digital content = better results

Digital Content

= Better Results

Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow

Ryan Lefton, Cengage Learning

February 7, 2014

Today’s Discussion Agenda

Context: New Speak Up national data

highlights

Results: Key findings from research on

digital content usage in the classroom

Your thoughts and questions

(c) Project Tomorrow 2014

Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit organization

Programs:

• Research & evaluation studies

• School and community programs

• Events for students

Mission: To ensure that today’s

students are prepared to become

tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and

engaged citizens of the world.


Digital Content Discussion

Research & evaluation studies

• Speak Up National Research Project

• Efficacy studies on digital content usage

• Efficacy studies on mobile learning

• Research on teacher readiness to use digital

content in the classroom





• Efficacy studies on digital content usage


Annual national research project

Using online surveys + focus groups

Surveys for: K-12 Students, Teachers, Parents,

Administrators, Community Members

Special: Pre-Service Teachers in Schools of Education

Open for all K-12 schools and schools of education

Schools, districts & colleges receive free report with their

own data

Inform policies, plans & programs

Local: your stakeholder data

State: state level data

Federal: national findings

Speak Up National Research Project

+ 3.4 million

surveys since

2003

.

Power of local data

Use data as input for planning

To justify budget and purchasing decisions

Inform new initiatives – as an evaluation tool

As a tool to engage parents

Demonstrate interest in students’ ideas

Use for grant writing and fund development

Content for professional development

As a competitive tool

To counteract mythology . . . . . . .

Why do school and districts participate in

Speak Up every year?

Commonly heard mythology

“New teachers don’t need any training in how to use

technology within teaching”

“Parents won’t accept online textbooks”

“Kids only want to use mobiles so that they can

text & play games in class”

“Online learning undercuts the role of the

teacher in learning.”

“There is so much great content online for teachers to

use in the classroom – so, what is the problem?”

“Put technology in the classroom and magically students will learn more!”

Examples of ed tech mythology


Speak Up 2012

National Reports

Speak Up Goes to

Washington, DC

National Release of Speak Up 2013 National Findings

2014 Congressional Briefing Tuesday, April 8, 2014

http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_congress.html

A special pre-release of the

Speak Up 2013 national data

findings

Just for you today:

Special focus: Digital Content

K-12 Students 325,279

Teachers & Librarians 32,151

Parents (in English & Spanish) 39,986

School/District Administrators 4,530

Community Members (new this year!) 1,346

About the participating schools & districts

o 9,005 schools and 2,710 districts

o 90% public schools – 10% private/parochial/charter/other

o 32% urban / 31% rural / 37% suburban

o 30% school wide Title 1; 43% majority minority school

o All 50 states + DC + Guam + DODEA schools

National Speak Up 2013 Participation:

403,292

K-12 Students 325,279

Teachers & Librarians 32,151

Parents (in English & Spanish) 39,986

School/District Administrators 4,530

Community Members (new this year!) 1,346

About the participating schools & districts

o 9,005 schools and 2,710 districts

o 90% public schools – 10% private/parochial/charter/other

o 32% urban / 31% rural / 37% suburban

o 30% school wide Title 1; 43% majority minority school

o All 50 states + DC + Guam + DODEA schools

o#1 participating state: TEXAS

National Speak Up 2013 Participation:

403,292


Speak Up 2012 National Findings

From Chalkboards to Tablets

“Digital Conversion”


Speak Up 2012 National Findings

From Chalkboards to Tablets

Digital Conversion

A shift in what we do, but also

in our attitudes and values


Focus on Digital Content

Views of K-12

Students,

Parents,

Teachers &

Administrators

Speak Up 2013

National

Findings


Students’ use of digital resources for

schoolwork

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Watch teacher created videos

Play educational games

Watch online videos

Use online textbook

Use online databases

Create multi-media presos

Access class info

Gr 9-12 Gr 6-8 Gr 3-5

So, what are the benefits of using digital

content within instruction?


The Principals’ List:

1. Increases student engagement 74%

2. Extends learning beyond the school day 60%

3. Prepare students with work ready skills 54%

4. Improves quality of instructional materials 49%

5. Improves relevancy of instructional materials 49%

6. Differentiates school as innovative 46%

7. Provides a way to personalize learning 45%

8. Improves teachers’ skills with technology 44%


Digital content usage: What is holding our

schools back?

