1. Tomorrow’s Students:
Are We Ready for the
New 21st
Century Learners?
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2. Tomorrow’s Students:
Are We Ready for the
New 21st
Century
Learners?
Julie Evans
Chief Executive Officer
Project Tomorrow
October 25, 2007

3. Project Tomorrow (formerly known as NetDay) - a
national education nonprofit organization
Our strengths:
Provide national leadership to improve education
Incubate and replicate science, math & technology
programs that engage K-12 students
Leverage online tools, resources and events to build
local capacities
Conduct national research to inform and stimulate new
discussions around education topics

4. What is Speak Up?
• Annual national research project
– Online surveys
– Open for all K-12 schools
– Schools/districts get their own data for planning and budgeting
– Facilitated by Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit group
• Collect data ↔ Stimulate conversations
– Students, Teachers, Parents and School Leaders
• Inform policies & programs
– Analysis and reporting
– Services: custom reports, consulting with schools, Speak Up Your Way!
• 5 years of strong national participation – since 2003:
– 795,000 K-12 students
– 48,000 teachers
– 15,000 parents
– 10,000 schools – all 50 states, DC + DOD schools

5. What is Speak Up?
Speak Up 2007:
Online surveys opened up on October 15th
Surveys submitted as of this morning:
6480 Elementary School Students
9234 Middle and High School Students
1069 Teachers
738 Parents
183 School Leaders
More on Speak Up 2007 later . . .

6. “Technology has changed the way I deliver
content to students and the products I
expect back from students. The use of
technology is more consistent with how the
students interact with the world and with
what will be expected of them in the
future.”
High School Science Teacher
with 16+ years of teaching experience
Daviess County, Kentucky

7. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Participation Overview:
232,781 K-12 students, 21,272 teachers & 15,316 parents
All 50 states, DC, Canada, Mexico & American DOD schools
Top 10 states: TX, IL, CA, MD, AL, NC, FL, MA, VA, MI
Top School District: Chicago Public Schools
School demographics*: 2800 schools
96% public schools – 4% private schools
Urban (1/3) Rural (1/3) Suburban (1/3)
% of schools that are Title 1 eligible = 41%
% of schools w/majority minority
school population = 43%
* NCES Common Core of Data 2003/2004

8. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents
2006
• The survey question themes:
Learning & Teaching with Technology
21st
Century Skills
Communications, Connections & Self-
Expression
Math & Science Instruction
Global Collaborations
Competitiveness & Workforce Preparedness
Designing Schools of the Future

9. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents
2006
• The survey question themes:
Learning & Teaching with Technology
21st
Century Skills
Communications, Connections & Self-Expression
Math & Science Instruction
Global Collaborations
Competitiveness & Workforce Preparedness
Designing Schools of the Future
Let’s learn about your students of
tomorrow - by examining the behaviors
and aspirations of the new 21st
century
learner!

10. You just received this text message:
dis rm S filD W BNFs of A3
lerning Bt lts Nt B 404 bout d
kdz POV RU ReD 2 tlk nw f
ys ~~~ yr h& ciao
What is your next action?

