Washington, DC. May 5, 2006.  -- NetDay, (www.netday.org), the national education technology nonprofit group, released the 2005 Speak Up report, Our Voices, Our Future: Student and Teacher Views on Science, Technology and Education, summarizing national data collected on line from 185,000 student surveys and 15,000 teacher surveys. The report is available at http://www.netday.org/speakup_2005.htm

For the past three years NetDay has conducted an annual online survey, collecting the viewpoints of over 562,000 K-12 students from all 50 states, as well as 26,000 teachers.  The Speak Up data represents the largest collection of authentic, unfiltered student views on technology and education ever assembled. The 2005 survey included questions on ways in which students and teachers are using technology products and Internet tools, obstacles faced in using these tools, approaches to improving science education, 21st century workforce skills and the role of technology in driving innovation.

Based on the results of the 2005 Speak Up survey of students and teachers, Our Voices, Our Future identifies the following major themes:  

• Students are setting trends with their use of technology both in school and out of school, using technology in innovative ways and adopting new technologies to support their learning and lifestyles.
• Communication is a key motivator for students and drives their use of technology for both learning and personal use. Sixth grade is the tipping point when students begin to show their enthusiasm for using technology for communication.
• Younger students are continuing to adopt more sophisticated technologies in the footsteps of their older siblings.
• Students and teachers want access to up-to-date technology tools at school and they want it to be available when they need it. Students' frustrations result from restrictions to technology use for learning tasks.
• Teachers’ professional use of technology is approaching a comfort level but is not keeping up with the advances in how kids are using technology; there are no significant differences between how younger teachers and older teachers are approaching their technology use.

• Students are strong believers in the power of technology to enrich their learning experiences and prepare them for a competitive job market.

“Our goal in conducting the 2005 Speak Up survey was to actively engage America’s students and teachers in the national dialogue on how to maintain our country’s competitiveness in the 21st century and sustain our global scientific and technological superiority. We are pleased to have engaged so many students and teachers from around the country in this effort and appreciate the efforts of our partners in getting the word out about Speak Up 2005," said Julie Evans, CEO, NetDay.  

The report was previewed earlier at a Congressional briefing supported by Rep. Howard McKeon, Chair, Committee on Education and the Workforce, Rep. George Miller, Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Chair, Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. It also was shared at a special briefing held at Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, Maryland (http://digital.baltimorecityschools.org/) to honor the Baltimore City Public Schools participation in Speak Up 2005.

Speak Up 2005 was made possible through the generous support of BellSouth Foundation and Dell, Inc. Outreach support was provided by a large group of non profit partners (http://www.netday.org/speakup_our_partners.htm ) Dates for Speak Up 2006 will be announced in the near future.

ABOUT NETDAY SPEAK UP FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

The findings of the Speak Up surveys are shared with local, state and national education officials to inform decision-making and school planning on issues related to students, technology and learning.  Examples of the impact of the data on national policy discussions include:

• The US Department of Education used Speak Up data in the development of its 2005 National Education Technology Plan, Golden Age in American Education: How the Internet, the Law and Today’s Students are Revolutionizing Expectation.
• Visions 2020.2: Student Views on Transforming Education and Training Through Advanced Technologies, a report developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Commerce, is based upon the Speak Up 2004 data and offers a clear picture of how students want to use technology for learning.
• Student Views on Technology for Learning: Students Speak Up to the President captures 67,000 student responses to the question “What is the one thing you would like to tell the president about how you use technology for learning?”

ABOUT NETDAY

NetDay Speak Up is a national initiative of Project Tomorrow, the new nonprofit organization formed with the merger of NetDay and Project Tomorrow in September 2005.  The mission of the new combined organization is to support and promote the effective and appropriate use of science, math and technology resources in K–12 education so that every student has the opportunity to fully participate in today’s global economy and community.  We are dedicated to preparing today’s students to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens.