Speak Up News - July 2015

We had a blast at ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia, PA! If you missed us at last week's conference, or if you were interested in reviewing our sessions, we've included how to access our materials in this newsletter. We are also excited to announce that registration for Speak Up 2015 is now open! Keep reading to learn how you can sign up to be a part of our annual survey once it opens on October 1st. In this newsletter... ▪ Registration for Speak Up 2015 is now open! Sign up to take part in our annual survey from October 1 - December 18, 2015. ▪ Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015: Learn how you can review the materials from our 5 sessions at ISTE 2015. ▪ Digital learning is more than a trend: Request a copy of our report with Blackboard, "Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning." ▪ Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Did you miss our session with BrainPOP at ISTE 2015? Catch up by downloading our white paper.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter, and our Blog. -The Project Tomorrow team

Speak Up 2015 is now open for registration! Surveys run from October 1 - December 18, 2015

With Speak Up 2015 in three months, it's not too early to start making plans to take the survey! Get a head start and register your school or district profile for the 2015 surveys 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.

Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015 Did you miss us at this year's conference & expo? If you missed our sessions at ISTE 2015, or if you just wanted to download our PowerPoints and flyers from our events, we've included a list of our materials on our website. Check out the links below: Paying It Forward: Leveraging Female Voices in Ed Tech Download presentation The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning Download presentation Why Student Data? Download presentation Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Download presentation Download report from Project Tomorrow and BrainPOP Digital Learning in Special Education Classrooms: Insights from Research and Practice Download presentation Flyer handouts Speak Up 2015 Flyer Student Top 10 Flyer Teacher Top 10 Flyer Mobile Learning Infographic Special Education Teacher Flyer

Digital learning is more than a trend Report from Project Tomorrow and Blackboard Inc. At ISTE 2015, we released our annual report with Blackboard, Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning. This report focuses on how innovative classroom models empower more engaging and purposeful learning environments for students and teachers by examining both the desired student achievements and the strategic use of digital tools, content and resources to understand, from the perspective of the students, teachers and administrators on the front lines, the opportunities and challenges associated with empowering new innovative classroom models. Report highlights how: ▪ Educators are using new technologies to engage students in and out of school ▪ Blended and digital learning translate directly to student confidence and success ▪ Students are reacting to these evolving and innovative classroom models

Download presentation Download a copy of the report

Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Report from Project Tomorrow and BrainPOP If you missed Julie Evans's session with Kari Stubbs, Robert Miller, and Matthew Brown about digital content and games at ISTE 2015, you can still download our white paper with BrainPOP that explores transformative teaching. Check out some information below: In "Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students" we examine the evolving role of digital content to support student learning from the perspective of the classroom teacher and the school principal. Starting with a broad review of digital content use to empower transformed learning experiences, this white paper delves specifically into the emerging role of digital games to both engage students and enable a new classroom environment. Key Findings include: ▪ Over one-third of elementary teachers (35 percent) and 1 of 5 middle school teachers (21 percent) report regular usage of digital games within their classroom. ▪ These game-using teachers see the primary benefit of digital games as increased student engagement in learning (88 percent); 72 percent of digital principals agree. ▪ Teachers who are using digital games in their classroom have a greater appreciation for the overall impact of technology on student outcomes and teacher effectiveness.

Download a copy of the report

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, Instagramand 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.

Many thanks to our sponsors and partners for the support of Speak Up 2014: Blackboard Inc., BrainPOP, Fuel Education, DreamBox Learning, Schoolwires, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Rosetta Stone, American Association of School Administrators, Consortium for School Networking, Digital Learning Day, Digital Promise, edWeb, International Association for K-12 Online Learning, International Society for Technology in Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, Secondary Education Teachers’ Association, and the Southern Regional Education Board.

Did you stop by our booth at ISTE 2015?

Our displayed flyers and reports from our ISTE 2015 booth are available for download. Visit our website to download the materials, or click on the thumbnails below:

  

  

  

Click here to visit our data findings website

Our report with Blackboard Inc. was featured in The Journal!

