Posted by Laurie Smith, Director, Research & Evaluation
Today the House Appropriations Subcommittee is marking up FY 2011 appropriations; EETT funding, which provides critical funding for technology in our nation’s classrooms, is part of this budget. As congressional members think about the legislation, we as them to listen to our students about why they believe technology and internet access are important to their learning and success. Julie Evans, CEO-Project Tomorrow, had the pleasure of facilitating a panel discussion with students just this week in Orlando, FL. We ask that you take a moment to listen and share this video with others.
Students ask us to “imagine a world where kids actually want to learn” and “discover things for themselves” and describe how technology and internet access are tools that give them the opportunity to learn “beyond the traditional boundaries of textbooks.” We hope that you will share this video with others and get the word out about the importance to keeping EETT funding.
Posted by June Pai, Program Support Coordinator
On May 5, 2010, over 100 people attended the congressional briefing for the release of 2009 Speak Up results for Teachers, Aspiring Teachers, and Administrators. The recap of the briefing along with the PDF report “Unleashing the Future: Educators “Speak Up” about the use of Emerging Technologies for Learning” are available on our website at http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congressEd.html.
Just in case you were not able to join us at the briefing, we would like to invite you to a webinar, Untethered Learning: What Every School Leader Should Know, on May 26, 2010 at 11AM PST for one hour, including 15 minutes of Q&A. The featured panelists include Peter Stewart, Senior Vice President at K12 Inc. and Dr. Art Himmel, Superintendent at Omak School District in Washington. In addition, our very own CEO, Julie Evans, will be speaking in the webinar! For more information about the webinar or to sign up for the event, please visit the eSchoolNews website at http://k12-blast2.eventbrite.com/.
Thank you again for your continued support for Project Tomorrow and Speak Up! Please feel free to provide us with any feedback!
June Pai
Program Support Coordinator
Posted by Laurie Smith, Director, Research & Evaluation
As you may know, the 2011 federal budget eliminates funding for Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT), which is the only dedicated funding stream for education technology. The Speak Up 2009 national findings clearly illustrate that funding for educational technology is a “must-have” if we are truly going to prepare our students for the 21st century. The Speak Up data reveals that students, principals and district administrators envision a school with campus-wide Internet access and mobile computers for every student. Classrooms with interactive whiteboards and tools that students and teachers can use to facilitate their communication and collaboration, access online textbooks or classes, or create and use digital media (including games or virtual simulations).
Yet, as principals and district administrators work toward greater integration of technology into classroom instruction, their primary challenges include funding to acquire new technologies (55 percent) or update the technology infrastructure (45 percent), staff professional development (46 percent) and on-going technical support (32 percent). All of which can be addressed with EETT funding, we encourage you to Speak Up today, May 12th, and show your support for continued ed tech funding. It’s as simple as sending a tweet, such as: Our schools need 21st century education, #EETT. Fund #edtech at $500 m. Or share with others, through your blog or the Speak Up blog (hyperlink to speak up blog), how ed tech as made a difference for you:
- How has technology improved the way you teach?
- How has technology improved the way students learn?
- What you would do with additional ed tech funding?
- What will your students lose if EETT funding goes away?
- Why is it important to have up-to-date technology in classrooms?
We hope you will take a few minutes today to Speak Up about the importance of integrating technology into our children’s daily learning experiences.
Posted by June Pai, Program Support Coordinator
Are we meeting the needs of our nation’s students for 21st century learning?
Release of the National Speak Up 2009 Data Findings from Teachers, Administrators and Pre-Service Teachers (new this year!)
In Fall 2009, Project Tomorrow surveyed online over 370,000 K-12 students, parents, classroom teachers, pre-service teachers and principals from all 50 states to learn:
- How education technology is being used in America’s schools today – and what are the barriers in our schools that are holding back innovation?
- How emerging technologies such as digital textbooks, online learning, mobile devices, games and social networking can improve learning opportunities for all students?
- What are the expectations of the next generation of teachers for using technology in instruction? What are these pre-service teachers learning about using technology in the classroom?
