Speak Up 2015 is almost here! To celebrate this year's survey, we're hosting several events tomorrow, October 1st. These events are a great way to kick off this year's survey period - check them out below:
Webinar: Getting started with Speak Up 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
9AM PT/12PM ET
12PM PT/3PM ET
3 pm PT/6 pm ET
Click here to RSVP
Are you new to Speak Up and want to learn more about our annual survey? Or are you a returning participant who wants to refresh your memory before Speak Up 2015? Join us on October 1 for a quick 30-minute introduction to Speak Up hosted by the CEO of Project Tomorrow, Julie Evans. Three times are currently available (above) with limited seats, so be sure to RSVP as soon as possible!
#SUchat: The homework gap and teacher professional development
1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET - topic: homework gap
4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET - topic: teacher professional development
Click here to join the conversation
As part of the kickoff to Speak Up 2015, Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow is hosting two different twitter chats on Thursday, October 1 – our launch day for Speak Up 2015. At 1:30 pm PT, 4:30 pm ET the topic is the homework gap. At 4:30 pm PT, 7:30 pm ET, the topic is teacher professional development. Please feel free to join in to either or both to share your insights and experiences? Sign on under #SUchat.
Are you attending tomorrow's virtual events? Let us know - we hope to see you there!
The goal of the Project Tomorrow Blog is to explore topics in education, while informing our followers of Project Tomorrow's programs & intiatives. Together, we are working toward a better and brighter tomorrow today.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Last call for tomorrow's webinar: Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Presented by Julie Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow
Sponsored by Schoolwires, a Blackboard solution
Did you know that 86% of the public believes that parent support is the most important way to ensure student achievement? Blackboard and Project Tomorrow have surveyed thousands of parents across the U.S. to understand how they want to be communicated with, which channels they prefer, and how to increase their engagement with schools and districts. In this webinar, explore the parent survey data we’ve collected and learn what tools and practices you need to maximize family and community engagement in your district that ultimately influence student success.
Join Project Tomorrow President & CEO Julie Evans to hear more about:
• What role parents feel social media and mobile have in K-12
• What parents believe are measures of student success
• What parents worry about for their child’s academic future
• What ways in which parents like to be communicated
Julie will field questions from the audience at the end of her presentation. K-12 administrators interested in parent engagement survey feedback and community engagement technology tools that will help districts maximize their communications will benefit from this webinar.
A CE certificate will be emailed to attendees within 24 hours of the live event.
If you miss the live session, a link to view the recording will be sent within 24 hours of the live event.
This is a free program from edWeb.net. edWeb.net is a social network and professional learning community that makes it easy for teachers and all educators to connect and collaborate with peers, share information and best practices, and spread innovative ideas to improve teaching and learning. To learn more about edWeb.net, click on their logo to the right.Monday, September 28, 2015
Announcing our Speak Up Loud and Clear schools!
Top participating schools from Speak Up 2014
With Speak Up 2015 just around the corner, we would like to thank our past Speak Up participants! We greatly appreciate all the support and encouragement that went in to making Speak Up 2014 such a success - without you, Speak Up would not be possible.
Last year over 521,000 Students, Parents, Educators and members of the community representing over 8,000 schools nationwide participated in Speak Up 2014. To honor our top participating schools and districts, Project Tomorrow has nominated the top Speak Up schools for our Speak Up Loud and Clear recognition program. Speak Up Loud and Clear, formerly known as Speak Up 200, highlights schools that are effectively incorporating Speak Up data into their local decision-making. Each year, finalists are selected based on total student participation, length of time involved with Speak Up, and use of data in local decision making.
We are proud to recognize 244 Speak Up Loud and Clear schools for their strong participation during Speak Up 2014! The complete list of Speak Up Loud and Clear schools are highlighted on our website - click here to view the full list.
Based upon total participation and demonstrated commitment to engaging their stakeholders in local decisions on education issues, five school districts were also recognized for special distinctions. The top 5 school districts from Speak Up 2014 are:
With Speak Up 2015 just around the corner, we would like to thank our past Speak Up participants! We greatly appreciate all the support and encouragement that went in to making Speak Up 2014 such a success - without you, Speak Up would not be possible.
