Engaging Parents’ Support for Emerging Technologies in the Classroom

(c) Project Tomorrow 2009

Engaging Parents’ Support for EmergingTechnologies in the Classroom

Speak Up National Data Webinar February 17, 2010

Julie EvansProject Tomorrow


Review new data findings

Learning in the 21st Century: Parents’ Perspectives, Parents’ Priorities

A collaboration with Blackboard Inc.

Gain new insights from our expertpanel

Stimulate new conversations

Our discussion today


Introducing our discussion panelists:

Chris Jones, ParentGarnet Valley School District, PA

Margie Tinsley, ParentCapistrano Unified School District, CA

Kyle Sanford, Parent Dysart Unified School District, AZ

Paul Sanfrancesco, Director of TechnologyGarnet Valley School District, PA


A big thank you to:


Series of Speak Up Reports in collaboration with Blackboard


• 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.


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?


Learning & Teaching with Technology

Web 2.0 in Education

21st Century Skills: Information/Media Literacy Skills

Science & Math Instruction & Global Competitiveness

Emerging Technologies in the Classroom

Mobile Devices

Online Learning

Digital Content

Games

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


Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations

Disconnects & Differences

Trends & Leverage Points

Speak Up 2008 National Data Findings


“Digital disconnect” is alive &

well:

the gap between how

today’s students learn

and

how they live!

Key findings from Speak Up data:


Introducing the “Digital Advance Team”

America’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 (& parents) ultimately catch up


Introducing the “Digital Advance Team”

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


Key report findings from Speak Up 2008

Learning in the 21st Century:

Parents’ Perspectives,

Parents’ Priorities


Meet the Speak Up Parents

• 80% are Moms• 37% are 40-49 years old • 57% assess their tech skills as average

(35% say their skills are advanced!)• 90% have a cell phone

(32% have a smart phone)• 75% have an MP3 or iPod• 42% have a handheld game player


Parents & Web 2.0 Applications

Using Web 2.0 Tools to Create

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

Create new - mashups

Update profile

Up/down digital media

Create/modify digital media

List of resources

AlertsParents

Administrators

Teachers

Students Gr 6-12


How important is the effective implementation of instructional technology to student success?

Importance of Tech Use for Student Success

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Teachers

Parents

Principals

Extremely Important

Important

Somewhat Important


Parents’ Perspectives, Parents’ Priorities

Figure 1: Are schools doing a good job preparing students for the 21st century?

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

No opinion

Not sure

No

Yes

Parents Students Gr 9-12 Principals Teacher


How satisfied are parents with

technology use at their child’s school?


Parent satisfaction with technology at school

“Lukewarm” satisfaction with:

1. Internet safety (45%)

2. Amount of technology available (35%)

3. Tech skills my child is learning (34%)

4. How technology is used for academics

(33%)

5. Teachers’ skills in using technology (31%)


Parent satisfaction with technology at school

“Lukewarm” satisfaction with:

1. Internet safety (45%)

2. Amount of technology available (35%)

3. Tech skills my child is learning (34%)

4. How technology is used for academics

(33%)

5. Teachers’ skills in using technology (31%)20% did not know what technology was

available at their child’s 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 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


Parents’ envision improvement

“What are the top things you would do to improve technology use at your child’s school?”



1. Students learn how to use technology (42%)

2. Teachers receive training on tech integration (41%)

3. Provide technology for students to use (38%)

4. Integrate technology into daily instruction (34%)

5. Ensure technology is current and high quality (33%)

“What are the top things you would do to improve technology use at your child’s school?”



“What is the best way for your child to acquire the information and media literacy skills needed

to be successful?”



“What is the best way for your child to acquire the information and media literacy skills needed

to be successful?”

68% say:

Use technology as part of their regular class



“What would you recommend as good investments to enhance student achievement?


Parents’ envision improvement: To personalize learning

Figure 2: Parents & Students Speak Up about using Technology to Personalize Learning

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

Mobile Devices

Unlimited Internet

Games

Tablet PC

Collaboration Tools

Online Classes (G3-12)

Laptops

Digital Media Tools

Online Textbooks

Organizational Tools (G3-12)

Students (K-12) - Unless noted Parents (National )


Parents design the online textbook

Over a majority of parents agree:

Access to online tutors (55%)

Electronic notes and highlighting (54%)

Self assessments (54%)

Links to useful websites (51%)

Animations and simulations (50%)

Tools for organization (50%)

Tools to help develop writing skills (50%)


Parents design the online textbook

Over a majority of parents agree:

Access to online tutors (55%)

Electronic notes and highlighting (54%)

Self assessments (54%)

Links to useful websites (51%)

Animations and simulations (50%)

Tools for organization (50%)

Tools to help develop writing skills (50%)

Only 5% of parents said they didn’t think

online textbooks were a good idea.


Parents’ envision improvement: Preferred technology for the classroom

Figure 3: Parents & Students Speak Up about Preferred Technologies for Classrooms

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

Videoconferencing

Student Response Systems

Document Camera

Learning Management Systems

Communication Tools

School Portal

Digital Resources

Computer Projection Devices

High Tech Tools for Science

Interactive Whiteboards

Students (G3-12) Parents (National)


Summary findings

Today’s parents are:

Experiencing value of technology themselves

Concerned about the future for their child

Support 21st century learning environments

Believe that effective tech use is essential

Eager to share their ideas and views


Summary findings

Today’s parents are:

Experiencing value of technology themselves

Concerned about the future for their child

Support 21st century learning environments

Believe that effective tech use is essential

Eager to share their ideas and views

Creating a unique opportunity for schoolsand districts to engage parents in new ways


Engaging Parents’ Support for EmergingTechnologies in the Classroom

Introducing our discussion panelists:

Chris Jones, ParentGarnet Valley School District, PA

Margie Tinsley, ParentCapistrano Unified School District, CA

Kyle Sanford, Parent Dysart Unified School District, AZ

Paul Sanfrancesco, Director of TechnologyGarnet Valley School District, PA


A big thank you to:

and our Panel of Experts


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

Leadership in the 21st Century: The New Visionary Administrator (Oct 2008)

Parents’ Perspectives, Parents’ Priorities(Oct 2009)

More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org


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

Speak Up Schools & Districts – have access to their

respondents data + national benchmark data now!


More data and reports are available on

our website: www.tomorrow.org

Julie EvansProject Tomorrow

[email protected] x15

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