Announcing the Youth Leadership Video Challenge

Students, win a $100 Amazon gift card!

About the Youth Leadership Summit Video Challenge
Did you attend the 2015 Youth Leadership Summit on October 24th? Would you like to share what you learned at the summit with other students? Would you like a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card? Enter the Youth Leadership Summit Video Challenge!

About the video challenge
Share what you learned at the Youth Leadership Summit for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card! Enter your #YLSChallenge video into the challenge today. Just follow these 3 easy steps:

• Create a short 15-30 second video answering one of the following questions.
• “What was your favorite part of the Youth Leadership Summit?”
• “What new career did you learn about at the Youth Leadership Summit?”
• “What was one of your favorite breakout sessions and why?”
• “What would you tell other students about this event to encourage them to come next year?”
• Post the video to one of our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter) or by email (innovation@tomorrow.org) with the hashtag #YLSChallenge. Please include @ProjectTomorrow, your name and school name. Contest is now open so start getting your videos in! Be sure to post your video as soon as possible to be considered in the contest.
• Encourage your school community to like your video, and share the video to increase likes!

Challenge rules

• You must have attended the Youth Leadership Summit (this will be verified by our check-in list).
• You must be a current high school student in grades 9-12
• At least 25 submissions must be present for selection to occur, be sure to encourage others to participate.

Prize
There will be ONE gift card awarded to our first place video:

• 1st place: $100 Amazon gift card

Good luck to all of our participants!

The 2015 Youth Leadership Summit is tomorrow!

We are excited to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math at our sixth annual Youth Leadership Summit tomorrow! Tomorrow's event features discussions with a diversified set of Orange County companies and engineers on the role of math and science in their industry and their expectations for employees in the future, as well as break out sessions and tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local career opportunities and college programs.

Please note registration for this event is closed. As a reminder for those attending, the event takes place from 8:45am to 2:00pm at Edwards Lifesciences Global Headquarters (1 Edwards Way, Irvine, CA 92614). If you have any questions about the summit, please visit http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Registration for the 6th Annual Youth Leadership Summit is now open!

WHAT?
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

Invest in tomorrow - donate to Project Tomorrow!

By 2020, half of all jobs in Orange County will be science, technology, engineering and math based. Your donation helps us provide programs and events that support the next great generation of STEM-career ready students and teachers.

• $20 sends one student to a Project Tomorrow Youth Leadership Summit or Future Teachers Conference
• $50 helps fund scholarships and support for Emerging Student Innovators, High Impact Teachers, and Innovative School Programs
• $125 sponsors a Future Teacher’s Club at a local high school
• A donation of your choice provides general support for student programs and events
• Please contact us regarding a corporate donation or my company match

Click here to learn more

The 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science is TOMORROW!

Our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science takes place tomorrow, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences. All students in Orange County, CA are invited to attend the summit and learn about different careers in STEM. This free half-day event includes a student presentation, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders.

We are proud to announce this year's highly distinguished list of speakers and panelists for the 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit! Check out the list below: 

Anton Anderson from IT Consulting

Ashaunta Anderson from the University of California, Riverside/RAND

Jim Aralis from Microsemi

Celeste Bonyuet from Edwards Lifesciences

Carmella Cassetta from Advancing Women in Technology

John Chamberlain from Emulex Corporation

Amy Choi from Railpros

Corporal Decasanova from the United States Colonial Marine Corps

Jess Gillespe from Astronics Corporation

Christy Haley-Stover from Advancing Women in Technology

Matt Hannus from Sleepy Giant

Ed Hernandez from Tustin High School

Kim Homa from Kaiser Permanente

Kevin Hostert from the Municipal Water District of Orange County

David Johnson from Astronics Corporation

Joanna Laird from the University of California, Irvine

Mark Mathews from Airwolf 3D

Tim McCan from Impact Fire Services

Stacy McGoldrick from Cal Poly Pomona

Susan Medley from the University of California, Irvine

Octavie Ramsey from Southern California Edison

Nayssan Safavian from Project Tomorrow and the University of California, Irvine

Shawna Shaffner from CAA Planning

Karen Thomas from LPA, Inc.