Last year over 521,000 Students, Parents, Educators and members of the community representing over 8,000 schools nationwide participated in Speak Up 2014. To honor our top participating schools and districts, Project Tomorrow has nominated the top Speak Up schools for our Speak Up Loud and Clear recognition program. Speak Up Loud and Clear, formerly known as Speak Up 200, highlights schools that are effectively incorporating Speak Up data into their local decision-making. Each year, finalists are selected based on total student participation, length of time involved with Speak Up, and use of data in local decision making.
We are proud to recognize 244 Speak Up Loud and Clear schools for their strong participation during Speak Up 2014! The complete list of Speak Up Loud and Clear schools are highlighted on our website - click here to view the full list.
Based upon total participation and demonstrated commitment to engaging their stakeholders in local decisions on education issues, five school districts were also recognized for special distinctions. The top 5 school districts from Speak Up 2014 are:
Klein Independent School District (Texas)
Onslow County Schools (North Carolina)
Wake County Schools (North Carolina)
Anaheim City School District (California)
Hamilton Southeastern Schools (Indiana)
Congratulations to our Speak Up Loud and Clear schools and districts!
Don't forget - Speak Up 2015 starts in a few days! Spread the word about the survey to your school(s) to encourage strong participation and a chance at being recognized as a Speak Up Loud and Clear school for Speak Up 2015! And for our current Speak Up Loud and Clear schools, this is the perfect opportunity to secure your spot as a top school for another year.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Speak Up 2015 is just around the corner! Download our welcome packet to prepare for this year's survey!
With this year's survey period opening in just a few days, now is the perfect time to kick your plans for Speak Up into high gear! We've created a welcome packet with shortened versions of our promotional materials in case you need quick and simple ideas for promoting the survey. This virtual packet includes general information about Speak Up, instructions, ideas for how you can use your data, sample flyers, and more.
For your convenience, we’ve included both a PDF version and an editable Microsoft Word document version of the packet – feel free to make any changes to the text. We hope this helps you prepare for this year’s survey! Click on the link or image below to download the welcome packet.
For your convenience, we’ve included both a PDF version and an editable Microsoft Word document version of the packet – feel free to make any changes to the text. We hope this helps you prepare for this year’s survey! Click on the link or image below to download the welcome packet.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
The homework gap is real - what can we do about it?
Last school year we teamed up with our friends at Qualcomm at Alvin Dunn Elementary School in San Marcos, California, to launch a tablet program to study and close the "homework gap" - a term coined by the FCC to describe the problem that students face when they are unable to complete schoolwork due to lack of Internet access at home. Through this study, participating students received tablets with data plans - a transformative experience for those affected by the homework gap. Yesterday our study was featured on WIRED - check out the preliminary data that was featured in the article:
For Julie Evans, this data isn't surprising - there have been similar impacts in schools across the country that have provided students Internet access at home. "At-home access facilitates the opportunity to be self-directed learners, and to take what they’re learning in school and extend it,” Evans says. “The idea of instilling in these students a desire for lifelong learning, and the resourcefulness to know how to go pursue that is something that transcends just learning algebra.”
With the homework gap becoming increasingly relevant, it's interesting to see what connectivity can do for students. Interested in learning more about our study with Qualcomm? Read the article on WIRED, "Schoolkids Don’t Just Need iPads. They Need Data Plans" by Issie Lapowsky.
This year our Speak Up surveys feature questions about the homework gap. Is your school or district working to close the homework gap? Let us know by participating in Speak Up 2015 - open from October 1st through December 18th, 2015. Click here to register.
- Among the students who were previously affected by the homework gap, 96 percent said having at-home access made them better learners.
- 84 percent of all the students surveyed said they were using the device to write papers and complete homework assignments at home.
- After receiving tablets with data plans, students reported increases in confidence and collaboration with their peers.
