Parents Support Technology for Learning and Communication

Welcome to:
Parents “Speak Up” About
Technology and 21st
Century Skills
NSBA T+L Conference 2007
Nashville, TN
October 17, 2007
Julie Evans

(c) Project Tomorrow 2007 2
Today’s Workshop Goals
Learn about Speak Up Research Project and the 2006
Parent Data Findings
Compare parent views with student and teacher views
Understand how schools are leveraging parents’ ideas
Discuss the value in your school or district
Plan to participate in Speak Up 2007

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

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

“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

Speak Up for Students, Teachers & Parents 2006
Participation Overview:
232,781 K-12 students, 21,272 teachers & 15,316 parents
Students: Elementary (pre K-Gr 5) – 43%
Middle School (Gr 6-8) – 35%
High School (Gr 9-12) – 21%
50% Girls – 50% Boys
Teachers: 80% - Classroom assignment
36% - 4 to 15 years experience
42% - have Masters’ Degree
Parents: 29% member of a PTA/PTO/Booster Club
13% volunteer regularly @ school

Participation Overview:
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

• 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
What can we learn from the parents’ point of view – and
comparatively with student and teacher ideas?

What is the #1 thing that your school can
do to make sure your child is well prepared
to compete for jobs in the future and to be
good citizens of the world?

What is the #1 thing that your school can do to
make sure your child is well prepared to compete
for jobs in the future and to be good citizens of
the world?
“Inspire a child to have a love for learning.”
Mother of a Florida Virtual School Student

Let’s talk about . . .
Activities, Attitudes & Aspirations
Disconnects & Differences
Leverage Points for the Data

Preliminary key findings from the student data:
• Communications is #1
• Online connected-ness creating new “friends”
• Online safety & privacy are not top student concerns
• Students say: “Make science & math relevant!”
• Youngest learners are very tech sophisticated
• Continued disconnect between students & adults

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

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
• Surprising result regarding local schools and preparing kids
for 21st
century jobs

Speak Up 2006 – Parent Findings
Three categories for findings:
Technology for Learning
Home-School Communications
21st
Century Skills & Jobs of the Future

Parents and technology – what tools are they using?
• Use a computer weekly – 97%
• Use a cell phone weekly – 95%
• Use a digital camera – 66%
• Play video games – 25%

Parents and technology – in a typical week . . .
• Use a computer – 97%
• Use a cell phone – 95%
• Send an email – 97%
• Visit school or district websites – 70%
• Visit news websites – 62%
• Send an instant message – 30%
• Visit a personal website (MySpace) – 13%

Parents and technology – in a typical week . . .
• Use a computer – 97%
• Use a cell phone – 95%
• Send an email – 97%
• Visit school or district websites – 70%
• Visit news websites – 62%
• Send an instant message – 30%
• Visit a personal website (MySpace) – 13%
53% said they are average tech users

Questions for thought & discussion:
Are your students’ parents satisfied with
technology at school?
In what areas are they dissatisfied?
How would they like their children to interact with
technology at your school?
What is the impact of their satisfaction level?

Technology at my child’s school?
“I am satisfied with . . .”
• Amount of technology available to students
• Internet safety and privacy of personal information

“I am satisfied with . . .”
• Amount of technology available to students
• Internet safety and privacy of personal information
“I am dissatisfied with . . .”
• Priority placed on tech use
• Technology integration into subject areas
• Amount of time spent using technology

Parent question: What if you were on a
tech committee, what would be a
good investment to improve student
achievement?
What would your school’s parents say?

What if you were on a tech committee, what would be a
good investment to improve student achievement?
1. Computers in classrooms – 61%
2. Software to support academics – 60%
3. A useful school website – 60%
4. Advanced computer classes – 55%
5. Tools to help parents and teachers
communicate – 51%
6. Online classes for students – 42%

Online classes for students
Why would you want your child to take an online class?
58%
53%
48%
39%
31%
24%
21%
11%
8%
8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
To get extra help in a subject he or she is having trouble with
If my child was absent for a long period of time due to health or other
circumstances.
To take a class in a subject that's not offered at his or her school.
To take advanced classes or AP classes for college credit.
To get more individual attention from a teacher online
To help fit coursework into a busy schedule.
Because he or she likes to work independently.
To keep my child at school if he/she were at risk for dropping out.
To experience online style learning.
I cannot think of a good reason

Teacher’s View of Value:
• To get extra help in a subject
• Class not offered at the school
• Work at own pace
• For students who are out of school due to illness

Student’s View of Value:
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Extra help Get class Own pace Interest AP class Schedule
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12