Last week Project Tomorrow and Blackboard Inc. released our annual report, "Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning," at ISTE 2015. This report featured data from Speak Up 2014, showing that the use of digital tools leads to positive results in schools. Check out some data from the Journal's article below:

• Over 90% of K-12 administrators say technology is an important part of achieving their districts' academic goals
• More than 78% of parents believe the use of technology would help their children develop the skills needed to succeed in life
• Mobile learning through the use of tablets and other devices has grown by 41% compared to last year
• Nearly half of K-12 students are more interested in classes that use digital tools

Click here to read Michael Hart's article, "Survey: Technology Vital to Student Success," for the Journal

Click here to download a copy of our report with Blackboard Inc., "Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning"

ISTE 2015 Recap

We had a blast at ISTE 2015! If you missed us at this year's conference & expo in Philadelphia, PA, check out the links below:

Paying It Forward: Leveraging Female Voices in Ed Tech
Monday, June 29, 8:30-9:30am
Click here to learn more
Download presentation
#edtech4women

The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning
Monday, June 29, 12:45-1:45pm
Click here to learn more

Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning
Report by Project Tomorrow and Blackboard Inc.
Tuesday, June 30th
Click here to download a copy of the report

Why Student Data?
Tuesday, June 30, 12:30-1:30pm
Click here to learn more

Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students
Tuesday, June 30, 4:00-5:00pm
Click here to learn more
Download presentation
Download report from Project Tomorrow and BrainPOP

Digital Learning in Special Education Classrooms: Insights from Research and Practice
Wednesday, July 1,10:15–11:15 am
Click here to learn more

Did you miss yesterday's session at ISTE 2015, "Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students"?

If you missed Julie Evans's session with Kari Stubbs, Robert Miller, and Matthew Brown about digital content and games yesterday at ISTE 2015, you can still download our white paper with BrainPOP that explores transformative teaching. Check out some information below:

As the new school year starts, K-12 education leaders all across the country are re-focusing their efforts on providing students with learning experiences that develop the college, career and civic readiness skills so highly coveted by higher education, employers and policymakers. In many districts, this means a significant change in curriculum and classroom teaching methodologies. Not surprisingly, school and district leaders are increasingly interested in exploring new roles for the use of emerging technologies to support this transformation of the classroom learning process.

In this whitepaper we examine the evolving role of digital content to support student learning from the perspective of the classroom teacher and the school principal. Starting with a broad review of digital content use to empower transformed learning experiences, this white paper delves specifically into the emerging role of digital games to both engage students and enable a new classroom environment.

Key Findings include:

• Over one-third of elementary teachers (35 percent) and 1 of 5 middle school teachers (21 percent) report regular usage of digital games within their classroom. 
• These game-using teachers see the primary benefit of digital games as increased student engagement in learning (88 percent); 72 percent of digital principals agree. 
• Teachers who are using digital games in their classroom have a greater appreciation for the overall impact of technology on student outcomes and teacher effectiveness. 
• 60 percent of school principals say that having enough computers or devices with Internet access is a major obstacle to the greater adoption of digital content in their schools.
• Both teachers and school principals share a common set of determinants for evaluating the quality of digital content.

Engaging Students, Empowering Learning: New Roles for Digital Content and Games in the Classroom is a special collaboration between BrainPOP® and Project Tomorrow®. Click here to download a copy of the report.

Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015

We are excited to be a part of ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia, PA! For over thirty years, the ISTE Conference & Expo has been the leading forum in which over 18,000 attendees and industry representatives, including teachers, technology coordinators, administrators, library media specialists, teacher educators, and policy makers, exchange ideas about education technology. If attending, be sure to take part in our various workshops, panels, and sessions, featuring Speak Up 2014 data and more. 

With the first day of ISTE 2015 nearly halfway through, we invite you to check out our remaining activities below. Let us know if you're attending any of our sessions!