- More than half of the students said home Internet access has made them more interested in what they were learning.
For Julie Evans, this data isn't surprising - there have been similar impacts in schools across the country that have provided students Internet access at home. "At-home access facilitates the opportunity to be self-directed learners, and to take what they’re learning in school and extend it,” Evans says. “The idea of instilling in these students a desire for lifelong learning, and the resourcefulness to know how to go pursue that is something that transcends just learning algebra.”
With the homework gap becoming increasingly relevant, it's interesting to see what connectivity can do for students. Interested in learning more about our study with Qualcomm? Read the article on WIRED, "Schoolkids Don’t Just Need iPads. They Need Data Plans" by Issie Lapowsky.
This year our Speak Up surveys feature questions about the homework gap. Is your school or district working to close the homework gap? Let us know by participating in Speak Up 2015 - open from October 1st through December 18th, 2015. Click here to register.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Around the Web Wednesday
Happy Around the Web Wednesday! Browse all the links below for the latest news and topics trending in education and technology. Be sure to let us know which article intrigued you the most!
Speak Up 2015 is now open for registration! Join the 3.9 million students, parents, educators, administrators, and community members who have spoken up about education and technology since 2003. Surveys will run from October 1 - December 18, 2015. Register today to ensure your voice is heard this fall! http://bit.ly/SU15survey
Registration for the 6th Annual Youth Leadership Summit is now open! SoCal students - this is the perfect opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and math! Click here to register for our event on October 24th, or contact Kelly Moriarty at kmoriarty@tomorrow.org for more information.
U.S. Department of Education Announces First-Ever Adviser to Expand Access to Open Digital Resources in Schools - U.S. Department of Education
Coding Class, Then Naptime: Computer Science For The Kindergarten Set - NPR
SETDA publishes OER case studies from 3 states - eSchool News
13 Keys to Successful Blended Learning - The Journal
America’s Teaching Force, by the Numbers - The Atlantic
U.S. Department of Education Announces First-Ever Adviser to Expand Access to Open Digital Resources in Schools - U.S. Department of Education
Coding Class, Then Naptime: Computer Science For The Kindergarten Set - NPR
SETDA publishes OER case studies from 3 states - eSchool News
13 Keys to Successful Blended Learning - The Journal
America’s Teaching Force, by the Numbers - The Atlantic
Monday, September 21, 2015
Registration for the 6th Annual Youth Leadership Summit is now open!
The “Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science” is a unique opportunity for Orange County’s high school students to share their ideas on how to improve math and science education and to learn about how math and science proficiency is increasingly a critical skill for many current and future jobs in Orange County. This interactive, half-day summit will empower students to explore careers in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and provide these students with valuable information about the workforce development trends in the county and what they need to do to be well prepared for the jobs of the future. Additionally, through working group discussions, we will capture the students’ ideas on how to improve K-12 math and science education and thus, Orange County’s economic future.
WHEN?
Saturday, October 24th, 2015 from 8:45am to 2:00 pm
WHERE?
Edwards Lifesciences Global Headquarters, 1 Edwards Way, Irvine, CA 92614
WHO?
200 of Orange County’s best and brightest high school students who are interested in science, technology, engineering and math, and serve as representatives from their
high schools. Panel discussions with representatives from a diversified set of OC companies and engineers on the role of math and science in their industry, and their expectations for employees in the future. Break-out sessions and tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local STEM career opportunities and college programs.
WHY?
Statewide, California reports that in 2020, the number of jobs requiring a college degree will outstrip the number of jobs which do not, with most of those jobs being STEM-related. Additionally, 45% of today’s current science and engineering workforce will retire within the next few years. It is also becoming increasingly apparent that science and math proficiency are the new “must-haves” for jobs outside of the usual STEM fields including positions in the hospitality, construction and services sectors. To be prepared to become part of the new OC workforce, today’s students must receive a world-class science and math education, and understand what is needed both in terms of skill development and educational attainment to compete for these new OC jobs.
HOW?
