[MLTI-MS] Project Tomorrow¹s Speak Up 2008 Survey Ends Soon!

[Brown, Laura]

Speak Up 2008 is a unique opportunity for schools and school districts to
share their views on virtual schools and online learning. In past years,
virtual schools and online learning have become a hot topic for schools and
districts.  Some key trends that have emerged through Speak Up over the last
few years are: 
- Students (41%), teachers (28%) and parents (42%) believe online learning
should be offered in schools.
- Top Reasons High School students want to pursue online learning: secure
courses not offered at school (47%); want to work at their own pace (43%).
- Middle school students want to take online courses for extra help (42%).
- Over 20% of teachers chose online classes as a key element for increasing
student achievement in the 21st century school - an increase of almost 28%
over the 2006 data findings.
- Over 26% of teachers chose online learning as their first choice for
training. 

In this year¹s surveys, Speak Up 2008 questions dive deeper into online
learning and ask students, educators and parents:
- To weigh on new state policies requiring students to take an online class
prior to graduating;
- About designing a new kind of text book that is 100% online;
- The reasons for and benefits of offering, taking or teaching an online
class.

Administrators and teachers are also asked how they are using technology to
create professional learning communities. We also ask administrators to
identify the barriers to implementing online courses in their district (or
school). 
 
The answers to this 15 minute survey will help enhance our understanding of
current trends nationally and identify strategies for expanding online
learning opportunities for students and educators.
 
To register for Speak Up 2008, please use this link and scroll down to
Activation, where you can register you school or your entire district:
http://www.netdayspeakup.org/speakup2008/index.asp
 
To encourage participation after registering, use this link for great
resources to promote the survey:
http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speak_up_howto_encourage.html
You can find templates for signs that can be posted throughout your
school(s), there¹s a link to the survey to post to your web site and logos
you can use as the Œbutton,¹ and there announcements you can customize and
email to students, teachers, administrators and parents with survey
instructions.  (This link, which brings you to the page ³Encourage
Participation², is one page in a Quick Start Guide that is easy to follow,
and runs through the process from Registration to Taking the Survey.)
 
The deadline to take the survey is Tuesday, December 23, 2008 and we hope
you can participate!
 
This message was sent on behalf of Project Tomorrow.

Thank you,
 
Maine Learning Technology Initiative
Learning Through Technology Team
State of Maine Department of Education
V: (207) 624-6746 F: (207) 624-6601
Visit MLTI on the Web: http://www.mlti.org
Mailing address: 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023
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