JJ Wang from Boeing

Jimmy Zhong from NASA

Click here to learn more about the Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science. We look forward to seeing you there!

Youth Leadership Summit registration deadline has been EXTENDED!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH!

Don't miss out on this exciting and unique experience for Orange County high school and community college students* to attend our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science - for free!

• Our summit is held on Saturday, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine from 8:45am-2:00pm.
• Students will get the opportunity to hear from professionals in STEM fields from all over Orange County about their careers, connect with local colleges, and network with students from other schools!
• Registration is FREE for all students, so register TODAY!

To register, please go to our website: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

*Please note that this event has opened up to community college students in addition to high school students. The website may not be updated to reflect this new and exciting addition.

Today is the last day to register for the 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS TODAY!

Don't miss out on this exciting and unique experience for Orange County high school and community college students* to attend our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science - for free!

• Our summit is held on Saturday, October 25th at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine from 8:45am-2:00pm.
• Students will get the opportunity to hear from professionals in STEM fields from all over Orange County about their careers, connect with local colleges, and network with students from other schools!
• Registration is FREE for all students, so register TODAY!

To register, please go to our website: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

*Please note that this event has opened up to community college students in addition to high school students. The website may not be updated to reflect this new and exciting addition.

Throwback Thursday: Project Tomorrow's 4th Annual Youth Leadership Summit

Happy Throwback Thursday! In honor of our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit next Saturday, we're looking back at last year's Youth Leadership Summit. Check out our summary of the event from last year:

On October 19th, 2013, Project Tomorrow held its fourth annual Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science, at Edwards Lifesciences Worldwide Headquarters in Irvine, California. With over 200 students, parents, and community leaders in attendance, the event provided an opportunity for students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and to learn about how math and science proficiency is increasingly a critical skill for current and future jobs. 

This conference-style event kicked off with a student presentation of OC business trends, followed by a panel discussion from industry leaders. Students then attended career-specific breakout sessions of their choice led by local business and education leaders, a panel discussion featuring a diverse group of engineers, and tabletop exhibits introducing attendees to local STEM college programs. This free, half-day event included continental breakfast and a networking lunch and concluded with a student raffle featuring gifts from local businesses.

Last year's summit had 200 student & parent participants, 37 high schools in attendance, 21 career professionals, 8 local colleges, 14 STEM fields (including zoology, surgery, engineering, gaming technology, and more), 23 raffle prizes, and 20 hardworking volunteers! What will this year bring?

Our 5th Annual Youth Leadership Summit takes place on October 25th and runs from 8:45am to 2pm. All students in Orange County, CA are invited to attend the summit and learn about different careers in STEM. This free half-day event includes a student presentation, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders throughout the region. Opportunities like these are just what students need to get exposure to these types of careers!

The deadline to register is TOMORROW - click here to register and participate in this year's summit!

Project Tomorrow event: "Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science"

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 a critical skill for many current and future jobs in Orange County. This interactive, half-day summit empowers 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 capture the students’ ideas on how to improve K-12 math and science education and thus, Orange County’s economic future.

Click here to register - the registration deadline is this Friday!

Who will be attending this year’s Summit?

This year’s Youth Leadership Summit will host 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.

The Summit will also include:

• A special presentation by a panel of student leaders, on the latest workforce trends in Orange County. 
• Panel discussion with representatives from a diversified set of OC companies 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 a Youth Leadership Summit?

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 join 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 careers.

How to get involved!

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. 

Other interested participants can register to attend at www.tomorrow.org. The registration fee for the Summit is $25. For information about the Summit, sponsorship opportunities or to discuss ways for your company or organization to be involved, please contact Meg Lewis (mlewis@tomorrow.org or 949-609-4660 x12).

I Am A Scientist

Despite being home to two of the largest life science clusters in the world, California’s mathematics and sciences programs continue to lag behind other states, ranking 43^rd in the category. As the life sciences continue to grow in California, the state will need more diverse and educated workers in order to fill high-paying jobs; STEM education will have to become stronger in order for these roles to be fulfilled.