Participation by the invited high school students is 100% underwritten through corporate sponsorship funds provided by our Summit sponsors and includes a specially prepared packet of information and resources for the students, continental breakfast and lunch.
For information about the Summit, sponsorship or speaking opportunities, or to discuss ways for your company or organization to be involved, please contact Kelly Moriarty at kmoriarty@tomorrow.org or 949-609-4660.
For more information about the event and how to register, please visit our website: Youth Leadership Summit
Friday, September 18, 2015
Save the date! The Speak Up Introduction webinar is on October 1st!
Getting started with Speak Up 2015:
a 30 minute introduction
Thursday, October 1, 2015
9AM PT/12PM ET
12PM PT/3PM ET
3 pm PT/6 pm ET
Each fall, Project Tomorrow, an internationally recognized education nonprofit organization, facilitates the Speak Up Research Project – and we would like to invite you to learn more about how your school and district can participate this year. Speak Up 2015 is the best way for education leaders to learn about the views and ideas of K-12 students, parents and teachers regarding digital learning, workplace skill development, STEM education and professional development. It is easy to participate in Speak Up – there are no fees or costs – everything is 100% free. Last year over 521,000 K-12 students, parents and educators completed a Speak Up survey. And 8,200 schools and 2,600 districts received free reports with their local data plus national findings for comparatives. Why use instructional funds for data collection when Speak Up is already available to every K-12 school and district? Plus, Speak Up provides a direct pipeline for the voices of your stakeholders to impact federal and state policies, programs and funding every year.
Want to learn more about Speak Up 2015? Join us on October 1 for a quick 30-minute introduction to Speak Up hosted by the CEO of Project Tomorrow, Julie Evans. Three times are currently available:
9AM PT/12PM ET
12PM PT/3PM ET
3PM PT /6PM ET
Click here to RSVP and we will send you the information on how to access the live webinar at your preferred time. We only have a limited number of virtual seats per session – please rvsp today to save your spot!
In the Getting Started live webinar, Julie will address these key questions for you:
- What is Speak Up? What types of questions are asked on the online surveys and what types of schools or districts participate in Speak Up?
- Why should my school or district participate in Speak Up? What will be the benefits? How could I use the Speak Up data to inform our local plans?
- How do I register our school or district to do Speak Up 2015? What do I need to do to use the surveys? What promotional materials can Project Tomorrow provide?
Got questions about the live webinar or wondering if your school or district has previously participated in Speak Up? Contact Lisa Chu at LChu@tomorrow.org.
We hope to see you on October 1st in one of the live webinars with Julie Evans!
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Upcoming webinar: Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Presented by Julie Evans, CEO, Project Tomorrow
Sponsored by Schoolwires, a Blackboard solution
Did you know that 86% of the public believes that parent support is the most important way to ensure student achievement? Blackboard and Project Tomorrow have surveyed thousands of parents across the U.S. to understand how they want to be communicated with, which channels they prefer, and how to increase their engagement with schools and districts. In this webinar, explore the parent survey data we’ve collected and learn what tools and practices you need to maximize family and community engagement in your district that ultimately influence student success.
Join Project Tomorrow President & CEO Julie Evans to hear more about:
• What role parents feel social media and mobile have in K-12
• What parents believe are measures of student success
• What parents worry about for their child’s academic future
• What ways in which parents like to be communicated
Julie will field questions from the audience at the end of her presentation. K-12 administrators interested in parent engagement survey feedback and community engagement technology tools that will help districts maximize their communications will benefit from this webinar.
A CE certificate will be emailed to attendees within 24 hours of the live event.
If you miss the live session, a link to view the recording will be sent within 24 hours of the live event.
This is a free program from edWeb.net. edWeb.net is a social network and professional learning community that makes it easy for teachers and all educators to connect and collaborate with peers, share information and best practices, and spread innovative ideas to improve teaching and learning. To learn more about edWeb.net, click on their logo to the right.Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Around the Web Wednesday
Happy Around the Web Wednesday! Browse all the links below for the latest news and topics trending in education and technology. Be sure to let us know which article intrigued you the most!