Quick links: ▪ The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning: Join Julie Evans, Angela Baker, and Chris Dede to gain insights into how to develop, implement, and evaluate mobile learning initiatives. ▪ Digital Learning is more than a trend: Request a copy of our report with Blackboard, "Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning." ▪ Why Student Data? Hear firsthand how educators, school districts, and the private sector are using student data to improve teaching and learning. ▪ Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Join Julie Evans, Robert Miller, Kari Stubbs, and Matthew Brown as they discuss strategies to increase student engagement. ▪ Stop by our Speak Up Collaborator Booth! Come say hi and learn about Speak Up on your way to your ISTE sessions!

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter, and our Blog. -The Project Tomorrow team

Monday, June 29

The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning Monday, June 29, 12:45-1:45pm Location: PCC Ballroom A Click here to learn more Attend this session to learn eight essential strategies for success in mobile learning, with examples illustrating successful use for each strategies. You'll gain insights into how to develop, implement and evaluate mobile learning initiatives. Applying these strategies will greatly increase the chances for success of a mobile learning project.With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Angela Baker (Qualcomm Wireless Reach), and Chris Dede (Harvard University).

Tuesday, June 30

Digital learning is more than a trend Release of the 2015 report, Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning. This latest report from Blackboard and Project Tomorrow details how schools and districts are using new technologies to create the ultimate learning experience. Report highlights how: ▪ Educators are using new technologies to engage students in and out of school ▪ Blended and digital learning translate directly to student confidence and success ▪ Students are reacting to these evolving and innovative classroom models

Click here to request a copy of the report

Why Student Data? Tuesday, June 30, 12:30-1:30pm Location: PCC 114 Access to student data can improve teaching and learning. Hear firsthand how educators, school districts, and the private sector are using student data to improve educational outcomes and how they are safeguarding student information.

Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Tuesday, June 30, 4:00-5:00pm Location: PCC 103BC Click here to learn more Engaging students in learning can potentially improve achievement, but increasing student engagement is still an elusive concept in many classrooms. Armed with research findings and classroom practices, we'll provide you with new strategies and ideas to use in your classrooms. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Robert Miller (Port Orange Elementary), Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP), and Matthew Brown (Sunnyside Intermediate School).

Speak Up Collaborator Booth (Conference Center, level 2, Booth 9) 200 Meeting Room corridor - between registration, association services, program sessions, keynotes, and the Expo Hall Monday, June 29, 9:30 am–5:30 pm Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 am–5 pm Wednesday, July 1, 9:30 am–3 pm Stop by our collaborator booth to say hi and learn more about Speak Up on your way to all your great ISTE sessions!

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, Instagramand 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.

Many thanks to our sponsors and partners for the support of Speak Up 2014: Blackboard Inc., BrainPOP, Fuel Education, DreamBox Learning, Schoolwires, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Rosetta Stone, American Association of School Administrators, Consortium for School Networking, Digital Learning Day, Digital Promise, edWeb, International Association for K-12 Online Learning, International Society for Technology in Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, Secondary Education Teachers’ Association, and the Southern Regional Education Board.

Stop by our booth at ISTE 2015!

ISTE 2015 is almost here! We are excited to announce that we'll have a Speak Up booth set up throughout the conference - keep reading to learn where we're located. Don't forget to check our previous posts to view our plans for each day of the conference. Be sure to send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or in our comments section below if you plan on attending our sessions.

Speak Up Collaborator Booth
Conference Center, level 2, Booth 9
200 Meeting Room corridor- between registration, association services, program sessions, keynotes and the Expo Hall. 

Monday, June 29, 9:30 am–5:30 pm
Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 am–5 pm
Wednesday, July 1, 9:30 am–3 pm

We look forward to seeing you in a few days! Make sure you stop by our collaborator booth to say hi and learn more about Speak Up on your way to all your great ISTE sessions!

Check out next Wednesday's sessions at ISTE 2015!

New session added! Check out next what's in store for Project Tomorrow next Wednesday  (July 1st) at ISTE 2015, and check our blog throughout the week for our plans for each day of the conference. Be sure to send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or in our comments section below if you plan on attending our sessions.