In I Am A Scientist, Tom Torlakson (Superintendent of Public Instruction), the Department of Education, The California Endowment, California Biotechnology Foundation, and Lybba connect what a solid STEM education can do for expanding students’ future career paths. The film follows student from Promise Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles at a biohackathon, an event that enables students to work with biomedical lab equipment in a hands-on setting. “[At the biohackathon] I was inspired by [the students’] imagination and wonderment…these students are genuinely passionate about pursuing careers in science, medicine, research,” said Jesse Dylan, founder of Wondros and Lybba.

The film hopes to not only show the impact that STEM education has on future career paths, but also hopes to inspire students to consider the life science field as well. “We want to help students find their passion and to get a sense for what’s possible in the future,” said B. Kathlyn Mead, the EVP and COO of the California Endowment. Given STEM education’s track record, this seems likely. Marlena Jackson, founder of NexGeneGirls, an afterschool program that introduces girls to science and technology, has seen her students place themselves on track to becoming scientists, engineers, and lab technicians just after some exposure to science.

I Am A Scientist is now showing and is due to be screened at several high schools throughout the state in order to open students’ eyes about a possible career path in the sciences.

Here at Project Tomorrow our mission is to ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world. We believe that by supporting the innovative uses of science, math and technology resources in our K-12 schools and communities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills needed to compete and thrive in the 21st century. Each year we hold our Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science for local High School students in Orange County, CA. This free half-day event includes a student presentation of OC business trends, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local STEM career opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders throughout the region. Opportunities like these are just what students need to get exposure to these types of careers!

To learn more about how you, your company or students can get involved with next year's 2014 Leading the Way Youth Leadership Summit please visit our website at: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

Click here to read the full article, "New Flim Inspites Youth to Find Passion in STEM Education and Discover Science-Based Career Opportunities".

Also please be sure to contribute to the national dialog about science, technology & preparing students for the 21st century workforce through Speak Up! This year we are asking students, parents and community members to share the types of college and workplace skills that they think students should be learning in school to be successful in the future, what is needed to acquire those skills as well as student's overall STEM career interest and how they would like to learn about future careers.

To participate in Speak Up go to www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013, surveys are available to students, educators, parents and community members.

Thanks for reading! And please be sure to tell us your thoughts on this interesting article below in our comment section!

Written by Lisa Chu, Project Tomorrow Fall Intern

Why are Today’s Young Women Uninterested in Careers in Computer Science?

In an Economix article from the New York Times, Catherine Rampell says the issue is exposure. For many girls (or the younger generation for that matter) there just is not much exposure to STEM type careers outside of what they might see in TV shows or movies. Sure there’s TV shows that display women in forensics lab coats on shows like “NCIS” and “CSI”, which has become a highly popular career aspiration thanks to the Hollywood appeal and exposure. But besides this handful of shows, there is very little representation of computer science or engineering occupations on TV or in movies, and even less representation of female characters in these fields. Hollywood role models have always been an influence over the younger generation in the careers they may choose, but as pointed out in the article there are numerous nonprofit and educational organizations (much like Project Tomorrow) that are trying to remedy this through programs that introduce students to STEM career exploration opportunities.

Here at Project Tomorrow our mission is to ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world. We believe that by supporting the innovative uses of science, math and technology resources in our K-12 schools and communities, students will develop the critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills needed to compete and thrive in the 21st century. Each year we hold our Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science for local High School students in Orange County, CA. This free half-day event includes a student presentation of OC business trends, panel discussions from industry leaders and a diverse group of engineers, tabletop exhibits to introduce students to local STEM career opportunities and college programs, and breakout sessions led by business and education leaders throughout the region. Opportunities like these are just what students need to get exposure to these types of careers!

To learn more about how you, your company or students can get involved with next year's 2014 Leading the Way Youth Leadership Summit please visit our website at: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

Click here to read the full article, "Nudging Girls Towards Computer Science" on the Economix blog-New York Times.

Also please be sure to contribute to the national dialog about science, technology & preparing students for the 21st century workforce through Speak Up! This year we are asking students, parents and community members to share the types of college and workplace skills that they think students should be learning in school to be successful in the future, what is needed to acquire those skills as well as student's overall STEM career interest and how they would like to learn about future careers.

To participate in Speak Up go to www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013, surveys are available to students, educators, parents and community members.