Speak Up 2015 is now open for registration! Join the 3.9 million students, parents, educators, administrators, and community members who have spoken up about education and technology since 2003. Surveys will run from October 1 - December 18, 2015. Register today to ensure your voice is heard this fall! http://bit.ly/SU15survey
We are also pleased to announce the finalists for this year's Innovation in Education Awards! Click here to learn which Orange County, CA schools, educators, and students have been recognized.
A Sharing Economy Where Teachers Win - The New York Times
Why we must address digital equity right now - eSchool News
New York City’s mayor will require all of the city's public schools to teach computer science - Business Insider
How Digital Equity Can Help Close the Homework Gap - The Journal
After years of cuts, school districts face teacher shortages - Associated Press
The surprising thing about schools with lots of technology - The Los Angeles Times
A Sharing Economy Where Teachers Win - The New York Times
Why we must address digital equity right now - eSchool News
New York City’s mayor will require all of the city's public schools to teach computer science - Business Insider
How Digital Equity Can Help Close the Homework Gap - The Journal
After years of cuts, school districts face teacher shortages - Associated Press
The surprising thing about schools with lots of technology - The Los Angeles Times
Monday, September 14, 2015
Today's webinar: Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Last call for registration for today's webinar with Blackboard! Join Julie Evans as she explores Speak Up 2014 data - more information below:
Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow
Monday, September 14
3:30pm ET
The increased use of technology, both in school and out of school, creates an urgency for teachers to embrace digital learning to make the student educational experience more productive and personal. The annual Speak Up National Research Project provides an exclusive window into the views of education leaders, teachers and students on personalized learning and innovative learning environments. In this webinar we will share the latest Speak Up national findings from over 403,000 K-12 students, parents and educators with an emphasis on how the use of digital content, tools and resources in innovative classrooms are having a large impact on students' engagement and development of critical college and career ready skills.
Be sure to sign up for the remaining sessions in the Fall 2015 K-12 Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series (BITS) series! With over twenty sessions planned through December, there are plenty of opportunities for free teacher professional development. Click here to register and learn more.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Don't miss this month's upcoming webinars with Blackboard!
Stay up to date with the most recent Speak Up data by saving your spot for Julie Evans's webinars with Blackboard - with one coming up this Monday! Learn how you can save your spot below:
Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow
Monday, September 14
3:30pm ET
The increased use of technology, both in school and out of school, creates an urgency for teachers to embrace digital learning to make the student educational experience more productive and personal. The annual Speak Up National Research Project provides an exclusive window into the views of education leaders, teachers and students on personalized learning and innovative learning environments. In this webinar we will share the latest Speak Up national findings from over 403,000 K-12 students, parents and educators with an emphasis on how the use of digital content, tools and resources in innovative classrooms are having a large impact on students' engagement and development of critical college and career ready skills.
Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow
Wednesday, September 30
3pm ET
Did you know that 86% of the public believes that parent support is the most important way to ensure student achievement? Blackboard and Project Tomorrow have surveyed thousands of parents across the U.S. to understand how they want to be communicated with, which channels they prefer, and how to increase their engagement with schools and districts. In this webinar, explore the parent survey data we’ve collected and learn what tools and practices you need to maximize family and community engagement in your district that ultimately influence student success.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Speak Up 2015 Introduction Webinar
Are you new to Speak Up or in need of a refresher?
If so, plan to attend our introduction webinar - with two chances to catch up on all things Speak Up! Stay tuned for more details, and make sure you save the following date and times:
Thursday October 1, 2015
9AM PT/12PM ET
12PM PT/3PM ET
Keep an eye out for more webinar details coming soon, and let us know if you plan on attending!
If so, plan to attend our introduction webinar - with two chances to catch up on all things Speak Up! Stay tuned for more details, and make sure you save the following date and times:
Thursday October 1, 2015
9AM PT/12PM ET
12PM PT/3PM ET
Keep an eye out for more webinar details coming soon, and let us know if you plan on attending!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
The Speak Up family of surveys is growing!
