Speak+Up+2009

Speak Up 2009
The Speak Up 2009 national findings paints a vivid picture of this continuing digital disconnect and also, advances the premise introduced with the data last year that by listening to and leveraging the ideas of our nation’s students we can start to build a new vision for 21 st century education that is more reflective of the needs and desires of today’s learners. In many ways, our students are already functioning as a Digital Advance Team for the rest of us; rapidly assimilating and adapting new technologies used in their personal lives to drive increased productivity in their learning. With this year’s findings, we give voice to a new genuine “student vision” for learning and in particular, the student’s experience-based blueprint for the role of incorporating emerging technologies in 21 st century education, both in and out of the classroom.

Thus, there exists a very special opportunity today to both increase the relevancy of a student’s education experience and to start to close the persistent digital disconnect between students and educators on learning with technology. The key to unlock this opportunity is a long overdue realization that the students’ ideas on how to effectively leverage technology within learning can provide meaningful insights and even present a clear pathway for implementation. The essential elements are the first step in visioning that new pathway: · Social-based learning – students want to leverage emerging communications and collaboration tools to create and personalize networks of experts to inform their education process. · Un-tethered learning – students envision technology-enabled learning experiences that transcend the classroom walls and are not limited by resource constraints, traditional funding streams, geography, community assets or even teacher knowledge or skills. · Digitally-rich learning – students see the use of relevancy-based digital tools, content and resources as a key to driving learning productivity, not just about engaging students in learning.