School principals say:

Providing enough computers and Internet access 55%

Balancing instructional time constraints 47%

Evaluating the quality of digital content 42%

Not enough bandwidth 38%

Teachers are not trained to use digital content 32%


Digital content usage: What is holding our

districts back?

School principals say:

Providing enough computers and Internet access 55%

Balancing instructional time constraints 47%

Evaluating the quality of digital content 42%

Not enough bandwidth 38%

Teachers are not trained to use digital content 32%


How do you evaluate digital content quality?

Quality Factors Teachers Say: Administrators say:

Teachers can modify the

content 68%

Research based 45%

Created by a teacher 43%

Referred by a colleague 36%

Certified by education

association 32%

Student achievement

results 28%

Source is content expert 24%


How do you evaluate digital content quality?

Quality Factors Teachers Say: Administrators say:

Teachers can modify the

content 68% 58%

Research based 45% 70%

Created by a teacher 43% 36%

Referred by a colleague 36% 22%

Certified by education

association 32% 28%

Student achievement

results 28% 47%

Source is content expert 24% 36%

Teachers: what digital content are you

using in your classroom?


Type of content Percentage of teachers

Online videos 46%

Google drive 29%

Games 25%

Online textbooks 23%

Online curriculum 22%

Animations 20%

Online databases 11%

Simulations 9%

Virtual labs 6%

What teachers say they need: their wish list

for PD

• Using tech to differentiate instruction 45%

• Use tech for formative assessments 26%

• How to id mobile apps for classroom use 36%

• Using a tablet within instruction 31%

• How to id quality digital content 34%

• How to use games within instruction 26%

• Implementing a blended classroom 23%

• How to create videos of my lessons 19%

• Implementing a flipped classroom 16%


Teachers: how does technology improve

your effectiveness?


I’m better organized

I am able to create more interactive and relevant lessons

I am creating more student centered learning

environments

I am more productive

I am empowering my students to be more self-directed



• McKinley Study

“Bringing Digital Content into the

K-12 Classroom”



Research Study Questions

What is the impact of using digital content in the

classroom?

Can digital content improve students’ 21st century skills

including research skills?

What factors influence the adoption of digital

content and resources in the classroom?

What are the lessons learned from this project that

can impact other implementations?


Research Study Methodology

Mixed methods two year study (2010-11, 2011-12)

Select group of teachers at McKinley Tech HS

Data collection components included:

o Pre and post surveys

o Student focus groups

o Teacher and administrator interviews

o Classroom observations

o Student achievement metrics

Speak Up data benchmarks

Use of Gale Resources - online databases


McKinley Technology High School



STEM magnet school in Washington DC

College – going environment

Six STEM academies

Enrollment of 689 students

o 93% African-American

o 54% qualify for federal lunch program

Mixed bag in terms of technology access and teacher

usage of technology

Typical challenges of most urban high schools



Study participants:

o 283 high school students

o 8 teachers

Teachers were provided with access to Gale,

training and support

Instructions were to integrate Gale into daily

instruction


Research Study Methodology

Gale Collections of Digital Content :

o Biography in Context

o Global Issues in Context

o Global Reference on the Environment, Energy and

National Resources

o Literature Resource Center

o Opposing Viewpoints in Context

o Student Resources in Context

o US History in Context

o World History in Context



• 8 Teachers in the Study Project in year 2

o 5 from year 1, + 3 new teachers in year 2

o Content disciplines:

• Biology

• English

• Global Perspectives

• Human Geography

• Issues in Bio Tech

• Physics

• US Government

• World History


Research Focus: Year 1

Classroom use of Gale resources:

Impact on student outcomes

Teachers’ value proposition on usage

Impact on teacher productivity

Development of workplace ready skills


Research Findings: Year 1

Ways to use Gale resources in the classroom:

Activate students’ prior knowledge

Assess student knowledge

Facilitate class discussion

Introduce a lesson

Illustrate a concept

Differentiate instruction

Homework assignment

Class project

Independent study

Student research

Background information

Primary

usage by

the

teachers



Classroom use of Gale resources

(formal and extra-curricular):