We are excited to announce that we have created new surveys for two specific education stakeholders groups this year:
NEW SURVEY for Science Teachers
Digital content, tools and resources are increasingly critical in the 21st century science classroom for several reasons including supporting the new curriculum standards in science. This new survey, created with support from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), will give us an opportunity to explore deeply how science teachers in particular are using technology to drive the development of student skills and interest in STEM fields – and what their needs are for professional development around digital learning.
NEW SURVEY for District Communications and Public Relations Officers
The job of the district communications professional is changing quickly. As many districts aim to improve their community outreach and parental engagement efforts, the communications officers are increasingly on the front line of using a wide variety of digital tools and resources to support their work. This new survey has been designed especially for these communications and PR officers with support from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). We are excited to learn more about technology use within the district communications offices.
Are you a science teacher or district communications and public relations officer? If so, be sure to take the Speak Up survey from October 1 - December 15, 2015. Help us spread the word to science teachers and district communications and public relations officers around the world - just share this blog post and stay tuned for more information about our two new surveys!
NEW SURVEY for Science Teachers
Digital content, tools and resources are increasingly critical in the 21st century science classroom for several reasons including supporting the new curriculum standards in science. This new survey, created with support from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), will give us an opportunity to explore deeply how science teachers in particular are using technology to drive the development of student skills and interest in STEM fields – and what their needs are for professional development around digital learning.
NEW SURVEY for District Communications and Public Relations Officers
The job of the district communications professional is changing quickly. As many districts aim to improve their community outreach and parental engagement efforts, the communications officers are increasingly on the front line of using a wide variety of digital tools and resources to support their work. This new survey has been designed especially for these communications and PR officers with support from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). We are excited to learn more about technology use within the district communications offices.
Are you a science teacher or district communications and public relations officer? If so, be sure to take the Speak Up survey from October 1 - December 15, 2015. Help us spread the word to science teachers and district communications and public relations officers around the world - just share this blog post and stay tuned for more information about our two new surveys!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Speak Up News - September 2015
Speak Up News - September 2015
Welcome back to school! We hope you had a wonderful summer! The Speak Up Team is busy preparing for this year's survey and we're sure you are as well. To help you plan the beginning of your school year, we've included our Speak Up promotional materials, information about our two new Speak Up surveys, information about our Speak Up 2014 introduction webinar, and details on our upcoming webinars - keep reading to learn more.
In this newsletter:▪ Registration for Speak Up 2015 is open! Sign up to take part in our annual survey from October 1 - December 18, 2015.▪ Updated promotional materials: With Speak Up 2015 only one month away, now is the perfect time to spread the word about the survey. ▪ New Speak Up surveys! We are excited to announce new surveys for two specific education stakeholders groups this year. ▪ Speak Up 2015 Introduction Webinar: Are you new to Speak Up or do you need a refresher? Plan to attend our introduction webinar. ▪ Speak Up on the go! Check out this month's upcoming events with Project Tomorrow CEO Julie Evans. |
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Speak Up 2015 is in one month!Surveys run from October 1 - December 18
Can you believe Speak Up 2015 is only one month away? Register today to save your school or district's spot for this year's survey! Sign up at bit.ly/SU15survey.
If you are a returning school or district contact, you can automatically register for Speak Up 2015 by logging in with last year's contact information. Click here to visit the administrator log in page, or email us and we'll complete the registration process for you.
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Speak Up 2015 promotional materials now availableClick here to download this year's materials
With Speak Up 2015 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start promoting the survey to your school(s) and community. We've updated our flyers (as shown above), sample emails and blog posts, and guides to help you promote Speak Up. We've also created an all-new welcome packet with shortened versions of our promotional materials in case you need quick and simple ideas for promoting the survey. Follow the links below to download a selection of our tools, and click here for the full list of promotional materials.
