The Ultimate Online Textbook: What Students Say They Want

© Project Tomorrow 2009

The Ultimate Online Textbook: What Students Say They Want

Speak Up 2009 National FindingsJanuary 15, 2010

Julie EvansChief Executive Officer

Project Tomorrow


How are today’s students and teachers using digital content within learning?

What are students’ and parents’ aspirations for digital content?

How are schools and districts addressing digital content and resources?

Today’s Discussion


• 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 + Pre-Service Teachers

• Inform policies & programs– Analysis and reporting – national reports, state reports, district reports – Services: custom reports, consulting with districts and state agencies– NCES back end database – provide statistically significant samplings

• 6 years of empowering authentic voices – since 2003: – 1.6 million K-12 students– 142,000 teachers– 82,000 parents– 10,500 school leaders– 19,000 schools – from all 50 states, DC, American military base

schools, Canada, Mexico, Australia

What is Speak Up?

1.85 million respondents


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.


Learning & Teaching with Technology

21st Century Skills: Digital Citizenship

Math Instruction & Career Interests in STEM and Teaching

Professional Development

Internet Safety

Education Continuity – 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

Speak Up 2009 survey question themes


Collect unique data from stakeholders

Give stakeholders a voice in national/state policy

Support specific initiatives such as digital content, online learning, mobile devices, 1:1 programs or new teacher professional development programs

Model for students the value of civic engagement and being part of a national discussion

Recognition as an innovation leader

Demonstrate to students, teachers and parents that their ideas are valued by their education leaders

Understand the future of K-12 education

Learn more from real district stories at www.tomorrow.org

Why do schools & districts participate in Speak Up?


Saluting our Speak Up 2009 Sponsors:


And our National Champion Outreach Partners:

+ 75 other national education associations &

nonprofit groups


And our National Champion Outreach Partners:

Complimentary registrations for:

Wendy Spriggs & Jay FelicianiPasco County Schools

Dorothy Hixson & Dawna BoberskiBrevard County Schools


Audience Response: How did you get your morning news today?

a. TV morning show

b. Radio broadcast

c. Print newspaper

d. Overheard at Starbucks

e. News sent to my smartphone

f. Online news site

g. I avoid the news!


Research about K-12 Students & Technology Use: Digital Content

Speak Up 2009Selected Data Findings

(preliminary)


K-12 Students 280,484 Teachers 38,946 Parents (in English & Spanish) 28,062 School/District Administrators 4,234 Schools / Districts +5700 /

+1000

Top Participating States (# of participants)o Top 10: TX, AL, CA, FL, AZ, MD, PA, NC, MO, IL

About Speak Up Schools:

– 34% urban, 32% suburban, 32% rural

– 38% Title 1 eligible – indication of high poverty

– 32% majority-minority student population

National Speak Up 2009 Participation (preliminary)


Speak Up Data Findings

Who am I?

Warm Up Exercise


Who am I? Profile characteristics:

Wishes for their ultimate school Online textbooks (29%) High tech science tools (39%) Online tools for organization (35%)

Access to mobile devices:

MP3 player (44%) Game player (53%) Laptop (44%)

Participates in

immersive virtual reality

environments (39%)

Uses Internet for research (51%) and online assessments (35%)


Who am I?

Tech Self – Assessment(Advanced, Average, Beginner)

Role

Gender


Audience Response: Who am I?

A. Advanced Tech User

B. Average Tech User

C. Beginner Tech User



A. Kindergarten student

B. Student - Grade 3

C. Student - Grade 7

D. Student - Grade 10

E. Teacher

F. Principal



A. Girl/Female

B. Boy/Male




Who am I?

3rd Grade Girl with Average Tech Skills


Who am I? Profile characteristics:

Wishes for their ultimate school Online textbooks (29%) High tech science tools (39%) Online tools for organization (35%)

Access to mobile devices:

MP3 player (44%) Game player (53%) Laptop (44%)

Participates in

immersive virtual reality

environments (39%)

Uses Internet for research (51%) and online assessments (35%)


Introducing the “Digital Advance Team”

Today’s K-12 Students

Adopting/adapting technologies for learning

Tech trend setters

Their use predicts widespread acceptance

Out of school use drives in school use

Pace car for others

Teachers ultimately catch up



So, what are the

next emerging technologies

to be paced by the

“Digital Advance Team?”


