The Speak Up 2008 data findings about Online Learning will be presented
during a one-hour webinar on Tues., Sep 22nd at 2:00pm Eastern (11:00am
Pacific). During the web presentation Julie Evans – CEO, Project Tomorrow®
will explore the Speak Up 2008 findings and facilitate a panel discussion
with district administrators who are implementing online learning.
The Speak Up 2008 reveals students want to learn online because they:
- gain more control of their own learning experience, have access to
more courses and work at their own pace.
- review materials when they want and are more comfortable asking
teachers for help.
- earn college credit or get extra help in a subject.
This webinar will highlight the growing student interest for online
learning and how districts and schools are meeting that demand.
Participants will gain insight about why students and teachers want access
to classes online, the current challenges faced by districts with online
learning implementations, and how online learning presents unprecedented
opportunities for meeting the needs of our 21st century learner.
Click here to register today!
Posted by Laurie Smith
The Speak Up 2008 National Data Findings about digital content will be presented by Julie Evans, CEO-Project Tomorrow, on Wednesday Sept 16 at 12:00pm Pacific. During this one-hour webinar you’ll learn more about the findings and hear from panelists about how their school districts are helping teachers integrate digital content into their curriculum.
More than 29,000 teachers shared their views through Speak Up 2008, this webinar highlights the teachers’ perspectives about digital content, including:
- the types of digital resources they are using in the classroom
- where they obtain the resources
- the barriers to integrating digitial resources
You’ll also hear the perspectives of students and parents about the features and functionality they would like included in their ultimate online “textbooks.”
The one hour webinar begins at 12:00pm Pacific, click here to register today
New Report Reveals Growing Momentum in Online Learning
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow release “Learning in the 21st Century: A Trends Update”
It was a busy time for Project Tomorrow staff at the recent National Educational Computing Conference in San Antonio, TX. First up on our itinerary was the report release of “Learning in the 21st Century: A Trends Update” on Tuesday morning during a special breakfast meeting co-hosted by Blackboard, Inc. The Trends Update examines the views of online learning expressed by more than 250,000 K-12 students, teachers and parents in over 3,000 schools nationwide during Speak Up 2007. Key findings:
- Over 26% of teachers in 2007 chose online learning as their preferred methodology for their own professional development, compared to 7% in 2006.
- Over 41% of students now believe that online classes will have the greatest positive impact on their learning, a growth of over 20% from the 2006 data findings.
- Over 88% of principals and district administrators say that the effective implementation of instructional technology is core to their mission, and 84% believe that technology use enhances student achievement.
Jessie Wooley-Wilson, president-Blackboard K-12, welcomed the attendees and introduced Julie Evans, CEO-Project Tomorrow. Julie presented the findings and moderated a panel discussion which included: Janet Herdman (North Kansas City Schools,MO), Melissa Higgs-Horwell (South Central Ohio Computer Association,OH), and Ann McMullan (Klein ISD, TX). These panelists shared their experiences and illustrated how online learning can be tailored to meet local needs, for example:
- Klein ISD (TX) is a rapid growth district located near Houston that started implementing online learning as a result of statewide K-8 technology curriculum adoption. The school district has also launched a credit recovery program for high school students, which is currently implemented in the district’s four high schools. As a result of the program’s success, district staff members are now considering offering online courses for ACT and SAT test preparation.
- North Kansas City Schools (MO) is a suburban/urban school district that has been involved in online learning for 5 years. Their primary goal was to provide extended learning experiences for high school students and just this last summer served 500 students. Additionally, their online environment is used for professional development and to facilitate collaboration between teachers.
- South Central Ohio Computer Association (OH) is a regional ICT that provides technology support services to 32 school districts in southern Ohio. The ICT provides a centralized Blackboard portal that participating school districts can use to create customized blended online learning environments.
Click here to learn more about the report or listen to the podcast from the breakfast meeting. The report is available online free of charge from the Blackboard website, click here to request the report.
Learning in the 21st Century report now available!