Thanks for reading! And please be sure to tell us your thoughts on this interesting article below in our comment section!

Leading the Way 4th Annual Youth Leadership Summit for Math & Science

2013 Summit At-A-Glance

200

Student & Parent Participants

37

High Schools

21

Career Professionals

8

Local Colleges

14

STEM Fields

Engineering, Gaming Technology, Zoology, Entertainment, Surgery, Energy, Transportation, Nursing, STEM Teaching, Law, Financial Literacy, Accounting, Earth & Environmental Sciences Studies, Nonprofit Management

23

Raffle Prizes

20

Hard-Working Volunteers

On October 19th, 2013, Project Tomorrow held its fourth annual Leading the Way: Youth Leadership Summit for Math and Science, at Edwards Lifesciences Worldwide Headquarters in Irvine, California. With over 200 students, parents, and community leaders in attendance, the event provided an opportunity for students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and to learn about how math and science proficiency is increasingly a critical skill for current and future jobs.

This conference-style event kicked off with a student presentation of OC business trends, followed by a panel discussion from industry leaders. Students then attended career-specific breakout sessions of their choice led by local business and education leaders, a panel discussion featuring a diverse group of engineers, and tabletop exhibits introducing attendees to local STEM college programs. This free, half-day event included continental breakfast and a networking lunch and concluded with a student raffle featuring gifts from local businesses.

 Project Tomorrow would like to extend a very special thank you to all of our guest speakers, volunteers, local colleges, sponsors, and partners for their time and generous contributions, without which this influential event would not be possible.

Testimonials

• Future Molecular Biologist, Senior, Trabuco Hills High School (Mission Viejo)

“It was interesting to talk to experts in their fields and gain information about skills needed from employers."

• Future Pharmacist, Junior, Saddleback High School (Santa Ana)

“I think that this Summit was definitely beneficial. I loved getting the opportunity to network with like-minded people in the career of my choice."

• Future Environmental Scientist, Junior, Santa Ana High School (Santa Ana)

“This event was fun, interactive, and gave insightful information about colleges and careers.“

• Future Computer Engineer, Sophomore, Aliso Niguel High School (Aliso Viejo)

“I thought today’s experience was really cool because I learned that I definitely want to be an engineer.”

• Undecided, Freshman, Edison High School (Huntington Beach)

“I was really happy with the experience and it really opened up my mind to new ideas and careers I may want to consider.”

• Future Mathematics Teacher, Senior, Brea Olinda High School (Brea)

“The Youth Leadership Summit was very interesting, and was a great experience. Thank you to all the sponsors.“

Summit Moderator

Julie Evans

CEO, Project Tomorrow

“…Our most successful Summit yet! This premier STEM event allowed students to understand the depth and breadth of the types of jobs and careers that depend upon math and science…preparing them to be tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.”

Thanks to our 2013 Summit sponsors…

…and contributors…

Adventure City

Angel’s Baseball

Aquarium of the Pacific

Bagels & Brew, Inc.

BCU (servicing Edwards Lifesciences)

Bowers Museum

Discovery Science Center

In-N-Out Burger

Knott’s Berry Farm

Luna Grill

Microsoft

Oakley

Princeton Review

San Diego Zoo Global

Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park

Stonefire Grill

To learn more about how to get involved with next year's 2014 Leading the Way Youth Leadership Summit please visit our website at: http://www.tomorrow.org/programs/youthLeadershipSummit.html

Also please be sure to contribute to the national dialog about science, technology & preparing students for the 21st century workforce through Speak Up! This year we are asking students, parents and community members to share the types of college and workplace skills that they think students should be learning in school to be sucessful in the future, what is needed to acuire those skills as well as student's overall STEM career interest. 

To participate in Speak Up go to www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2013, surveys are available to students, educators, parents and community members.  

Thanks for reading!

-The Project Tomorrow Team

Around the Web Wednesday

It's Wednesday...

Do you know what that means? It is Around the Web Wednesday!

Browse all the links below for the latest news and topics trending in education. Be sure to let us know which article intrigued you the most!

Be sure to check back each week for our Around the Web Wednesday Series

Have you registered for Speak Up 2013? Surveys launch next week on October 2nd! Make sure to register so your voice can be heard!