1. The mobile learner

2. It’s a Web 2.0 World

3. “I’ll take that class to go!”

4. Digital content & online textbooks

5. Exploring STEM careers

Digital Advance Team Trends



Let’s listen in and learn!

• Activities, Attitudes and Aspirations

• Disconnects and Differences

• Trends and Leverage Points


“Digital disconnect” is alive & well:

the gap between how

today’s students learn

and

how they live!

Key findings from Speak Up data:


“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:


Besides Internet research and

writing assignments, how are students

using technology for schoolwork?

How are teachers and administrators

using technology for

their professional tasks?


How are students using technology for schoolwork?

Besides writing and Internet research, how are students using technology for schoolwork?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Access class info

Communicate with other students

Communicate with teacher

Create ppts/videos

Use MySpace for collaboration

Upload to school portal

Play ed games

Take online class

Use online textbook

Take online test

Gr 9-12

Gr 6-8

Gr 3-5

K-2


How are educators using technology?

Besides research and communications, how are educators using technology for professional tasks?

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

Create ppts

Listen to podcasts

Participate in webinars

Participate in online communities

Read text resources online

Update profile

Take online class

Administrators

Teachers


So, 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!


Audience Response

Besides time, what is the #1 major obstacle students face using technology at school?

A. School filters and firewalls block

websites

B. I cannot use my own cell phone, smart

phone or MP3

C. Teachers limit our technology use

D. Too many rules against using

technology

E. Internet access is too slow


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

Students’ top responses:

1. I cannot use my cell phone, smart

phone or MP3 (51%)

2. School filters and firewalls block websites

(49%)

3. Teachers limit our technology use (34%)

4. Too many rules! (26%)

5. Internet access is too slow (20%)


Students: How could your school make it easier for you to work electronically?

Students’ top responses:

1. Let me use my own cell phone or

mobile device (58%)

2. Let me use my own laptop (42%)

3. Give me unlimited Internet access (42%)

4. Let me access my school projects from

any computer – home or at school (40%)


What if . . . . students designed

the “ultimate digital textbook?”

What features & functionality would

students say are essential for learning?

What would parents say?


Students design an online textbook: desired features

• Electronic notes and highlighting (49%)• Communications with peers (49%)• Calculator (49%)• Search by keyword (48%)• Games (45%) and simulations (41%)• Self assessments (43%)• Advanced topics (42%) • Links to real time data and websites (41%) • Access to online tutors (42%)• Download to phone (40%)• Create own podcasts and videocasts (37%)


Parents design the online textbook

Over a majority of parents agree:

Search by keyword (64%)

Electronic notes and highlighting (60%)

Self assessments (57%)

Access to online tutors (56%)

Animations and simulations (55%)

Tools for organization (54%)

Links to real time data and websites (52%)

Tools to help develop writing skills (52%)


Parents design the online textbook

Only 8% of parents do not

think online textbooks are a

good idea.


Teachers: What types of digital resources are you using in the classroom?

Usage of Different Digital Resources by Years of Teaching

Experience

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Animations

Online textbooks

Podcasts/videos

Real time data

Online curriculum

Games

16+ years

11-15 years

4-10 years

1-3 years


Teachers: How do you decide which digital resources to use in your classroom?

Find my own 50%

Recommended on teacher websites40%

From our school/district portal 33%

Recommended in curriculum guide 32%

Create my own 29%

Recommended by textbook publisher 28%

I don’t regularly use in my lessons 15%


Audience Response

Teachers: What is the best way to evaluate quality in digital resources?

A. Source is established media or content producer

B. Source is content expert

C.Certified by an education association

D.Created by a teacher

E. It’s an Open Education Resource

F. Teacher evaluation

G.Referred by a colleague


Teachers & Administrators: What is the best way to evaluate quality in digital resources?