Wednesday, July 1st at ISTE 2015

Digital Learning in Special Education Classrooms: Insights from Research and Practice

10:15–11:15 am in PCC Terrace Ballroom IV

Click here to learn more

Join us for an enlightening conversation between a digital learning researcher and a special education teacher about the impact of digital resources in special education classrooms. Session will feature new research from the Speak Up Project about the aspirations of special education teachers for their ultimate digital classroom. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Angela Foreman (Arlington Public Schools), James Scarano (Arlington Public Schools).

Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015 - Tuesday, June 30

Happy Tuesday! In just a few days, we'll be at ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia, PA! Check out next what's in store for Project Tomorrow next Tuesday (June 30) at ISTE 2015, and check our blog throughout the week for our plans for each day of the conference. Be sure to send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or in our comments section below if you plan on attending our sessions.

Tuesday, June 30 at ISTE 2015

Digital learning is more than a trend
Tuesday, June 30th
Request a copy of the report

Release of the 2015 report, Trends in Digital Learning: Empowering Innovative Classroom Models for Learning. This latest report from Blackboard and Project Tomorrow details how schools and districts are using new technologies to create the ultimate learning experience. Report highlights how:

• Educators are using new technologies to engage students in and out of school
• Blended and digital learning translate directly to student confidence and success
• Students are reacting to these evolving and innovative classroom models

Why Student Data?
Tuesday, June 30, 12:30-1:30pm
Location: PCC 114
Access to student data can improve teaching and learning. Hear firsthand how educators, school districts, and the private sector are using student data to improve educational outcomes and how they are safeguarding student information.

Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students
Tuesday, June 30, 4:00-5:00pm
Location: PCC 103BC
Click here to learn more

Engaging students in learning can potentially improve achievement, but increasing student engagement is still an elusive concept in many classrooms. Armed with research findings and classroom practices, we'll provide you with new strategies and ideas to use in your classrooms. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Robert Miller (Port Orange Elementary), and Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP).

Check out next Monday's sessions at ISTE 2015!

We are excited to be a part of ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia, PA! With this year's conference coming up in less than one week, we can't wait to meet everyone at our sessions! Check out next what's in store for Project Tomorrow next Monday (June 29) at ISTE 2015, and check our blog throughout the week for our plans for each day of the conference. Be sure to send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or in our comments section below if you plan on attending our sessions.

Monday, June 29 at ISTE 2015

Paying It Forward: Leveraging Female Voices in Ed Tech
Monday, June 29, 8:30-9:30am
Location: PCC 116
Click here to register
#edtech4women

Female ed tech leaders from across the globe gather annually at ISTE. This year, we will formalize this convening with an engaging session around leadership. From coaching to mentorship to collaboration, the session will showcase female agents of change and examine how to strengthen the female voice in education technology. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Mila Fuller (National Council of Teachers of English), Ellen Bialo (Interactive Educational Systems Design), Margaret Roth (Yet Analytics), and Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP).

The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning
Monday, June 29, 12:45-1:45pm
Location: PCC Ballroom A
Click here to learn more

Attend this session to learn eight essential strategies for success in mobile learning, with examples illustrating successful use for each strategies. You'll gain insights into how to develop, implement and evaluate mobile learning initiatives. Applying these strategies will greatly increase the chances for success of a mobile learning project. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Angela Baker (Qualcomm Wireless Reach), and Chris Dede (Harvard University).

Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015

June 28 – July 1

Philadelphia, PA

We are excited to be a part of ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia, PA! If you're attending the conference, be sure to take part in our various workshops, panels, and sessions, featuring Speak Up 2014 data and more. Check out our list of ISTE 2015 activities below, and don’t forget to visit our website as we update it with our latest ISTE schedule and plans.

Using Speak Up Data to Inform Your Digital Learning Plans – a special workshop for school and district leaders
Sunday, June 28, 2:30-5pm
Location: Hilton Garden Inn
Click here to register
Plan to attend this special, first-ever workshop for school and district leaders on how to leverage Speak Up data from your education stakeholders to inform and guide your digital learning plans. You have collected the views and aspirations of your students, parents, teachers, community members and staff — now how do you use that data to kickstart a new initiative, change the perceptions of your teachers, gain the support of your school board, parents and community, or develop new funding sources to support your plans? We will cover all of that and more in this special workshop that will feature strategies for using the Speak Up data — and testimonials from school district leaders on their successes. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided also.