Enjoy your day.

-The Project Tomorrow team

1. Unveiling the Blue Ribbon Schools - US Department of Education

2. Online Education - Silicon Valley Business Journal

3. Non-profit Organizations Influencing K-12 Education - NJ.com 

4. Dropping Rates of Teacher Prep Programs - EdSource

5. Minecraft as an Educational Tool - NY Times

6. Online Classes Move Toward Degree Programs - NY Times

7. Kindergarten Applications Going Digital - NY Times

8. The Story of American Public Education - PBS

9. Education Lessons from Around the Globe - PBS

10. Testing Common Core Knowledge - PBS

Around the Web Wednesday!

It's the Middle of the Week!

Do you know what that means?

Today is Around the Web Wednesday!

Check out the Project Tomorrow Blog each Wednesday for our Around the Web Series 

There are so many exciting topics and discussions taking place in education right now. Read up on all the latest news below! Be sure to tell us what article intrigued you the most.

Don't forget to vote for Julie Evans' panel at the SXSWEdu conference! There are only a few more days left to vote, and we could use your support! Click the webtile below for more information. Voting ends September 6th!

Registration for Speak Up 2013 is live! Register your school or district today!

Friday is "National Flipped Day!" For more information, visit this link: http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/09/03/national-flipped-day-encourages-flipping-classrooms-with-free-lessons.aspx

Teachers, "Flip" your classroom on Friday, September 6th, and tell us about your experience on our Speak Up surveys, which begin October 2nd! Don't know what flipped learning is? Check out our blog post detailing it here!

Happy Reading!

- The Project Tomorrow team

Around the Web Wednesday

1. National Flipped Learning Day: Read it here!
2. Memorable Experiences in Science/Math: Read it here!
3. Virtual Education on the Rise: Read it here!
4. Blended Classrooms: Read it here!
5. More technology in Michigan schools: Read it here!
6. A Girl's Camp Focusing on STEM: Read it here!

7. College Affordability: Read it here!
8. Secretary of Education & Founder of Khan Academy Connecting Through Google+: Read it here!
9. FirstEnergy Education Grants: Read it here! 
10. Parents' Views on the Quality of Education in the US: Read it here!

Fun Facts for Back to School

The Class of 2017

What are the generational-specifics of the class of 2017?

Students of all kinds...pre-school,elementary, intermediate, high school, college, and graduate school have already hit the books, and others are preparing for their first days which will begin soon!

With each new school year, comes a new class of students with differing viewpoints and nuances than the students or the generation before it.

Beloit College in Wisconsin recognizes this, and conjures a document each year that lists the generational-specifics of each new college class year! 

Be sure to read the fun-filled document, and find out what information you also share with the Class of 2017!

 What Does the Class of 2017 Know?

Moreover, Beloit College also posts guides for administrators and educators who work with and interact with each new class year. Read those here! 

Happy Reading!

Remember to register for Speak Up 2013!

Don't forgot to vote for Julie Evans' panel at the SXSWEdu conference! Click the webtile below for more information: 

- The Project Tomorrow team

Around the Web Wednesday: Pt III

Happy Wednesday to all of our followers, supporters, and blog readers!

Today marks the third installment in our Around the Web Wednesday series.

Check the Project Tomorrow blog every Wednesday for the Around the Web series! 

We hope you are enjoying reading up on the latest issues, discussions, and trending topics in education each week. If an article particularly speaks to you, please let us know!

Remember to register for tomorrow's (8/29) free webinar hosted by Julie Evans and sponsored by DreamBox Learning, titled The Future of Personalized Learning in Elementary Schools. The webinar will take place from 3pm-4pm Eastern time. Registration and participation in this event is free! Click here to get started.

Don't forget to vote for Julie Evans' panel, ListenUp! SpeakUp! GameUp! A Game Data Discussion, at the SXSWEdu conference. Click the webtile below for more information.

Registration for Speak Up 2013 is LIVE on our brand new site! Click here to get started.

Do you have any fun or interesting Back to School Stories? Share it with us in the comments below! 

Happy Reading!