11. dis rm S filD W BNFs of A3
lerning Bt lts Nt B 404 bout d
kdz POV RU ReD 2 tlk nw f ys
~~~ yr h& ciao
What is your next action?
1. Stand up
2. Wave your hand
3. Show us your cell phone
4. I don’t have a clue – I am over 25!

12. Translation please!
dis rm S filD W BNFs of A3 lerning Bt lts Nt
B 404 bout d kdz POV RU ReD 2 tlk nw f
ys ~~~ yr h& ciao
This room is filled with big name fans of
anytime, anywhere, anyplace learning.
But let’s not be clueless about the kids’
point of view. Are you ready to talk
now? If yes, wave your hand. Goodbye.

13. Let’s talk about . . .
Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations
Disconnects & Differences
Trends & Leverage Points

14. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents
2006
Key findings from the student data:
• Communications is #1
• Online connected-ness creating new “friends”
• Online safety & privacy are not top student concerns
• Self-directed learning on the rise
• Students say: “Make science & math relevant!”
• Continued disconnect between students & adults
• Increasing tech sophistication of the youngest learners

15. Let’s add some context:
K-12 Classroom Internet Connectivity*
1994 – 3%
1996 – 14%
1998 – 51%
2000 – 77%
2002 – 92%
* NCES data

16. K-12 Classroom Internet Connectivity
2nd
Graders – where are they now?
1994 – 3%: Your 3rd
Year Students
1996 – 14%: Your 1st
Year Students
1998 – 51%
2000 – 77%
2002 – 92%

17. K-12 Classroom Internet Connectivity
2nd
Graders – where are they now?
1994 – 3%: Your 3rd
Year Students
1996 – 14%: Your 1st
Year Students
1998 – 51%: 10th
grade now
Your freshman in 2010
2000 – 77%: 8th
grade now
Your freshman in 2012
2002 – 92%: 6th
grade now
Your freshman in 2014

18. Setting the context :
K-12 Classroom Internet Connectivity
1998 – 51%: 10th
grade now – your freshman in 2010
2000 – 77%: 8th
grade now – your freshman in 2012
2002 – 92%: 6th
grade now – your freshman in 2014
Who are the real digital natives?
Are we ready for those natives?

19. Besides computers,
what other devices are K-12 students using?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Cell Phones MP3 Game Players
K-2
Gr 3-5
Gr 6-12

20. How are K-12 students using technology
for schoolwork?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Research Keyboarding Presentations Tests
K-2
Gr 3-5
Gr 6-8
Gr 9-12

21. How are K-12 students using technology
for schoolwork?
Email teachers – 25%
Use online text books – 22%
Email – IM classmate about a project – 40%
Check on a grade – 22%
Take an online class – 9%

22. How are K-12 students using technology
for schoolwork?
Online learning
35% of students Gr 6-12 interested in taking an online class
Why?
1. To get extra help in a subject area
2. To take a class not offered
3. To work at one’s own pace
4. To get college credit – AP class
5. Interest in the topic
What subject areas? Math, Foreign Language

23. Technology Use – Outside of School: The Big
Four
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Email/IM Games Music MySpace
K-2
Gr 3-5
Gr 6-8
Gr 9-12

24. Technology Use – Outside of School:
Communications
Favorite communications tool?
Email
IM
Cell phone for talking
Cell phone for texting

25. Technology Use – Outside of School:
Communications
Favorite communications tool?
Email
IM
Cell phone for talking
Favorite: 36% of students Grades 6-12
Daily use: 73% Gr 9-12
57% Gr 6-8
42% Gr 3-5

26. Technology Use – Connected-ness
Are students using online tools to connect with other
students?
 Connecting with students in the US - 23%
 Connecting with students around the world - 17%
Online friends:

27. Technology Use – Connected-ness
Are students using online tools to connect with other
students?
 Connecting with students in the US - 23%
 Connecting with students around the world - 17%
Online friends:
 44% connect with 20+ online friends monthly
 Never met 34% of those friends

28. Technology Use – Connected-ness
Are students using online tools to connect with other
students?
 Connecting with students in the US - 23%
 Connecting with students around the world - 17%
Online friends:
 44% connect with 20+ online friends monthly
 Never met 34% of those friends
Redefining what is a “friend”

29. Technology Use – Connected-ness
Make new friends – 34%
Blog (create/post) – 22%
Sharing writings online – 16%
Create a podcast – 6%
Posted a video – 13%
MySpace page – 51%
Worked on a group project – 24%
Play online games – 35%
Shared music – 15%
Go to websites for TV shows/Movies:
25% of students K-12

30. Why do K-12 students value good tech skills?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Get a job College
success
World
awareness
Do well in
school
Gr 3-5
Gr 6-8
Gr 9-12

31. How do students want to learn science?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
InvestigationsScience
Places
Scientists
Sim
ulations
R
esearch
Equipm
ent
R
ealW
orld
Problem
s
Job
Skills
Natl 6-8
Natl 9-12

32. K-12 student interest in STEM careers?
Not interested in a STEM Career
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
K-2 Gr 3-5 Gr 6-8 Gr 9-12
Students

33. Obstacles to using technology for schoolwork
Grades 3-5
Access issues:
– Lack of computers
– Inconvenient locations
– Slow Internet access
Grades 6-12