Paying It Forward: Leveraging Female Voices in Ed Tech
Monday, June 29, 8:30-9:30am
Location: PCC 116
Click here to learn more
Female ed tech leaders from across the globe gather annually at ISTE. This year, we will formalize this convening with an engaging session around leadership. From coaching to mentorship to collaboration, the session will showcase female agents of change and examine how to strengthen the female voice in education technology. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Mila Fuller (National Council of Teachers of English), Ellen Bialo (Interactive Educational Systems Design), Margaret Roth (Yet Analytics), and Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP).

The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning
Monday, June 29, 12:45-1:45pm
Location: PCC Ballroom A
Click here to learn more
Attend this session to learn eight essential strategies for success in mobile learning, with examples illustrating successful use for each strategies. You'll gain insights into how to develop, implement and evaluate mobile learning initiatives. Applying these strategies will greatly increase the chances for success of a mobile learning project. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Angela Baker (Qualcomm Wireless Reach), and Chris Dede (Harvard University).

Why Student Data?
Tuesday, June 30, 12:30-1:30pm
Location: PCC 114
Access to student data can improve teaching and learning. Hear firsthand how educators, school districts, and the private sector are using student data to improve educational outcomes and how they are safeguarding student information.

Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students
Tuesday, June 30, 4:00-5:00pm
Location: PCC 103BC
Click here to learn more
Engaging students in learning can potentially improve achievement, but increasing student engagement is still an elusive concept in many classrooms. Armed with research findings and classroom practices, we'll provide you with new strategies and ideas to use in your classrooms. With Julie Evans (Project Tomorrow), Robert Miller (Port Orange Elementary), and Kari Stubbs (BrainPOP).

Speak Up Collaborator Booth (Conference Center)
Monday, June 29, 9:30 am–5:30 pm
Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 am–5 pm
Wednesday, July 1, 9:30 am–3 pm

Stop by our collaborator booth to say hi and learn more about Speak Up on your way to all your great ISTE sessions!

Speak Up News - May 2015

Happy Thursday! In honor of the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, we've moved our 2nd Congressional Briefing to September 24, 2015. Keep reading this newsletter for details regarding the release of the Speak Up 2014 National Findings from Teachers, Administrators, and Parents, as well as our plans for ISTE 2015. In this newsletter: ▪ Save the date! Our 2nd Congressional Briefing has been moved to September 24, 2015. ▪ Project Tomorrow at ISTE: We're excited to be a part of ISTE 2015 this summer! Check out our list of activities and events at this year's conference. ▪ National Release of Speak Up 2014 Student National Findings: Did you miss our first Congressional Briefing in April? Visit our website to download the report.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter, and our Blog. -The Project Tomorrow team

Save the date! Our second Congressional Briefing has been moved to Thursday, September 24, 2015 Location TBA 12:00PM–1:30PM Lunch will be provided In honor of the beginning of the new school year, we've moved our second Congressional Briefing to Thursday, September 24, 2015! Please join us for the release of the Speak Up 2014 National Findings from Teachers, Administrators, and Parents. This is the second of two Congressional Briefings on the data results from the 521,000 online Speak Up surveys submitted from education stakeholders nationwide in fall 2014. The September 24th briefing will include a presentation of the national findings and a moderated panel discussion with leaders in the education field. This year’s national report, “Digital Teaching 2.0 – Activating Technology-Enhanced Learning in America’s Classrooms” will be distributed to all attendees. Will you be in Washington D.C. on September 24th? If so, RSVP for the briefing! Click here to save your seat and receive updates on the briefing details. If you are unable to attend the briefing and would like to request a copy of the report, click here or email us with your reservation request!

