Project Tomorrow® and T.H.E. Journal are joining forces to provide a series of six FREE — and timely — hot topic webinars based on the results from the nationwide Speak Up surveys. The Speak Up data provides:
- Essential data to determine how well your school or district measures up to others across the nation
- Priceless feedback from over 1.5 million K-12 students, administrators, educators and parents on all critical areas of the education experience
- Quantitative and qualitative findings to effectively plan, execute and complete projects
Attend one, two or all six of these FREE, richly informative webinars to improve your decision-making capabilities. Seminar topics include:
Mobile Devices within Instruction
Aug 19, 2009
12:00 PM Pacific
Digital Content
Sep 16, 2009
12:00 PM Pacific
Web 2.0 and Education
Oct 14, 2009
12:00PM Pacific
21st Century Skills
Oct 28, 2009
12:00PM Pacific
Top 10 Trends in Student Learning with Technology
Nov 11, 2009
12:00PM Pacific
Internet Safety
Dec 2, 2009
12:00PM Pacific
Click here to learn more about the Webinars or to register to attend.
It’s that time of year again, when we recognize the top K-12 schools in the country that empower students, parents and educators to share their ideas through Speak Up (hyperlink to http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/). This year over 200 schools were selected to receive this national distinction based on their participation in Speak Up 2008. The schools represent students from rural, suburban and urban communities from all across the United States including schools on our military bases worldwide. The complete list of Speak Up 200 schools are highlighted on the Project Tomorrow® website. The top five participating school districts include:
- Klein Independent School District (Texas)
- Baltimore City Public Schools (Maryland)
- Clear Creek Independent School District (Texas)
- City of Chicago School District (Illinois)
- Capistrano Unified School District (California)
The Speak Up data provides insight into how our students would like to be learning in their classrooms and gives educators the opportunity to discuss effective strategies for using the historic education stimulus funds provided by the federal government. Here are some of the ways district staff are using the Speak Up data to inform their decision about the economic stimulus funding:
“Speak Up data has made us aware that students’ favor using digital tools to learn and work, both in and out of school. We anticipate using some stimulus money to purchase equipment, software and/or online access to programs which will help teach and develop skills necessary for success in the 21st century.” Paul Caputo, supervisor of curriculum, technology and federal programs, North Schuylkill Elementary (PA)
“Will use student data to substantiate the need to incorporate more technology into instruction.” Linda Brandon, director of instructional technology, Lakeland Central School District (NY)
“If stimulus money is awarded to our state, the Speak Up data would provide another piece of data for our decision making process on using the funds.” Deb Sixel, director of student learning, Kiel Area School District (WI)
Congratulations once again to all of the Speak Up 200 schools – we applaud your efforts!
Posted by Kim Farris-Berg
The blogosphere is buzzing with reflections about Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators. Here’s a sample of their thoughts:
Ewan McIntosh’s edu.blogs.com
Fresh research showing the damage of filtering ‘real world’ technology
Posted on March 12, 2009
“Students in schools around the world find that their research, creativity and learning potential is seriously curbed by filtering and lack of use of their own mobile and gaming devices in schools. Filtering of sites they use at home for learning is the number one obstacle for high school students, arguably those in whom we should be able to place more trust thanks to more time learning about how to exploit the web…
We know (mostly) that it’s true, that [gaming] can have valid effects and, for various reasons including incompetence and ignorance, we don’t act. The buck stops, I think, with middle management, with the leaders in schools and in the subject departments in those (secondary) schools…”
Sylvia Martinez on the Generation YES blog
The disconnect in science education
Posted on February 23, 2009
“In the U.S., STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is a hot topic these days. Pundits bemoan the lack of basic science literacy, blame American students for apathy, and predict we will be crushed by global competition. But who ever asks students what they are interested in or how best they learn?
In looking at the [Project Tomorrow] report…you immediately see the glaring inconsistencies in how students learn, what fascinates and excites them, how teachers want to teach, and what’s actually happening in classrooms. What does it mean for the future when less than 40 percent of these students see learning science as important for making informed decisions in the future?”
Derek E. Baird on The Barking Robot
Project Tomorrow: STEM Education & Technology Use in K-12 Schools
Posted on February 24, 2009
“Project Tomorrow also concluded that learning is something students do (encouraged and assisted by adults), rather than something adults do—or “deliver”—to students. Their motivation ought to be our central focus.”
