asking questions
 In control of my own learning
 More motivated to learn
 Work at my own pace
 Review class materials whenever I want
 Share ideas with my classmates



Yes, students should be required to take an online
class for graduation
69%
2008 2011

49%
46%
40%
36%
31%
26% 27%

Students Gr 6-8 Students Gr 9-12 Parents Administrators



Educators’ experiences with online learning

Online Learning Teachers School Site District
Experience Administrators Administrators

Took a fully online 52% 52% 65%
class for PD
Took a blended 18% 25% 30%
online class for PD



Teachers and online professional development

30% say online courses are #1 choice for PD

• Already taken an online course . . . . . . ?
43% say online PD is #1!

• Top benefits:
• Better fit for schedule (89%)
• Ability to review materials as needed
(55%)
• Customize the learning process (52%)



Teachers’ Wish List for Professional Development on
Digital Content Usage
Digital Content Wish List Teachers
Access to an online collection of vetted, grade level,
56%
content specific resources
Face to face professional development 38%
Mentoring by an onsite coach 23%
Participation in a PLC at my school 32%
Video clips of teachers demonstrating use of digital content in
33%
my content area
Online course 26%
Collection of relevant podcasts 23%
Support from a librarian media specialist who can help with
20%
content identification and usage


Enabler: Social media for collaborations

How would you design the ultimate math class?
Middle school students say:

 Collaborate with classmates on problem solving 50%
 Ability to text my teacher with questions 42%
 I have a connection with my teacher 38%
 My teacher is excited about math 37%
 Solving real world problems 32%
 Ability to use mobile devices to video problems 32%
 Access to online tutors 30%
 Access to online textbooks 31%
 Take an online math class 27%



How Teachers and Administrators are Using Technology for Professional Tasks

District
Technology Use Teachers Principals
Administrators

Participate in webinars 28% 68% 85%

Create multi-media presentations 54% 66% 71%
Participate in online
professional learning 38% 50% 65%
communities
Create and upload videos, music and
65% 56% 55%
photos

Read and/or post to blogs and
34% 33% 43%
wikis
Update a social networking site 45% 27% 35%

Use Twitter to communicate or
8% 12% 20%
follow others


How Teachers and Administrators are Using
Technology for Professional Tasks
District
Technology Use Teachers Principals Administrato
rs
Participate in
28% 68% 85%
webinars
Create multi-media
54% 66% 71%
presentations
Participate in
online professional
learning 38% 50% 65%
communities
Create and upload
Teachers:
videos, music and
photos
65% 56% 55%
21% in 2007
Read and/or post
to blogs and wikis 34% 33% 43%
Update a social
networking site 45% 27% 35%
Use Twitter to
communicate or 8% 12% 20%
follow others



How would you like your district to use technology
to create a professional development community?

1. Provide tools to collaborate with teachers at my school
2. Provide tools to collaborate with other teachers
3. Provide online courses
4. Partner with universities for grad courses
5. Provide easy access to student data to inform teaching
6. Provide a centralized repository of teaching resources


Enabler: Games

Why would you use digital or Math K-2 Gr 3-5 Gr 6-8 Gr 9-12
online games with your Teachers Teachers Teachers Teachers Teachers
students?
As a student engagement and 78% 82% 83% 78% 71%
motivation tool
Address different learning 64% 74% 73% 66% 56%
styles in the classroom
To differentiate instruction 55% 60% 61% 55% 46%
Reinforce understanding and 52% 55% 56% 53% 45%
skill knowledge
Provide opportunities for 52% 54% 56% 50% 43%
students to practice skills
Provide ways to students to 44% 43% 49% 45% 40%
visualize difficult concepts
As a vehicle for introducing 42% 43% 45% 44% 39%
new concepts


Enabler: Mobile learning

Students’ personal access to mobile devices
K-2 Gr 3-5 Gr 6-8 Gr 9-12

82%
77%

52%
50%
48% 49%

37%
33%

25% 26%
21% 21%
18% 17% 17% 17% 18%
13%
8% 9%

Cell phone (no Smartphone Digital reader MP3 Tablet device
internet access)



How would you use a mobile device to help you
with schoolwork?

A. Increase effectiveness of school:
Check grades 81%
Take notes for class 67%
Access online textbooks 62%
Write papers and do homework 56%
Use the calendar 50%
Learn about school activities 47%


How would you use a mobile device to help you
with schoolwork?

B. Leverage capabilities to increase personalization
of learning process:
Anytime, anywhere research 72%
Receive reminders & alerts 61%
Collaborate with peers & teachers 55%
Organize schoolwork assignments 53%
Access school network from home 51%



High School Student Internet Access Outside of
School: Broadband vs. Mobile
My home computer has fast internet access (such as DSL)
I access the internet through 3G/4G mobile device

75% 77%
72%
59%
55% 53%

Urban Suburban Rural



If your child’s school allowed for the use of mobile devices
for educational purposes, how likely is it that you would
purchase one for your child?

