FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2003
210,000
STUDENTS “SPEAK UP” ABOUT TECHNOLOGY & EDUCATION
THROUGH NETDAY’S SPEAK UP DAY
First ever, national campaign to capture student views on technology
use is successful with widespread K-12 student participation from
1,535 schools in all 50 states
Irvine, CA — November 24, 2003. NetDay announced
the success of its historic effort to reach students across the country
and capture their views on technology. Through the Speak Up Day initiative,
held October 29th, NetDay engaged the voices of over 210,000 K-12 students
from 1,535 schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including
many Department of Defense Overseas Schools. In this first ever, large-scale
national discussion on the topic, students went on online from their
classrooms and shared their opinions, ideas and thoughts on how technology
should be used in schools. NetDay will compile the results and submit
a report to the US Department of Education’s 3rd National Education
Technology Plan currently under development.
“
We are overwhelmed with the thoughtful responses expressed by the students
who participated and the teachers who guided them through the survey, “noted
Julie Evans, CEO, NetDay. “We are also gratified with the support
NetDay received from sac chanel. They worked to get the word out
to schools and students using their websites, listservs and electronic
newsletters. The Speak Up Day success story is also about effectively
leveraging partnerships and the power of Internet communications to
address a common concern. We are very excited about providing our partners
with data from the Speak Up Day surveys so that their members, affiliates
and constituents can start to incorporate the students’ ideas
into school planning.”
Speak Up Day participants expressed appreciation for Net Day’s
efforts to reach out and listen to student voices.
- Julie Healy’s class in “Information Technology in a
Global Society” at Annandale (VA) High School valued the chance
to express their views. “Having the Director of the Office
of Educational Technology from the US Dept of Education, John
P Bailey, along with
the Assistant Director, Susan Patrick, visit our classroom provided
the students with an additional opportunity to make their opinion
known. The message clearly delivered by the students was “what
took you so long to ask us?” Healy added.
- The responses were “real eye openers”, according to Anne
Beacham, Educational Technologist in DeLalio Elementary School, Camp
Lejeune Department of Defense School, in Jacksonville, NC. “We
had a chance to see technology through the eyes of the students.
We are looking forward to the survey results and anticipating
making valuable
adjustments in the way technology is used at DeLalio Elementary
School."
- “Kids need to have a voice, “noted Diane Bennett, Technology
Coach, at Mt. Juliet High School in Mt. Juliet, TN. “We learned
from the students that they are using instant messaging at home to
help each other. Now I am investigating and researching through the
web how we can impact learning using that strategy. We can’t
meet needs unless we hear from the students.”
- “Participating in Speak Up Day was an incredible
experience!” according
to Deane Saad, Education Technology Specialist, Freetown Elementary
School, Freetown, MA. . “I was totally in awe at the
enthusiasm our students and teachers (grades K-4) showed during
our participation
in this event. During our preparation for Speak Day, we spoke
to the students about all of the different kinds of technology
used at school
and home. We then made an imaginary time line of children in
the sixties who had to find out three facts about the Pilgrims
for a school report.
The children were shown an encyclopedia and several other books
on Pilgrims. We then asked them how that differed from the
way that students
today would find the information for their report! And which
way they would prefer to learn. Needless to say learning with
technology, using
online books, virtual museums, etc. won hands down! “
NetDay will summarize all the student comments into a written
report that will be submitted for the National Education Technology
Plan
in December 2003 and will be available online for public discussion.
This
report will also be a call to action for national, state and
local education leaders to recognize the importance of student
input in
discussions about how schools and instruction impact their
educational experiences.
In addition, schools will be able in December to go back to
www.NetDay.org to view their own survey results and compare those
results to
their state results and the national report.
ABOUT NETDAY
NetDay's mission is to connect every child to a brighter
future by helping educators meet educational goals through
the effective
use
of technology. NetDay (www.NetDay.org), a national non-profit
organization known for its successful school wiring programs,
today manages community
and web-based programs that promote enhanced student achievement
through the effective use of technology. Speak Up Day is NetDay’s
latest initiative and will focus awareness on the importance
of student voices
in the national dialogue on education and technology.
ABOUT NETDAY PARTNERS
The following nonprofit groups partnered
with NetDay on the outreach efforts for Speak Up Day: Alliance
for Excellent Education,
American Association of School Administrators, American Electronics
Association,
Benton Foundation, Cable in the Classroom, College Board, Consortium
for School Networking, Council for Exceptional Children, The
Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning, Florida Virtual
High School, Generation YES, George Lucas Educational Foundation,
Great Lafayette (LA) Chamber of Commerce, GreatSchools.net,
High Tech High, International Society for Technology in Education,
McKenzie Group, MAR*TEC, MOUSE, National Association for College
Admissions Counseling, National Association of Elementary School
Principals, National
Council for Community and Education Partnerships, National
Education Association, National Education Knowledge Industry
Association,
National Rural Education Association, National School Boards
Association,
North American Council for Online Learning, Points of Light
Foundation, Public
Education Network, Software & Information Industry Association,
State Education Technology Directors Association, TECH CORPS, TechNet,
Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership, The Children’s
Partnership, Think.com, US Conference of Mayors and Virtual
High School.
In addition, the following corporate partners provided invaluable
support to the effort: Bell South Foundation, Sun Microsystems,
Google and
Apple Computer. The US Department of Education is also a partner
in Speak Up Day.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY PLAN
The No Child Left Behind Act charges the Secretary of Education
with developing the nation's third National Education Technology
Plan.
The Plan will establish a national strategy supporting the effective
use
of technology to improve student academic achievement and to
prepare students for the 21st century. The revised National Education
Technology
Plan provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have
made, identify the areas that need to be further addressed, and
consider
what transformed learning may look like.
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NEWS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Julie Evans, 949.609.4660, Julie@netday.org |