Promotional materials▪ Welcome packet▪ General information flyer ▪ Student password flyer ▪ Participation guide ▪ Speak Up 2015 timeline ▪ Sample promotional emails ▪ Sample tweets ▪ Downloadable banners |
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The Speak Up family of surveys is growing!We are excited to announce that we have created new surveys for two specific education stakeholders groups this year.
NEW SURVEY for Science Teachers
Digital content, tools and resources are increasingly critical in the 21st century science classroom for several reasons including supporting the new curriculum standards in science. This new survey, created with support from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), will give us an opportunity to explore deeply how science teachers in particular are using technology to drive the development of student skills and interest in STEM fields – and what their needs are for professional development around digital learning.
NEW SURVEY for District Communications and Public Relations Officers
The job of the district communications professional is changing quickly. As many districts aim to improve their community outreach and parental engagement efforts, the communications officers are increasingly on the front line of using a wide variety of digital tools and resources to support their work. This new survey has been designed especially for these communications and PR officers with support from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). We are excited to learn more about technology use within the district communications offices. |
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Speak Up 2015 Introduction WebinarAre you new to Speak Up or in need of a refresher?
If so, plan to attend our introduction webinar - with two chances to catch up on all things Speak Up! Stay tuned for more details, and make sure you save the following date and times:
Thursday October 1, 2015
9AM PT/12PM ET 12PM PT/3PM ET
Keep an eye out for more webinar details coming soon!
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Speak Up On the Go!Join Julie Evans and Blackboard for two free webinars this month
Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow Monday, September 14 3:30pm ET Click here to register
The increased use of technology, both in school and out of school, creates an urgency for teachers to embrace digital learning to make the student educational experience more productive and personal. The annual Speak Up National Research Project provides an exclusive window into the views of education leaders, teachers and students on personalized learning and innovative learning environments. In this webinar we will share the latest Speak Up national findings from over 403,000 K-12 students, parents and educators with an emphasis on how the use of digital content, tools and resources in innovative classrooms are having a large impact on students' engagement and development of critical college and career ready skills.
Maximizing Your K-12 Communications to Support Student Success
Blackboard and Project Tomorrow Wednesday, September 30 3pm ET Click here to register
Did you know that 86% of the public believes that parent support is the most important way to ensure student achievement? Blackboard and Project Tomorrow have surveyed thousands of parents across the U.S. to understand how they want to be communicated with, which channels they prefer, and how to increase their engagement with schools and districts. In this webinar, explore the parent survey data we’ve collected and learn what tools and practices you need to maximize family and community engagement in your district that ultimately influence student success.
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Thank you for your interest and continued support of Speak Up! Be sure to stay updated on all things Speak Up by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our Blog.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Speak Up Operations Manager, Jenny Hostert, at jhostert@tomorrow.org or via phone at (949) 609-4660 ext. 17.
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Welcome to our new Speak Up sponsors: Scholastic and CDW! Thank you for your support and welcome to the Speak Up family.
Many thanks to our sponsors and partners for the support of Speak Up: Blackboard Inc., BrainPOP, Fuel Education, DreamBox Learning, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Rosetta Stone, American Association of School Administrators, Consortium for School Networking, Digital Learning Day, International Association for K-12 Online Learning, International Society for Technology in Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, the National Science Teacher Association, and National School Public Relations Association.
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Thursday, September 3, 2015
Webinar with Blackboard: Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development
Blackboard and Julie Evans
Monday, September 14
3:30PM ET
The increased use of technology, both in school and out of school, creates an urgency for teachers to embrace digital learning to make the student educational experience more productive and personal. The annual Speak Up National Research Project provides an exclusive window into the views of education leaders, teachers and students on personalized learning and innovative learning environments. In this webinar we will share the latest Speak Up national findings from over 520,000 K-12 students, parents and educators with an emphasis on how the use of digital content, tools and resources in innovative classrooms are having a large impact on students' engagement and development of critical college and career ready skills.
Don't miss the first webinar from the fall K-12 Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series (K-12 BITS)! Registration for the series is now live - click here to sign up.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
This Friday is your last chance to pick our panel for SXSWedu 2016!