Best methods for evaluating digital resources

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Certified by ed association

Open Ed Resource

Created by a teacher

Referrred by a colleague

Source is media producer

Source is expert

Teacher evaluation

Student achievement

Administrators

Teachers


Administrators: What are the benefits of using digital resources in your school or district?

Top vote getters:

1.Increases student engagement (52%)

2.Extends learning beyond school day (49%)

3.Prepares students for world of work (46%)


Administrators: What are the benefits of using digital resources in your school or district?

Bottom vote getters:

1.Cost savings (30%)

2.Makes use of current tech we have (28%)

3.Improves teacher productivity (25%)


Administrators: What are the top 3 barriers to integrating digital resources into your curriculum?

1.Our teachers are not trained

2.We don’t have enough

computers for every student

3.We don’t have the funds to

purchase digital resources


What if you could design the ultimate school . . . .

what technologies would have the greatest impact on student learning?

Favorite question for districts seeking stakeholder input

into technology investment decisions


a. Games and virtual simulations

b. Mobile computers for each student

c. School wide Internet access

d. Student access to communications tools

at school

e. Online textbooks

f. Online classes

Audience Response:

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


For the past 6 years, students in

Kindergarten thru 12th grade have said

the same thing every year:



For the past six years, students in Kindergarten thru 12th grade have said the same thing every year:

“Give me a laptop for my personal use at school and at home”



But in Speak Up 2009, the students now say:



But in Speak Up 2009, the students now say:

Give a mobile computer with

school Wifi that I can use to

access my online textbooks,

classes and educational games!



What if you could design the ultimate school?

Designing the Ultimate School: Aspirations of the Digital Advance Team

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

Games

Online textbooks

Media tools

Comm tools

Laptop/netbook

Web 2.0 tools

Wifi @ school

Mobile devices

Online classes

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12



Today’s K-12 Students

Adopting/adapting technologies for learning

Tech trend setters

Their use predicts widespread acceptance

Out of school use drives in school use

Pace car for others

Teachers ultimately catch up


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 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

Speak Up Findings


Recommendations from the“Digital Advance Team”

Are we listening?



Are we listening?

• Un-tether learning• New learning spaces• Social based learning• Digital resources add relevancy• Go beyond classroom walls



Are we listening?

Learning that is

• Enabled• Engaging• Empowered

How do we get there?


Webinars, podcasts and reports such as:

National Speak Up 2008 Findings (Mar 2009)

Learning in the 21st Century: A National Report of

Online Learning (Oct 2007, Updated Jun 2008, 2009)

Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

Students, Teachers and Parents Speak Up about Science Education (Jun 2008)

Leadership in the 21st Century:

The New Visionary Administrator

(Oct 2008)

More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org


More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org

Newest report:

Learning in the 21st Century:

Parents’ Perspectives, Parents’ Priorities

A collaboration with Blackboard Inc.


Speak Up: Students & Parents Congressional Briefing: Week of March 15th Panel of students and parents Release of National Findings report (part 1)

Speak Up: Educators Congressional Briefing: Week of May 3rd Panel of administrators and both in-service and

pre-service teachers Release of National Findings report (part 2)

Plans for National Data Release (preliminary)


The Future Voice of Education?

It is here today . . .


The Future Voice of Education?It is here today . . .

I believe that "the purpose of education is not to make men carpenters, but to make carpenters men." To be competitive in a workplace that is changing and will change continuously throughout our careers, my peers and I need to be able to read and understand new information at a level never before prevalent. This should be, however, a familiar aim for the forces of academia, however, since what we must learn, in essence, is to learn.

I would ensure a broad and balanced education that exposes every student to rigorous inquiry in every discipline, from physics to pottery and makes them active participants in the process of inquiry and learning.

(11th grader, Pittsburgh PA)


More data and reports are available on

our website: www.tomorrow.org

Julie EvansProject Tomorrow

[email protected] x15

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