Students "Speak Up" about Games 2009

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009

Students “Speak Up”

about 21st Century Learning

and Education Games

FETC Virtual Conference ‘09April 23, 2009

Julie EvansChief Executive Officer

Project Tomorrow


• 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


• 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?


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.


We would like to recognize our Speak Up Sponsors:


And the support of our Speak Up National Champion Outreach Partners:

+ 75 other national education associations &

nonprofit groups


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


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

o 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


Students, teachers, parents &

administrators

Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations

Disconnects & Differences

Trends & Leverage Points

Key findings from Speak Up data:


“Digital disconnect” is alive &

well:

the gap between how

today’s students learn

and

how they live!



“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



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


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

Self Assessment of Tech Skills

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

Parents

Teachers

Principals

Beginner

Average

Advanced


a. 7%

b. 22%

c. 71%

Audience Response: What % of students in 9th grade consider themselves “advanced tech users?”


Students: Tech Self Assessment

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

3rd

6th

9th

12th

Beginner

Average

Advanced

How tech-savvy are today’s students?

22% - Advanced


Students: Tech Self Assessment

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

3rd

6th

9th

12th

Beginner

Average

Advanced

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


Students: What do you do regularly with technology?


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?


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


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


Top responses (besides communications):

1. Writing assignments (78%)

2. Online research (75%)

3. Access class/grade information (67%)

4. Creating slideshows, videos, webpages (64%)

5. Use MySpace to collaborate on a class

project (46%)

Students: What do you do regularly with technology – for schoolwork?


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?


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


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

Students say:

Not very!


Besides time, what are the major obstacles students face using technology at your school?

Top responses:

1. School filters and firewalls block websites I need

2. Teachers limit our technology use

3. Too many rules!

• Cannot use my own devices

• Cannot access my communications tools

• Rules that limit use of my school’s

technology


How schools make it easier for students to work electronically?

Top responses:

1. Let me use my own laptop, cell phone

or mobile device

2. Give me unlimited Internet access

3. Let me access my school projects from any

computer – home or at school


• Mobile devices

• Digital content

• Online learning

• Gaming

Digital Disconnect:

A new “battleground” with emerging technologies in education


Students’ Access to Mobile Devices

Student Access to Mobile Devices

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Cell Phone MP3 Smartphone Laptop Game

K-2

Gr 3-5

Gr 6-8

Gr 9-12


• 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


• 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



a. Cell phones

b. Computer games

c. Console video players

d. Handhelds

e. Web-based single user game

f. Web-based multi-user game

Audience Response:

Girls are most likely to use which device for their gaming activities?


a. Cell phones

b. Computer gamesc. Console video playersd. Handheldse. Web-based single user

gamef. Web-based multi-user game

Girls are most likely to use which device for their gaming activities?



Students' Use of Gaming Devices

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

Cell phone

Computer

Console

Handheld

Online

Gr 9-12

Gr 6-8

Gr 3-5

K-2


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?


• Easier to understand difficult concepts51%

• More engaged in learning material50%

• Would learn more46%

• More interesting to practice problems44%

Student views – why include gaming in school?


• 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?


• Learn more about integration 51%

• Professional development 46%

• Learn about promising practices29%

• Currently using gaming in my classroom11%

• Sharing ideas with other teachers7%

• Not interested 12%

Teacher views – interest in educational gaming?


Top responses:

• Appeals to different learning styles 65%

• Increases student engagement 65%

• Student centered learning 47%

• Students develop PS/CT skills 40%

• Students develop creativity39%

• Gain experience thru trial/error 37%

• Visualize difficult concepts35%

Teacher views – value as an instructional tool?


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


a. Digital media tools for creating projects

b. Games and virtual simulations

c. Personal laptops for each student

d. Student access to email and IM at

school

e. Using mobile devices for learning

f. Online classes

g. Digital content

Audience Response:

What do students say is the #1 tech toolor service that will impact their learning?


Students in Kindergarten thru 12th grade say the same thing every year:

What do students say is the #1 tech tool or service that will impact their learning?


Students in Kindergarten thru 12th 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”


What if you could design the ultimate school?

Designing the Ultimate School

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

Communications tools

Digital media tools

Mobile devices

Digital content

Laptops

Internet access

Games

Interactive boards

Online classes

Gr 6-12

Teachers


And what if students could design

their own games . . .

what would they

design?


And what if students could design

their own games . . .

Speak Up asked that question!


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


Is your school doing a good job

preparing students for jobs of the future?


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

Response: Yes

Principals 56%

Teachers 42%


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

Response: Yes

Principals 56%

Teachers 42%

Parents 32%

Students 39%


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


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



But what is the #1 trend we are

watching with today’s K-12

students?



#1 Trend:

The era of the technology-

enabled

Free Agent Learner



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


Reports such as:

Learning in the 21st 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 21st Century:

The New Visionary Administrator

(October 2008)

More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org


“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


“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


Get ready!

Speak Up 2009 in October

New online surveys for:

K-12 StudentsTeachersParents

Administrators and

Pre-Service Teachers (ssh – not announced yet!)


Get ready!

Speak Up 2009 in October

New online surveys for:

K-12 StudentsTeachersParents

Administrators and

Pre-Service Teachers (ssh – not announced yet!)

More infoto be

released @

NECC 2009

New topicsNew reportsData back

to you


If you have any questions about

Speak Up, please contact:

Julie EvansProject Tomorrow

[email protected] 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.

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