- The Project Tomorrow team

Around the Web Wednesday

1. Video Games to Strengthen Math & Science Skills: Read it here!

2. Q & A-Back to School with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan: Read it here!

3. MOOCs, MOOCs, MOOCs! Read it here!

4. Flipped Classrooms - Fit to Flourish! Read it here!

5. Superintendents Who Take to Twitter! Read it here!

6. Blended Learning or Classroom Training? Read it here!

7. How Businesses can Benefit from the "Flipped Classroom" Model: Read it here!

8. Guides for Educators & Administrators Regarding the College Class of 2017! Read it here!

9. The New Teacher Project: Read it here!

10. What Teacher Leadership Looks Like: Read it here! 

The Future of Personalized Learning in Elementary Schools

A Webinar Sponsored by DreamBox Learning

Be sure to register for Thursday's webinar- 08/29 

Have you participated in one of Julie Evans' past webinars? If so, what new insights did you learn? If you haven't had the chance to participate in any of Julie Evans' past webinars, you may view them here. 

This coming Thursday, August 29th, you'll have the opportunity to participate in another free webinar session presented by Project Tomorrow's CEO, Julie Evans, and Neal Manegold, Curriculum Producer of DreamBox Learning.

The webinar, appropriately titled The Future of Personalized Learning in Elementary Schools, will focus upon the topic of personalized learning, and how today's technological resources can help achieve personalized learning in our elementary schools.

To register for Thursday's webinar, click here. The webinar will take place from 3-4pm Eastern time.

Who will be attending? Let us know in the comments! Have a great Tuesday.

- The Project Tomorrow team

Exciting News & Events at Project Tomorrow

Happy Monday to all our followers and supporters!

Below, you will find our Fall 2013 newsletter that highlights the latest exciting  news and events occurring at Project Tomorrow.

Be sure to read up on all the new changes, like the launch of our BRAND NEW website! Log onto to tomorrow.org to witness the new site for yourself! Please let us know what you think by commenting below, or on Facebook and Twitter.

In other related news, we are so thrilled to announce that our blog has reached over 2,000 page views! We are thrilled with your readership, and invite you to check back each day for new posts that will feature news and discussions concerning all things education related.

We would also like to apologize to those that tried to register for Speak Up 2013 earlier this morning. Due to the launch of our new site, you may have received an error message, or were simply unable to complete your request. We are happy to announce that registration is now up and running, and you may now register here. Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate all of you.

Don't forget to vote for Project Tomorrow's CEO Julie Evans' panel ListenUp! SpeakUp! GameUp! A Game Data Discussion at the SXSWEdu conference in Austin, Texas, which, with your help, will be scheduled to occur in March 2014! 

Happy Reading!

