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

1. Julie Evans
@JulieEvans_PT
CEO, Project Tomorrow
June 30, 2015
Trends in
Digital
Learning
2015
Empowering
Innovative
Classroom
Models for
Learning

2. (c) Project Tomorrow 2014
Many thanks to:

3. ProjectTomorrow, a national
education nonprofit organization
Programs:
• Research & evaluation studies
• STEM education programs
• Advocacy for digital learning
(c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Mission: To ensure that today’s
students are prepared to become
tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and
engaged citizens of the world.

4. Annual national research project
 Using online surveys + focus groups
 Surveys for: K-12 Students,Teachers, Parents,
Administrators, Community Members
 Special: Pre-ServiceTeachers 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
(c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Speak Up National Research Project
4 million
surveys since
2003

5. K-12 Students 431,231
Teachers & Librarians 44,289
Parents (in English & Spanish) 35,337
School/District Administrators/Tech Leaders 4,324
Community Members 6,656
About the participating schools & districts
o 8,216 schools and 2,676 districts
o 30% urban / 40% rural / 30% suburban
o All 50 states + DC + Guam + DODEA schools
(c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Speak Up 2014 national participation: 521,846

6. (c) Project Tomorrow 2014
Introducing this year’s report:
Trends in Digital
Learning Report:
Empowering
Innovative
Classroom Models
for Learning

7. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

8. • New classroom models
• Connecting digital
learning with global skill
development
• Criticality of connectivity
– in school and at home
• Mobiles and digital
content as drivers for
changing teacher
practices
• New sense of urgency
Key trends from our research:

9. • Learning as a 24/7
enterprise for students
• Blurring of informal and
formal arenas for learning
• Students as content
producers not just
consumers
• Self-directed learning
• Desire for greater
personalization
• New sense of urgency
• New classroom models
• Connecting digital
learning with global skill
development
• Criticality of connectivity
– in school and at home
• Mobiles and digital
content as drivers for
changing teacher
practices
• New sense of urgency
Key trends from our research:

10. • Learning as a 24/7
enterprise for students
• Blurring of informal and
formal arenas for learning
• Students as content
producers not just
consumers
• Self-directed learning
• Desire for greater
personalization
• New sense of urgency
• New classroom models
• Connecting digital
learning with global skill
development
• Criticality of connectivity
– in school and at home
• Mobiles and digital
content as drivers for
changing teacher
practices
• New sense of urgency
Key trends from our research:

11. Key trends from our research:
Students, educators and parents agree –
we need a different kind of learning
experience to prepare students for the future

12. “Innovating is a process,
not an event.”
Michael B. Horn
Heather Staker

13. Sampling of key report findings

14. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

15. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Driving New Innovations in Learning Environments
Digital Solutions with
Positive Outcomes
District
Administrator
Views – 2013
District
Administrator
Views – 2014
2013 to 2014
Percentage
Change
Use of digital content in
the classroom
42% 61% + 45%
Use of digital textbooks
rather than print
textbooks
28% 51% + 82%
Mobile learning through
the use of tablets or other
devices
40% 58% +41%
Online classes for
students
26% 47% +81%
Online professional
development for teachers
26% 57% +119%

16. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

17. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Driving New Innovations in Learning Environments
Benefits of digital content usage in the
classroom
Principals who have
implemented
blended learning in
their schools
Increases student engagement in learning 75%
Extends learning beyond the school day
offering students opportunities for self-
directed learning and remediation
72%
Increases the relevancy and quality of the
instructional materials
63%
Provides an innovative way for instruction to
be personalized for each student
56%
Decreases the traditional dependency on
textbooks
51%

18. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

19. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Driving New Innovations in Learning Environments
6%
10%
20%
19%
28%
25%
32%
14%
20%
27%
29%
32%
37%
49%
Virtual labs
Teacher self-created videos
Real time data
Animations
Games
Online textbooks
Online curriculum
Blended Classroom Teachers Traditional Classroom Teachers
Use of digital content

20. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

21. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015

22. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Connecting the Dots between Innovation and Outcomes
Teachers’ beliefs about student
outcomes
Teachers in
traditional
classrooms
Teachers in
blended
classrooms
Students are working together more
often
32% 52%
Students are developing problem
solving and critical thinking skills
34% 50%
Students are more motivated to
learn
50% 53%
Students are taking ownership of
their learning
33% 50%
Students are developing their
creativity skills
34% 47%

23. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
Connecting the Dots between Innovation and
Outcomes
Students in blended learning classrooms: As a result of
using technology to support my learning…
• I collaborate more with my classmates (61%)
• I am developing critical thinking and problem solving
skills (54%)
• I am able to learn at my own pace (61%)
• I am developing my creativity skills (63%)
• I am more interested in what I am learning in class (48%)

24. (c) Project Tomorrow 2015
 How to build new teacher
capacities?
 Beyond PD, what other
assets can enable and
sustain new classroom
models?
 How should we enhance
administrators’ leadership
skills for digital learning?
 How can new tools engage
parents, students and
community in these
discussions?
Trends in
Digital
Learning
2015
Empowering
Innovative
Classroom
Models for
Learning

25. National Speak Up reports and infographics
Targeted and thematic reports
Digital learning trends
Mobile learning & social media
Games in the classroom
Blended learning outcomes
Presentations, podcasts and webinars
Services: consulting, workshops, evaluation
and efficacy studies
(c) Project Tomorrow 2015
More Speak Up? www.tomorrow.org

26. AccessTrends in Digital Learning report:
bbbb.blackboard.com/project-
tomorrow-2015?s=web
(c) Project Tomorrow 2015

27. Thank you for this conversation!
Julie Evans
jevans@tomorrow.org
949-609-4660 x15
Twitter: JulieEvans_PT and SpeakUpEd
Copyright Project Tomorrow 2015
This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted
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(c) Project Tomorrow 2015