Parents: Willingness to Purchase a Mobile Device for Child

13%
8% Likely
Unlikely
Unsure
15% School responsibility
62%


Intermediate Outcomes

DIY learning

Personal usage drives value

Print to digital migration


Outcomes: DIY learning

“DIY Learning” at work . . . .

 1 in 10 students have sent out a Tweet about an academic topic

 12% have taken an online class they found on their own

 15% have tutored other students online or found an expert to help
them

 1/5 have used a mobile app to help organize their school work

 1 in 4 have used a video that they found online to help them with
homework (i.e. Kahn Academy effect)

 30% of Gr 6-8 students and 46% of Gr 9-12 have used Facebook
as an impromptu collaboration tool for classroom projects


Outcomes: Personal use drives value



Americans in general:
 46% have a smartphone
 10% have a tablet
Pew Internet & American Life Project – March 2012



Different Views of BYOT by District
Administrators
District Administrators who use a smartphone or tablet
All District Administrators
41%

29%

19%

13% 13%

7%

Currently evaluating a BYOT Currently piloting a BYOT Provide school owned devices
approach approach for student use



Teachers more highly value digital
content if they are digital content users


Outcomes: Print to digital migration

What do you prefer to read?

Online digital text

Printed text



Preferred format for reading: digital



It’s situational!
Students:
• Short articles? Read online 37%
• Greater distractions with digital 37%
• Study for a test? Give me print! 39%

Teachers: It takes too much time and is too much
work to grade papers online for all of my students!


Sticky wickets – a sampling

Teacher adoption

Assessment

Shared vision development


Welcome to Math Class!
Traditional class Traditional class Traditional class
with teacher with teacher with a mix of
directed directed teacher directed
instruction – instruction but instruction and
lectures, textbook with some student directed
assignments, technology used learning and the
group projects or to support use of technology
labs instruction tools to support
both the teacher
and students


Sticky wickets: Teacher adoption

lectures, textbook with some student directed
assignments, technology used learning and the
group projects or to support use of technology
labs instruction tools to support
both the teacher
and students
43% 33% 9%


lectures, with some student directed
textbook technology used learning and the
assignments, to support use of technology
group projects or instruction tools to support
labs both the teacher
and students

20% STEM Interest? 27%


What digital content are you using in your classroom?


What barriers do administrators identify regarding digital
content into classroom instruction?


What factors are most important when evaluating the
quality of digital content for classroom use?
District Administrators Teachers

Referred by a colleague

State Ed Dept list

Content is free

Source is content expert

Ed assoc. certified

Created by teachers

Teacher evaluation

Student achievement
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%


Sticky wickets: Assessments

Online assessments 2014-15: what are your challenges?

Challenges School site District office
administrators administrators
Need to train teachers and students 51% 50%

Not enough computers 50% 50%

Costs to modernize infrastructure 41% 43%

Need more tech staff 40% 37%

Not enough bandwidth 19% 30%

Creating safeguards for data privacy 17% 21%


Sticky wickets: Assessments

What kind of assessments make sense today?
 1/3 of students in grades 6-12 say that test scores don’t really
reflect what they know

 Students are increasingly content producers, not just content
consumers; how to evaluate academic value of content
development

 24/7 learning – how to measure the impact of informal or DIY
learning

 Measuring 21st century workforce skills vs. content knowledge

 When is it collaboration and when is it cheating?


Sticky wickets: Shared vision development

Imagine you are designing the ultimate
school for today’s students,
what technologies would have the
greatest impact on learning?


Sticky wickets: Shared vision development

Do we have a shared vision for the future of
digital learning in our schools?

Virtual reality

E-textbooks

Games Administrators
Teachers
Digital media tools Parents
Students
Digital content

Schoolwide Wifi

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%


What is the bottom line?

Today’s K-12 students
want learning that is:

Enabled

Engaging

Empowered

Key trends 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


Key trends we are watching:

• Collaborations driving 21st century skills
• Game-ification momentum – learning as process
• Students as content producers
• Changing ideals for assessment
• It’s really all about productivity!
• Maximizing personalized learning
• Emergence of Free Agent Learners!


More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org

• National Speak Up Findings and reports
• Speak Up 2011 data: Apr 24 and May 23
• Presentations, podcasts and webinars
• Evaluation services & reports
• Consulting services
• Speak Up 2012!


Start planning now for Speak Up 2012!

Speak Up 2012 – 10th Anniversary
Special online surveys to collect and report on the views of the
K-12 students, teachers, librarians, administrators and parents
on the role of technology within teaching and learning.

Surveys open Oct 3 – Dec 17

Sign up to receive
information and alerts
www.tomorrow.org


Thank you.
Let’s continue this conversation.

Julie Evans
Project Tomorrow
jevans@tomorrow.org
949-609-4660 x15
Twitter: JulieEvans_PT
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.


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