- The Project Tomorrow team

The end of Summer is upon us... Which means the sun-filled days are dwindling, and Fall and the upcoming school year are quickly approaching! With the beginning of Fall also comes a renewed sense of energy; as the weather shifts and the trees and plants around us sense a change, we also respond by gaining momentum from the newfound environment. Here at Project Tomorrow, we have been busy prepping and planning for the upcoming season. In this newsletter you will find information regarding registration and the launch date of Speak Up 2013, the debut of our new website and blog, a news alert regarding the FCC and the E-Rate program, voting information regarding a SXSWEdu conference panel, thought-provoking reports and presentations by Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow’s CEO, and updates regarding Project Tomorrow's Teacher Initiative Programs. We hope you will welcome Fall with us, and enjoy reading about our latest ventures. As always, please feel free to share with us your thoughts and comments. Happy Fall! Inside Project Tomorrow's Fall 2013 Newsletter: Registration for Speak Up 2013 Debut of our New Website & Blog News Alert: FCC Proposes Changes to E-Rate – Have a voice in these decisions! Vote for Julie Evans' Panel! SXSWEdu Conference CEO Julie Evans' Reports & Presentations Project Tomorrow's Teacher Initiative Programs Register for Speak Up Today! What is Speak Up? Speak Up provides an easy way for students, parents and educators to participate in your local decisions about technology, as well as contribute to the state and national dialogue about educational technology. Since 2003, Project Tomorrow has collected the viewpoints of over 3 million students, educators and parents – the Speak Up dataset represents the largest collection of authentic feedback from these key educational stakeholders. What schools/districts are saying about Speak Up: "The South Carolina Virtual School Program looks forward to reviewing our Speak-Up survey responses every year, because it allows us to put a finger on the pulse of our students’ learning experiences. We are able to identify ways to expand and grow our program based on student feedback. The South Carolina Virtual School Program always focuses on the students’ open, written comments in the Speak-Up surveys, because this present students with the opportunity to openly express their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about how we can adjust our program and adapt it to stay at the cutting edge in the growing field of online education." --Vicki Williams, South Carolina Virtual School Program, South Carolina "The data collected through the Speak Up survey[s] was shared with key stakeholders in the district including parents, patrons, Board of Education, and the Technology Advisory Committee members. Each group found the data informative and helpful to them in their work. --Kristy Sailors, Director of Educational Technology-Blue Valley School District, Kansas What changes are being made for Speak Up 2013? As a new feature this year (to simplify the registration process) all districts and schools, in the current NCES database, are automatically registered to participate in Speak Up. To manage your school or district information and obtain free, online access to your school or district’s aggregated results, your registration must be activated with a primary/main contact by registering on our website. As always, registration is not required, but recommended as you will be kept up to date with important Speak Up information. To Learn more about the benefits of designating a main contact please go to our site here, or see below: Benefits of designating a Main/Primary contact: 1.Gain administrative access by assigning your district (or school) an organizational login password (administrative password), which allows you to update district or school contact information. 2.Assign individual student survey passwords to schools. (optional) 3.Assign school primary contacts to facilitate the survey taking process at the school level. (optional) 4.Have the ability to monitor district/school’s survey counts at any time through the main contact login. 5.View your district and school data once it becomes available (administrative password is required to view data results.) 6.Ensure confidentiality of your surveys with your students by assigning a survey “secret password” for students to use to take the survey. 7.Receive weekly emails with up to date participation numbers by school and/or district (option to opt out of emails during registration process). 8.Receive an email from Project Tomorrow when your Speak Up local data becomes available. 9.Keep up to date on other important updates during the survey process. Types of Main/Primary Contacts: 1.District- Has access to all schools within the district. Will only need to assign one contact for the district. The district assigned passwords (administrative and survey) will work for all schools within that district. 2.School- Access to an individual school site. This is optional. Can assign individual school level passwords different from the district passwords (district passwords will work in addition to school level passwords). 3.Private School- Access to your individual school. If you would like to group a set of private schools to receive a grouped dataset much like the district level reports, please contact the Speak Up Team at speakup@tomorrow.org. 4.Organization – Please contact the Speak Up Team at speakup@tomorrow.org to help set up your registration. 