Communications & cell phones
“Students should be allowed to bring cell phones to
school for emergencies and to connect with
parents”
Students: 82% - grades 6-12
Parents: 77%
Teachers: 56%

Communications via email
Students:
• Email weekly – 77%
• Email or IM teacher – 25%
Parents:
• Email weekly – 97%
• Want emails from teachers
Teachers:
• Email with parents – 64%
• Email with students – 28%

How do your students’ parents want to hear about events,
news, homework etc?
 Flyers sent home
 School/district website postings
 Emails – to home addresses
 Emails – to work addresses
 Phone calls
 School portal
 Teacher’s blog updated daily
 Information mailed home

How do you want to hear from your child’s
school?
School Communications Tools
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Parents
Flyers/Newsletters
Website postings
Emails to home
Emails to work
Phone calls
School portal
Teacher's blog
Info mailed home

What information do parents want to access online?
My child’s attendance, grades 87%
School calendar, news, reminders 81%
Homework assignments 77%
Teacher blog of daily or weekly lessons 59%
Bulletin board or email link with teacher 51%
Resources to help parents 51%
Powerpoints and materials from lessons 49%
Comparative test scores 39%

Concerns about Online Use
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

What concerns you about your child’s future?
– Getting into a good college (44%)
– Having to compete with better educated
global workers (37%)
– Need more than college to get a good job
(31%)
– Too much time on testing (27%)
– Not being able to afford a home (21%)
– My child not doing as well as I did (18%)

Do you think having a good understanding
of math and science is important for
your child’s future?
Yes ?
No ?
Maybe ?

Do you think having a good understanding
of math and science is important for
your child’s future?
If interested in a job – 22%
If my child likes the subjects – 11%
For college plans – 29%
To develop problem solving & critical
thinking skills – 47%
All students – YES – 55%

21st
Century Skills:
Which ones are most important?
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Teamwork
Global awareness
Communications
Financial literacy
Independent learning
Work ethic
Creativity
Technology skills

21st
Century Skills:
Critical thinking
Problem solving
Teamwork
Global awareness
Communications
Financial literacy
Independent learning
Work ethic
Creativity
Technology skills
To Students?
To Parents?
To Teachers?

21st
Century Skills:
Parents:
#1 – Critical thinking
#2 – Problem solving
#3 – Work ethic

21st
Century Skills:
Parents:
#3 – Work ethic
Teachers:
#3 – Technology skills

21st
Century Skills:
Parents:
#3 – Work ethic
Teachers:
#3 – Technology skills
Students:
#1 Tied: Critical thinking & Technology skills

From the parent, student & teacher data . . .
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%

From the parent, student & teacher data . . .
How well is your school doing in
preparing your 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.

Leveraging Parent Viewpoints
How would you use this kind of data in your
school, district or community?
How would you define the value of the
data?
How can you gain access to this kind of
information?

How would you use this kind of data in your school,
district or community?
• To develop stronger home-school
connections

connections
• To “testdrive” a parent tech advisory
council

connections
council
• To gain parent financial support

connections
council
• To learn about tech use at home

connections
council
• As political cover/clout with legislators

connections
council
• As political cover/clout with legislators
• Input for new policies/programs

Speak Up News
Briefings & Conferences including podcast of the
Congressional Briefing – visit www.tomorrow.org
New reports:
Learning in the 21st
Century:
A National Report of Online Learning
(done in conjunction with Blackboard Inc.)
How Students Want to Learn Science & Math
(done in conjunction with PASCO scientific)

Speak Up 2007
Online surveys for K-12 students, teachers, parents (in
English & Spanish) and school leaders
All US and Canadian schools can participate – activate
your pre-registration at www.netdayspeakup.org/
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

Speak Up 2007
Sponsors:

Speak Up 2007
Champion Outreach Partners:
National School Boards Association (NSBA)
State Education Technology Directors’
Assocation (SETDA)
Consortium on School Networking (CoSN)
+ 100 other nonprofit partners

Speak Up 2007
Have a voice in national discussions
Learn about the ideas of your own stakeholders
How? Participating schools and districts get free online
access to your own quantitative data –
with national benchmark data
Surveys open: October 15 – December 15

Julie Evans
Chief Executive Officer
949-609-4660
jevans@tomorrow.org
Thank you for your participation today.
It has been our pleasure to learn from you.
We look forward to working with you in
2007-2008.

Copyright Project Tomorrow 2007.
This work is the intellectual property of the author.
Permission is granted for this material to be shared for
non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this
copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials
and notice is given that the copying is by permission of
the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish
requires written permission from the author.

Parents Support Technology for Learning and Communication

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