Get Ready for the Freshman
Class of Tomorrow
Insights from the
Speak Up Research
Dr. Julie A. Evans
CEO, Project Tomorrow
@JulieEvans_PT

Getting to know each other!
Dr. Julie Evans
CEO of Project Tomorrow
@JulieEvans_PT
jevans@tomorrow.org

▪ Nonprofit education organization supporting K-12 education since 1996
▪ Mission is to ensure today’s students are well prepared for the future
▪ Programs and research focus on role of innovation and new learning models
within the education ecosystem.
About Project Tomorrow
www.tomorrow.org
Speak Up Research Project: national research to help educators,
policymakers and business leaders make better decisions about
how to support new learning experiences for students
Professional Learning, Evaluation & Efficacy Studies:
customized studies and experiences that support local decision-
making and implementations of new learning models

About the Speak Up Project
www.tomorrow.org/speakup
▪ Annual research project since 2003
▪ We provide K-12 education leaders with a suite
of online surveys to collect feedback from their
stakeholders
▪ All preK-12 schools are eligible to participate
▪ Participating entities get summary reports with
all locally collected data + state and national
data for benchmarks
▪ 100% free turnkey service provided by Project
Tomorrow
▪ National reports inform edu, biz and policy
Since 2003, almost 6 million K-12 stakeholders have submitted a Speak Up survey

▪ Insights from the Speak Up Research: Views of 238,156 students
in grades 6-12
o The student vision for learning
o The student in-school learning experience
o The student learning experience outside
of school
o Students’ preferences for learning
▪ Additional resources for you
▪ Let’s talk! Your insights, comments and questions
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
Today’s discussion topics
How do these
experiences
influence
expectations for the
college learning
environment?

Let’s play a game!

K-12
STUDENTS’
DIGITAL LIVES

o I have my own tablet to use at home (55%) but I use a
Chromebook at school (68%)
o #1 complaint about school technology? I cannot access my
social media accounts at school!
o I’m interested in a future job in a STEM field (44%)
o 51% say they would like to learn how to code – 31% say they
are already learning how to code
o Say their ultimate school would be best if it included online and
digital games to support learning (64%)
o Using technology at school helps me develop problem solving
skills (58%)
o I know how to be a good digital citizen when I am online (68%)
K-12 STUDENTS’ DIGITAL LIVES

K-12 STUDENTS’ DIGITAL LIVES
Who is this?
❑ 3rd grade girl
❑ 6th grade boy
❑ 9th grade girl
❑ 12th grade boy

K-12 STUDENTS’ DIGITAL LIVES
Who is this?
❑ 3rd grade girl

The K-12 student vision for learning today
Socially-
based
learning
Un-tethered
learning
Contextually
relevant
learning
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What you need to know …

Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What is the digital learning
experience for students in school today?

Increasing predominance of Chromebooks as the device of
choice in K-12 classrooms
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
Students report being assigned a Chromebook to use at school
School year reporting % of students in
grades 6-8
% of students in
grades 9-12
2015-16 33% 21%
2017-18 45% 45%
2019-20 (before school
closures)
56% 35%
2019-20 (during school
closures)
80% 65%

▪ 83% of students in grades 6-12
say they are using Google tools
on a weekly basis to support
classroom activities
▪ 6 in 10 students report taking
online tests or assessments on
a weekly basis
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What is the digital learning experience for students in grades 6-12?

o Using digital media to
create content to
demonstrate knowledge
or proficiency
o Watching online videos
as part of classroom
instruction
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What is the digital learning experience for students in grades 6-12?
▪ Over 3/4rds of students in grades 6-12 say they are weekly:

o Using digital media to create
content to demonstrate
knowledge or proficiency
o Watching online videos as
part of classroom instruction
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What is the digital learning experience for students in grades 6-12?
▪ Over 3/4rds of students in grades 6-12 say they are weekly:
53% of students say they learn more from
watching a video than reading a book

Does learning = school exclusively?
51% of 6th grade students say they use technology for learning
more outside of school on their own than when they are in a
formal school environment
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
How are students
using digital tools
outside of school
to support
self-directed
learning?

What tools are students using outside of school to
support self-directed learning?
Students are increasingly tapping into digital tools to support interest
driven learning that is highly purposeful:
▪ Watching videos to learn how to do something (72%)
▪ Using social media to learn about what others are doing around a topic of
interest (56%)
▪ Using a voice-enabled assistant to support self-learning (49%)
▪ Playing online or digital games to develop skills (47%) – watching others
play games (48%)
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Example: Use of voice technologies
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What was the score
of last night’s
basketball game?

Example: Use of voice technologies
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What was the score
of last night’s
basketball game?