5.International school- Access to your individual school. If you would like to group a set of schools to receive a grouped dataset much like the district level reports, please contact the Speak Up Team at speakup@tomorrow.org. Registration Information: To register, log onto our new website here. If you prefer to have us register for you, please send us an e-mail to speakup@tomorrow.org with the following information: 1.The name of your district or school 2.Your State 3.Name, title, and email address of the main contact 4.A student survey password 5.An organizational login password (to view weekly survey counts and other important updates during the survey period) We will then send you a follow up email with a PDF of your school list and passwords to confirm that your district/school has been registered. Other new features of Speak Up 2013: Educators and parents will not be required to enter a survey password. Districts and/or schools will still need to assign a student level survey password to take the survey New survey for Community members and Business Partners will be added to the survey deck Questions? E-mail us at speakup@tomorrow.org Speak Up 2013 Surveys will open October 2nd, 2013, and will run through December 20th, 2013! Project Tomorrow's New Website & Blog! Make Sure to Log On and Witness All the New Changes! We are pleased to announce the debut of our new website! Log onto www.tomorrow.org to see the new site for yourself. We hope you enjoy navigating all the new links, and that you find the information on the site to be useful and user-friendly. Please let us know what you think! We want to give a special thanks to Judith Marciante, our website guru, for her diligence and hard work on putting together Project Tomorrow's new website. Moreover, we are excited to announce the new Project Tomorrow blog! Our new blog launched in mid-July, and has been gaining a rapid readership ever since! We reached1,000 views on Monday, August 5th, 2013. We can't thank our followers enough for your support in Project Tomorrow. Please continue to follow our blog, where you'll find new posts daily highlighting important trends and topics in education, as well as updates and information about Project Tomorrow's initiatives. Feel free to comment on any and all posts that provoke thoughts, ideas, or discussions from your personal experiences. We welcome an honest and empathetic discourse concerning the educational experiences of our communities. Additionally, you can stay updated on all things Project Tomorrow by following Project Tomorrow onTwitter and Facebook, Speak Up on Twitter and Facebook, and Julie Evans' Twitter account here. Thank you, and Enjoy! FCC Proposes Changes to E-Rate – Have a voice in these decisions! On July 23, 2013, the FCC released the E-rate Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which is designed to collect input from stakeholders on a broad range of issues. The FCC is specifically seeking feedback on how to ensure that schools and libraries have access to 21st Century connectivity to support digital learning, on how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of E-rate funds and how to streamline the application process. This NPRM is a very long document and there are lots of proposed rule changes for E-rate funding. The link to the actual NPRM can be found here. The deadline for stakeholder feedback or comments is September 16. We recommend that all of our Speak Up friends take a look at this document as the proposed changes may impact your schools and districts and how you are currently using your E-rate funding. If you decide to file a statement or comment with the FCC and would like to use Speak Up data to support your comment, please let us know. We are currently considering our own filing as well. Thank you! VOTE for Julie Evans' Panel at SXSWEdu! Vote for Julie Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow's CEO, regularly gives insightful and thought-provoking presentations on current educational trends directly affecting our children, schools, educators, and communities. Have you seen one of Julie's presentations? You may see her work by logging onto our website here. Julie has the unique opportunity to speak with a panel of other educational visionaries throughSXSWEdu! The panel discussion is titled ListenUp! SpeakUp! GameUp! A Game Data Discussion The speakers leading this important discussion are: •Jessica Millstone, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop • Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow • Allisyn Levy, BrainPOP • Robert Torres, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation With your help, we can bring this timely and valuable discussion to fruition. We would so appreciate you logging on, registering, and casting a vote for Julie's panel here, or by clicking the webtile below! Voting is currently live, and will run through Friday, September 6th. Thank you for your participation! About SXSWEdu March 3-6, 2014 in Austin, Texas will be a formative four-day conference highlighting pivotal trends and topics in education lead by pioneers and visionaries in the educational field. To learn more about SXSWedu, visit their site. CEO Julie Evans' Reports & Presentations Be sure to stay updated on the latest reports and presentations by Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow's CEO! Below, you'll find the most recent links to Julie's reports, presentations, and webinars. We hope these reports bring you new insight and value into relevant educational trends and topics. Feel free to share your comments with us via Twitter, Facebook, and our Blog. What's on Teachers' Professional Development Wish List? 2013 Trends In Online Learning Virtual, Blended And Flipped Classrooms Speak Up: 10 Years of Student Voices on Educational Technology Leading Edge Initiatives in Mobile Learning: Lessons Learned & Next Steps What Speak Up Tells us About the Changing Role of Educators with Online and Blended Learning 2013 Trends in Online Learning: Virtual, Blended, and Flipped Classrooms The Future of Personalized Learning Project Tomorrow's Teacher Initiative Programs Future Educators Association of California The Future Educators Associaiton of California (FEA) is a Career and Technical Organization catering to Careers in Education and Child Development classes. FEA provides opportunities for leadership, competitions, conferences, networking, and scholarships. Click Here to find out more! YouthTEACH2Learn The YouthTEACH2Learn Program is a free high school curriculum designed to give students a practical experience in teaching math and science in an elementary school setting. The curriculum is modeled after Cal State Fullerton's entry level education course and expands on the curriculum by providing students the opportunity to teach in a full classroom setting. Click Here for more information. Project Tomorrow's Programs & Initiatives: Speak Up YouthTEACH2Learn Youth Leadership Summit Innovation in Education Awards F.E.A. California Thank you for your continued support in Project Tomorrow!     ©2013 Project Tomorrow | 15707 Rockfield Blvd. Suite 250 | Irvine CA | 92618