There are only THREE days left to pick our panel for SXSWedu! Get your votes in before time runs out!
Julie Evans is featured in a proposal for SXSWedu 2016's panel picker,where educators can cast their votes for the most compelling ideas and ultimately shape the conference line-up. Voting ends on this Friday, September 4th so make sure to give our sessions a "thumbs up" - you'll need to create a SXSW username and password if you don't already have one, but the process is simple and free! Check out the session information below:
Pink or Blue? Examining gender in games
Contrary to what we may want to believe, emerging research indicates that use of digital tools and content within learning is not gender-blind. While girls and boys share a common interest in technology to support personalized learning, their uses of and aspirations for digital learning are often quite different. This is especially true with game-based learning. In this workshop, we will roll up our sleeves and interact with a variety of games that are popular in education. Using a new evaluation tool, participants will gain an insider perspective on gender-bias or sensitivity within games by examining the characterization, imagery and language, storyline and results of the game play.
Additional Supporting Materials
http://www.tomorrow.org/docs/Guide_EvaluatingGender-Sensitivity_DigitalGames.pdf
Questions Answered
Julie Evans is featured in a proposal for SXSWedu 2016's panel picker,where educators can cast their votes for the most compelling ideas and ultimately shape the conference line-up. Voting ends on this Friday, September 4th so make sure to give our sessions a "thumbs up" - you'll need to create a SXSW username and password if you don't already have one, but the process is simple and free! Check out the session information below:
Pink or Blue? Examining gender in games
Contrary to what we may want to believe, emerging research indicates that use of digital tools and content within learning is not gender-blind. While girls and boys share a common interest in technology to support personalized learning, their uses of and aspirations for digital learning are often quite different. This is especially true with game-based learning. In this workshop, we will roll up our sleeves and interact with a variety of games that are popular in education. Using a new evaluation tool, participants will gain an insider perspective on gender-bias or sensitivity within games by examining the characterization, imagery and language, storyline and results of the game play.
Additional Supporting Materials
http://www.tomorrow.org/docs/Guide_EvaluatingGender-Sensitivity_DigitalGames.pdf
Questions Answered
- Learn background and terminology associated with the emerging field of gender-sensitivity in digital learning, most notably in digital content & games
- Gain first-hand experience in determining the gender-sensitivity of specific types of games through the use of a new evaluation tool and game play
- Understand the importance and impact of gender-sensitivity when designing, implementing and evaluating games for K-12 education
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Speak Up Family and Friends Upcoming Events
Happy Tuesday! Each week we'll post upcoming events and programs from our Speak Up partners and sponsors. Check out the events below:
Alliance for Excellent Education
Webinar: "College- and Career-Readiness Assessments: Results Are (Coming) In"
September 9, 2pm-3pm ET
Click here for more information
Blackboard Inc.
Webinar with Julie Evans: "Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development"
September 14, 3:30pm ET
Save the date - and stay tuned for more information!
Digital Promise
Survey with SIIA: "Vendor & Educator Survey on Ed-Tech Pilots"
Click here to take the survey
Kajeet
Report: "Green Bay Area School District Simplifies Mobile Broadband Implementation"
Click here to download
Are you participating in any of these events? Let us know! If you have any additional events you would like to share, please let us know in the comments section.
Alliance for Excellent Education
Webinar: "College- and Career-Readiness Assessments: Results Are (Coming) In"
September 9, 2pm-3pm ET
Click here for more information
Blackboard Inc.
Webinar with Julie Evans: "Digital Learning Trends Making an Impact on Student Engagement and Development"
September 14, 3:30pm ET
Save the date - and stay tuned for more information!
Digital Promise
Survey with SIIA: "Vendor & Educator Survey on Ed-Tech Pilots"
Click here to take the survey
Kajeet
Report: "Green Bay Area School District Simplifies Mobile Broadband Implementation"
Click here to download
Are you participating in any of these events? Let us know! If you have any additional events you would like to share, please let us know in the comments section.
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