Students, parents, and teachers Speak Up about online learning in the “Learning in the 21st Century: A National Report of Online Learning.” This report, sponsored by Blackboard, Inc. and Project Tomorrow, examines the views of online learning provided by more than 250,000 students, teachers and parents (from 3,0000 schools nationwide) who participated in Speak Up 2006, the National Research Project facilitated by Project Tomorrow. Key findings:
- While 47% of students in grades 9–12 pursue online learning to secure courses not offered at school and 43% to work at their own pace, the top reason (42%) for students in grades 6–8 is to receive extra help
- 77% of teachers believe technology makes a difference in learning and 28% of teachers want online courses to be offered as an alternative in their district
- 42% of parents believe online classes are a good investment to improve student achievement
The findings and national report were released at two breakfast meetings the T+L Conference in Nashville, TN on Oct 17th -18th. During these meetings, Dr. Sheryl Abshire (Calcasieu Parish, LA), Kathy Rains (Madison City Public Schools, AL), and Shawn Morris (Wichita Public Schools, KS) shared their experiences about implementing online learning in their school districts. As highlighted in the report interviews, these panelists illustrated how online learning varies by school and/or district and is often used to meet a local need, here are a few examples:
- Calcasieu Parish Schools (LA) wanted to resolve the problem of removing teachers from the classroom for ongoing professional development. Today, the district provides both online, embedded professional program and student courses.
- Madison City Schools (AL) implemented distance learning labs six years ago in middle schools which created a foundation for the district to subsequently take part in a statewide program called Alabama Connecting Classroom Educators Students Statewide (ACCESS).
- Wichita Public Schools (KS) realized that the homeschooled students in their region would “drop in and out” of public school and there was a need to provide parents with rigorous, standards-aligned lessons. Today, K-8 students and parents use the online curriculum at home, and students in grades 9th-12th work with teachers online to complete their high school requirements.
To learn more about the national findings or to view the presentation, visit Learning in the 21st Century . To hear more about how these school districts are implementing online learning; their challenges, success and tips, download the podcast.
We encourage you to continue to join our panelists in the national dialog about online learning in K-12 education by posting your comments to this blog.
Building Support for 1:1 Program
Robert C. Fisler School, a Speak Up participant since 2005, is located in Fullerton (CA) and serves 820 K-8 students: 72% are Asian, 12% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% Filipino, and 1% African American. The school is well known for its state-of-the-art facility and science and technology focused curriculum that integrates a 1:1 Laptops for Learning program. Students in grades two through eight use individual laptops to master rigorous content and performance standards; while kinder and 1st grade classrooms are configured with a minimum of 5 computers and share either an AlphaSmart cart or iBook carts. Technology is fully integrated into the curriculum and throughout the campus students can be found using technology to research and analyze information or communicate their findings through such tools as: Keynote, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, iTunes, iCal, iWeb, Pages, NoteTaker, Gizmos, Comic Life, GarageBand, Pages, Kidspiration, and Inspiration.
Students also have the opportunity to use a fully equipped science lab, an arts lab with a kiln, and a state of the art multi-purpose room with three stage production areas. The goal of both the staff and parents at Fisler School is “to infuse the school and students’ homes with an unparalleled level of technology and science to enhance their children’s education.”
“This (Speak Up) data was very helpful to share with our school board and local community to show them the continued belief and need for our 1:1 Laptop for Learning Program. We have also used it to help determine priorities in purchasing for next year as well as focus of student instruction and teacher trainings. We plan to share this data with our local businesses as well as our school families to raise needed funds to continue our 1:1 Laptop Program,” reports Jacqueline Pearce, princpal, Fisler School.
North Schuylkill listens to its students
The North Schuylkill School District, located in the antracite coal fields of Pennsylvania, uses the Speak Up survey results to help make local decisions regarding technology initiatives.
Located in northeastern Pennsylvania in Schuylkill and Columbia counties, the North Schuylkill School District has a population of 16,681 and serves 2,083 students through the employment of 8 administrators, 147 teachers, and 114 full-time and part-time support personnel (2000 federal census). The region encompasses 72.2 square miles of rolling hills and valleys and is an area of many contrasts. While it is best known for its anthracite resources and for its past mining history, it also is a land of vast wooded acres and some of the most beautiful agricultural areas found in northeastern Pennsylvania. Residents of the boroughs of Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Gordon, and Ringtown, and a scattering of small surrounding villages, are served by the district’s two K - 6 elementary schools and its 7-12 junior/senior high school.
“The data has been presented to our board of education to demonstrate the level of technical sophistication held by our students. The data makes it clear that today’s students learn differently than “we” did and that technology is a major force in their lives. The Project Tomorrow/NetDay survey has given our technology initiative focus. It has generated much excitement and it has been used as the springboard for the major initiatives taking place in our district, “ reports Paul Caputo, supervisor of curriculum, technology and federal programs. Learn more about the technical innovations underway in North Schuylkill visit, or contact Paul at pcaputo@northschuylkill.net.