- Are our teachers becoming “Free Agent Learners” just like their digitally native students?
- What are the significant challenges that are facing our education leaders today?
- What do our educators envision for teaching and learning in 2019? What will school be like for the next generation of students? What can we do right now to prepare for those students?
WHO:
Project Tomorrow will release its findings from the 2009 Speak Up National Research Project at a Capitol Hill briefing. The agenda will feature a presentation of key data findings from the latest Speak Up online surveys for educators administered in over 5,700 schools in Fall 2009. In addition, the briefing will include commentary by other national speakers and an interactive panel discussion with teachers, administrators and pre-service teachers who participated in the Speak Up surveys.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
12:00-1:30 PM
Lunch will be provided.
WHERE:
Rayburn House Office Building
Room B339
Washington DC
For more information, visit our website, or contact June Pai at june@tomorrow.org!
Posted by June Pai, Program Support Coordinator
Have you visited our Speak Up website lately? We have everything from the Speak Up 2009 National Findings from K-12 Students & Parents to the slides from Julie (our CEO)’s presentation. The URL is http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html. Come and take a look around!
We also have more details on the Congressional Briefing on May 5, 2010 for the release of the Speak Up 2009 National Findings from Teachers, Pre-Service Teachers & Administrators! All you have to do is visit the same page as above and click on “Teachers, Pre-Service Teachers & Administrators” tab located at the top. You can request your copy of the report or sign-up to reserve your spot at the event! You can also RSVP by emailing us at RSVP@tomorrow.org.
This is the first year ever that Speak Up has included the voices of Pre-Service Teachers. Don’t miss out! Reserve your copy of the report or COME JOIN US on May 5, 2010 at Washington DC!
June Pai
Program Support Coordinator
Posted by June Pai, Program Support Coordinator
A huge thanks to everyone for all the support for our first congressional briefing for the national release of the 2009 Speak Up data findings from K-12 students and parents. Be sure to check out our website for a recap of the briefing! We also have a PDF report of the Speak Up 2009 National Findings as well as the Power Point slides from the presentation. Don’t forget to check out the multimedia materials as well, such as the slideshow of photos from the congressional briefing.
I also want to take this opportunity to invite everyone to our second congressional briefing for the national release of the 2009 Speak Up data findings from K-12 teachers, administrators, and, for the FIRST TIME EVER, pre-service teachers! The details are as follows. We hope to see you there!
WHO:
Julie Evans, CEO-Project Tomorrow
WHAT:
National Release of the 2009 Speak Up Data Findings from K-12 Teachers, Administrators, and Pre-Service Teachers
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
12:00-1:30PM
Lunch will be provided.
WHERE:
Room B339
Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC
Email either June (june@tomorrow.org) or Laurie (lsmith@tomorrow.org) for more information! You can also call us at 949/609-4660 Ext. 12.
Don’t forget – we’re also on Facebook and Twitter (and we love your feedback)!
Posted by June Pai, Program Support Coordinator
In Fall 2009, Project Tomorrow listened to the voices of over 368,000 K-12 students, parents, teachers, and principals from all 50 states through our Speak Up online surveys! Come join us as we release the national findings at a congressional briefing next week in Washington DC! To learn more about this information, check out our website at http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html. You can find ways to RSVP for the event or request a copy of the report if you cannot join us.
WHO:
Julie Evans, CEO-Project Tomorrow
Karen Cator, Director of Technology in Education, U.S. Dept. of Education
A panel of high schools students
WHAT:
Visioning 2020: Top Ten Recommendations for Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Improve American Education
Speak Up 2009 National Findings from K-12 Students and Parents
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
12:00-1:30 PM
Lunch will be provided.
WHERE:
Room SVC 210/212
Capitol Visitor Center
Washington DC
And, as always, feel free to reach out to us – I can be reached at june@tomorrow.org or 949/609-4660 Ext.12.
Keep checking out the blog! We will have another update regarding the results from our FIRST annual Speak up For Aspiring Teachers and the second congressional briefing with the release of Speak Up 2009 National Findings from Teachers and Administrators!
June Pai
Program Support Coordinator