Project Tomorrow at ISTE 2015 June 28 – July 1 Philadelphia, PA We're excited to be a part of this year's ISTE Conference & Expo! If attending, be sure to take part in our various workshops, panels, and sessions, featuring Speak Up 2014 data and more. Check out our list of ISTE 2015 activities below, and visit our official ISTE 2015 events page as we update it with our latest conference schedule and plans. Using Speak Up Data to Inform Your Digital Learning Plans – a special workshop for school and district leaders Sunday, June 28, 2:30-5pm Click here to register Paying It Forward: Leveraging Female Voices in Ed Tech Monday, June 29, 8:30-9:30am Click here to learn more The Eight Essentials for Success in Mobile Learning Monday, June 29, 12:45-1:45pm Click here to learn more Why Student Data? Tuesday, June 30, 12:30-1:30pm Details coming soon! Digital Teachers, Digital Principals: Transforming the Ways We Engage Students Tuesday, June 30, 4:00-5:00pm Click here to learn more Speak Up Collaborator Booth (Conference Center) Monday, June 29, 9:30 am–5:30 pm Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 am–5 pm Wednesday, July 1, 9:30 am–3 pm Click here to learn more about this year's ISTE Conference & Expo and our planned events and activities.

2015 Congressional Briefing National Release of Speak Up 2014 K-12 Students Did you miss our first Congressional Briefing? If so, visit our website to download the report, view the press release, read this year's key findings, and more! Information about our first Congressional Briefing: On April 30, 2015 Project Tomorrow released the report “Digital Learning 24/7: Understanding Technology – Enhanced Learning in the Lives of Today’s Students” at a Congressional Briefing held in Washington, DC and online in a special live stream of the event. Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow CEO, discussed selected student national findings from the Speak Up 2014 student report and moderated a panel discussion with students who shared their insights and experiences with digital learning. Click here to visit our website Click here to download the report 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. Many thanks to our sponsors and partners for the support of Speak Up 2014: Blackboard Inc., BrainPOP, Fuel Education, DreamBox Learning, Schoolwires, Qualcomm Wireless Reach, Rosetta Stone, American Association of School Administrators, Consortium for School Networking, Digital Learning Day, Digital Promise, edWeb, International Association for K-12 Online Learning, International Society for Technology in Education, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, Secondary Education Teachers’ Association, and the Southern Regional Education Board.

Take a moment to Speak Up - a blog post by ISTE CEO Brian Lewis

This is a special blog post by ISTE CEO Brian Lewis. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier nonprofit organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world. Learn more about ISTE at iste.org.

It’s not every day that educators have access to a direct, efficient opportunity to instantly impact the future of education. But that’s certainly the case for those who take just a few minutes to complete Project Tomorrow’s 2014 Speak Up Survey through Dec. 19

By completing the brief survey – it takes only about 15 minutes – you’ll be making your voice heard from classrooms to the halls of Congress, from state capitols to boardrooms. You’ll also be ensuring that policymakers are making important program and funding decisions based upon real data from real education stakeholders.

And you’re not only assisting Project Tomorrow and others in the ed tech ecosystem, you’re helping ISTE. We use annual Speak Up Survey data to inform our policies, programs and initiatives, so your survey responses provide a double dose of influential data. And while we’re at it, we’d like to encourage other policy organizations to turn to Speak Up data to direct their initiatives. What better way to assure you’re meeting the needs, interests and vision of your members?

With so many factors creating challenges in schools today – Common Core, online assessments, changes to student populations, student safety and ever-advancing technology, to name a few – it’s profoundly important that education leaders share their opinions. And the Speak Up Survey is a straightforward way to make sure educators’ voices are heard.

If you need an additional incentive to participate, all who complete the survey by Friday, Dec. 12 will be entered to win a free registration for ISTE 2015 in Philadelphia. Complete the survey on National Speak Up Day, Wednesday, Dec. 10 and you’ll be entered into a separate ISTE 2015 registration drawing. Conference registration winners will also join Project Tomorrow CEO Julie Evans for dinner in Philadelphia and can use the time to pick her brain on all topics related to digital learning.

So, please, sit down for just a few minutes and Speak Up.