Integration of the resources into instruction

Resulting changes in teacher practice

Support of student self-directed learning

Development of college level research skills



Ways to use Gale resources in the classroom:

Activate students’ prior knowledge

Assess student knowledge

Facilitate class discussion

Introduce a lesson

Illustrate a concept

Differentiate instruction

Homework assignment

Class project

Independent study

Student research

Background information

Project

Based

Learning



Gale resources support Project Based Learning

Case Study: Science Fair in Biology Class

Teacher was new to Gale

Teacher goals:

o Use outside resources to create relevancy and quality

o Make it easy to use in class

o Support development of research skills

Teacher and students used Global Issues in Context





0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Searches

Retrievals

Sessions

2011/Global Issues 2010/Global Issues

Global Issues

in Context –

increased usage

2011

200%

66%

39%





0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Seaches

Retrievals

Sessions

2011/Global Issues 2010/Global Issues

Purposeful

Sporadic





Results:

Met teacher’s goals

Increased student engagement

Higher quality projects

Richer class discussions

Easy to use

Proved case for teacher on value of Gale

Continued teacher usage with seamless integration




Case Study: National History Day Projects

Teachers had used Gale in year 1

Year 1 familiarity led to this idea for usage

Teachers’ goals:

o Support development of research skills

o Improve quality of submissions

o Provide out of school access

Teacher and students used US and World History in

Context





US & World

History in

Context –

increased usage

2011

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Searches

Retrievals

Sessions

2011 US + World History 2010 US + World History

4X

5X

3X





Results:

Met teachers’ goals


Higher quality projects – more relevant

Extended learning opportunities

Opened teachers’ eyes to Gale use with projects

Changed teacher practice



Gale resources expands learning opportunities

Case Study: Use of podcast and video in World History class

2nd year project teacher

Teacher goals:

o Bring real world into class

o Facilitate class discussion

o Support development of media literacy skills

Teacher and students used Global Issues in Context



Case Study: Use of podcast and video in World History class

Results:

Met teacher’s goals


Richer class discussions with increased participation

Expanded learning opportunities

Created memorability

Sustained change in teacher practice

Impact of Gale resources on learning

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

To do initial research

To do indepth research

To help with homework

To learn more about a topic on my own

To better understand a school topic

All Girls Boys

How students said they used Gale



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Increase studentengagement in

learning

Improve studentresearch skills

Enhance quality ofstudent work

Students are moreself-directed learners

Teachers Students



Changing the classroom experience

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Schoolwork is more engaging

Group projects are more successful

Class is more interesting

New ideas/perspectives are introduced

Better prepared for class discussions

Boys Girls



Changing the learner

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Improved communications skills

Improved critical thinking skills

Greater confidence in sources

Better learner/student

More control of my learning

Acquired new skills for college

Boys Girls


So, did Gale make a difference in student

achievement at McKinley Tech High School?

Subject Area Average ECR

Schoolwide

World History

Classes that

used Gale

Biology Class

that used Gale

Social Studies 2.2 2.7 NA

Science 2.2 NA 2.6

All Subjects 2.2 2.7 2.6

Yes! (c) Project Tomorrow 2014



Key findings:

Digital content is most effective when supporting

project based learning

Changes in teacher practice first require a personal

value proposition with the tools

Teachers value digital content to enhance lessons

or improve learning experiences

Students see digital content as way to develop

workplace and college skills



Lessons learned:

o It takes time and context matters!

o Don’t overlay – but integrate

o Administrative support is critical to success

o Top down + bottom up is better strategy than

hero teacher model

o Students have great ideas – use them!

o “One size fits all” rarely does!

Your thoughts, comments, questions

National Release of Speak

Up 2013 National Findings

DC Congressional Briefing

Tuesday, Apr 8

Data release to

Speak Up

participants

Wednesday, Feb 5

Speak Up 2014 surveys open in October

National Speak Up Findings and reports Targeted and thematic reports

Online learning trends Mobile learning & social media Print to digital migration Social learning Intelligent adaptive software New digital parent series

Presentations, podcasts and webinars

Research reports: digital content, mobile learning, 21st century

skill development, professional development

Learn more at www.tomorrow.org


Thank you.

Let’s continue this conversation.

Julie Evans

Project Tomorrow

[email protected]

949-609-4660 x15


mailto:[email protected]