Control issues:
– Rules against tech tools
– Teachers control when/where use
– School filters

34. “What if you were designing
a new school for students
just like you?”

35. “What if you were designing a new school for
students just like you?”
Students Kindergarten
thru Grade 12 all say
the same thing:
A laptop for every student

36. Designing ultimate school for 21st
century learners
Other ideas (from students Gr 6-12):
Use cell phones/MP3 players/Handhelds – 46%
Use email/IM/blogs – 45%
Digital moviemaking equipment – 45%
Interactive whiteboards – 44%
Online textbooks – 39%
Online classes - 35%
Lessons/assignments on my MP3 player – 34%

37. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents
2006
Key findings from the teacher data:
• Impact of technology – “teaching & instructional support”
• Time is still the #1 obstacle to using tech more in school (Not
enough time for science either)
• Online safety & privacy are top concerns for student tech use
• Teachers embracing email as key tool for parent communications
• Impact of professional development
• Majority don’t believe schools are doing a good job preparing kids
for 21st
century

38. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents
2006
Key findings from the parent data:
• Satisfaction with school technology? Mixed results.
• Strong preferences for home-school connections
• Online safety & privacy concerns for student tech use
• Support students having cell phones @ school
• Value math & science for all students
– Concerned about global job competition
• Majority do not believe that their local schools are doing a good
job preparing kids for 21st
century

39. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Student Tech Use Concerns
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Gr 6-12 Students Teachers Parents
Cyberbullying
Privacy
Spam
Bad websites
Digital equity
Online cheating
Girls & Tech
Predators
Too much time

40. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Which 21st
century skills are most important?
Parents:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Work ethic

41. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Which 21st
century skills are most important?
Parents:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Work ethic
Teachers:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Technology skills

42. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Which 21st
century skills are most important?
Parents:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Work ethic
Teachers:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Technology skills
Students:
#1 Tied: Critical thinking & Technology skills

43. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
How well is your school doing in
preparing you/children/students to
compete for the jobs and careers of the
21st century?
Response “Yes”
• Students – 38%
• Parents – 48%
• Teachers – 47%

44. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
How well is your school doing in
preparing you/children/students to
compete for the jobs and careers of the
21st century?
Response “Yes”
• Students – 38%
• Parents – 48%
• Teachers – 47%
Over 50% of parents
and teachers & 62% of
high school students
believe their schools
are not
doing a good job.

45. Trends to Watch
Spectrum of digital native-ness
New uses for communications devices
and tools
Connecting without boundaries – new friends
Technology as tool – not fad or fun
Inclusion of student ideas into planning
and investments

46. Leverage Points for Higher Education
Use this data to inform your teaching
and learning practices
Embrace emerging technologies creatively
Leave your own paradigms/assumptions
at your own desk
Ask real questions – do the research
Include your students in planning
and decisions

47. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Briefings & Conferences including
podcast of the Congressional Briefing
– visit www.tomorrow.org
New report:
Learning in the 21st
Century:
A National Report of Online Learning
(done in conjunction with Blackboard Inc.)

48. Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Presentations and workshops this year for
higher education community:
ELI Annual Meeting
DePauw University - 2007 K-12 Bridge
Symposium
Brown University - Harriet W. Sheridan
Center for Teaching and Learning 20th
Anniversary Conference

49. Speak Up 2007
Online surveys for K-12 students, teachers, parents (in English
& Spanish) and school leaders
All US and Canadian K-12 schools can participate – get
aggregated data back with national benchmarks
This year’s survey question themes:
•Learning & Teaching with Technology
•Web 2.0 in education
•21st
Century Skills
•Science Instruction & Global Competitiveness
•Online Learning
•Emerging Technologies in the Classroom
•Designing the Ultimate School of the Future
Surveys open
October 15 –
December 15

50. Speak Up 2007
Sponsors:

51. Speak Up 2007
Use our data
Share information about Speak Up with your affiliated
K-12 schools
Help us with data analysis
Engage us in your activities and events

52. Julie Evans
Chief Executive Officer
949-609-4660
jevans@tomorrow.org
Tomorrow’s Students:
Are we ready for the 21st
century learners?
Thank you for your participation today!