2015 National Speak Up Survey Opens

Education nonprofit Project Tomorrow has kicked off Speak Up 2015, the latest in the organization's series of annual surveys focused on technology-enhanced teaching, learning and administration. Some 500,000 people are expected to participate this year.

Separate surveys are being conducted for:

  • Students;
  • Parents;
  • Education professionals (teachers, administrators and librarians); and
  • Community members.

A survey for "future teachers" will be coming in the spring.

The survey is intended to gauge education stakeholders' views on technology in education —  its value, perceptions of how well it's being implemented, perceived benefits and perceived negatives. It's also meant to gauge the level of technological expertise of respondents and asks respondents for suggestions on how tech can be used to bridge the gap between K-12 and post-secondary education.

Results from past surveys are available publicly on the Speak Up site.

"Speak Up data provides insight at the district level for the current use of technology in and out of school. Data not only shows level of use, but what technology is considered important to the users and what is fading from regular reliance," said Mark Evans, Program Coordinator, Texas Virtual School Network & High School Tech Apps/Tech Ed, Klein Independent School District in Texas, in a prepared statement. "Data from the multi-faceted perspectives helps to give a more rounded view of perceptions, attitude, need, and reliance of technology. The results help to guide the district and campuses to better plan and prepare for technology, especially in terms of funding, training, and integration into the classroom."

The surveys are open now through Dec. 18 at speakup4schools.org/Speakup2015.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • laptop on a desk with its screen displaying numerous colorful educational app icons

    Survey Finds Majority of Schools Using 10 to 15 Educational Apps

    A new report points to the fragmented digital landscape of educational apps in use at schools and districts across the country.

  • teacher and children working with a LEGO Education Science kit

    LEGO Education Debuts Science Kits for Hands-on Learning

    LEGO Education has announced a new learning solution to engage students in hands-on science learning. Available in three kits by grade band, LEGO Education Science provides 120-plus standards-aligned science lessons, teacher materials, and select LEGO bricks and hardware.

  • A child surrounded by glowing, fluid virtual patterns and holographic shapes, illuminated in a dark gradient environment of blue, purple, and pink.

    ClassVR Gets Expanded VR/AR Content Library

    Avantis Education has announced a new content library for its ClassVR virtual and augmented reality platform. Dubbed Eduverse+, the library features four content suites — EduverseAI, WildWorld, STEAM3D, and CareerHub — that can be tailored to suit a variety of educational levels.

  • futuristic AI interface with glowing data streams and abstract neural network patterns

    OpenAI Launches Its Largest AI Model Yet

    OpenAI has introduced GPT-4.5, its largest AI model to date, code-named Orion. The model, trained with more computing power and data than any previous OpenAI release, is available as a research preview to select users.