What tools are students using outside of school to
support self-directed learning?
Students are increasingly tapping into digital tools to support interest
driven learning that is highly purposeful:
▪ Leveraging online writing tools for feedback and self-improvement (39%)
▪ Watching TED Talks to learn about people’s ideas (38%)
▪ Taking an online class or self-paced tutorial around a topic of high
personal interest (33%)
▪ Creating and posting videos on YouTube (22%)
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

YouTube activity % of students in grades 6-8
who agree
% of students in grades 9-12
who agree
Girls Boys Girls Boys
Recommended YouTube
content to a friend
53% 49% 52% 50%
Use YouTube for my own
self-directed learning
50% 44% 52% 50%
Posted a comment on a
video
41% 46% 31% 42%
Regularly seek homework
help on YouTube
34% 27% 40% 34%
Have my own YouTube
channel
21% 35% 19% 31%
Posted a self-created video 15% 27% 13% 23%
Started a business on
YouTube
4% 7% 4% 8%
Students’ experiences with
Creators, curators, influencers, learners
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Students’ experiences with
How are you learning
important skills to
support your future
success?
High school student reaches 100,000 subscribers to
his YouTube channel
https://www.thenorthernview.com/entertainment/prince-
rupert-high-school-student-reaches-100000-followers-on-
youtube/
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Students’ experiences with
How are you learning
important skills to
support your future
success?
Through school? Yes, per
40% of high school
students
Through YouTube? Yes,
per 48% of high school
students
High school student reaches 100,000 subscribers to
his YouTube channel
https://www.thenorthernview.com/entertainment/prince-
rupert-high-school-student-reaches-100000-followers-on-
youtube/
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What are students’ preferences for learning
experiences – and why does this matter?

Students’ preferences for learning experiences:
28%
40%
22%
41%
54%
37%
21%
39%
18%
36%
52%
31%
Schoolwork reading: prefer a
screen to a book
Learn more from video than book Would like learning in an online
class
Students Gr 6-8: 2018/19 Students Gr 6-8: 2019/20
Students Gr 9-12: 2018/19 Students Gr 9-12: 2019/20
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

What are the benefits of
using digital tools within
learning environments?
86% of
teachers
93% of
principals
Answer:
Increases student
engagement in learning
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

Benefits of using technology to support learning % of Grade 6 students
who agree
✓ Improved academic outcomes
Better grades and test scores 61%
Stronger understanding of class content 55%
More likely to complete homework assignments 51%
✓ Future-ready skill development outcomes
Creativity skill development 57%
Application of knowledge to practical problems 48%
Collaboration skill development 47%
Critical thinking skill development 48%
✓ Personalized learning outcomes
Learning at one’s own pace 58%
In control of the learning process 50%
Fits personal learning goals and style 50%
How do 6th graders define the value of digital learning?
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow

What are the best environments or experiences to help
you develop college and career ready skills?
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
Types of environments or
experiences
High school students
Urban high
schools
Suburban high
schools
Rural high
schools
Getting work experience 63% 70% 62%
Learning an additional language 48% 49% 43%
Take a dual credit course at a
local college
49% 51% 47%
Doing collaborative projects
with peers
41% 49% 43%
Having authentic, real-world
problem-solving experiences
46% 54% 47%

Linking game play to the development of college and
career ready skills
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
Students say playing online and digital games helps them develop:
✓Creativity skills (66% chose this response option)
✓Teamwork and collaboration skills (66%)
✓Decision-making skills (63%)
✓Problem solving skills (59%)
✓Technology skills (57%)

The K-12 student vision for learning today
Socially-
based
learning
Un-tethered
learning
Contextually
relevant
learning
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
What you need to know …

What does this mean for your preparation
for this next generation of learners?
▪ Past educational experiences may shape expectations
but learning is not limited to school
▪ Importance of self-directed and collaborative learning
▪ Defining their own educational destiny is their right &
responsibility
▪ Embracing emerging technologies but with purpose
and efficiency in mind
▪ Creativity and self-expression serve as a life force
▪ Emphasis on authentic experiences that help develop
career-ready skills

▪ Insights from the Speak Up Research: Views of 238,156 students
in grades 6-12
o The student vision for learning
o The student in-school learning experience
o The student learning experience outside
of school
o Students’ preferences for learning
▪ Additional resources for you
▪ Let’s talk! Your insights, comments and questions
Get Ready for the Freshman Class of Tomorrow
Today’s discussion topics
How do these
experiences
influence
expectations for the
college learning
environment?

More resources available at
www.tomorrow.org
Collection of national Speak Up reports and infographics
Targeted and thematic reports on topics such as:
Educational Equity
Digital learning trends
School communications
Mobile learning
Blended learning outcomes
Latest presentations, podcasts and webinars
Services: consulting, workshops, evaluation and efficacy studies
✔We have expertise in the evaluation of new learning environments including mobile
implementations, online resources, blended learning and digital content usage
The Speak Up surveys will open for the 2019/20 school year in September.
All K-12 schools and districts can use our survey tools and receive full data
report at no cost. More information: www.tomorrow.org/speakup

More resources available at
www.tomorrow.org
Are our K-12 students
ready for online
learning at home?
Inequitable access to
technology in
majority minority
schools
Differences in
students’ perceptions
of their social –
emotional well-being
in school

New report series from Blackboard
and Project Tomorrow
90 Days that Changed K-12
Teaching and Learning
4 Executive Briefs:
▪ The Shift to Digital Learning
▪ Spotlight on Equity in Learning
▪ Strengthening the Role of Communications
▪ Sponsoring Student Ownership of Learning
https://tomorrow.org/speakup/2020-90-Days-That-Changed-K-12-Teaching-Learning.html

Your questions,
thoughts,
comments,
ideas
Let’s talk!

Thank you for joining
us today!
Dr. Julie A. Evans
CEO, Project Tomorrow
@JulieEvans_PT
jevans@tomorrow.org
949-609-4661