Project Tomorrow is an invaluable partner for the National Science Digital Library (http://nsdl.org) - helping us in the past four years to understand patterns and trends in educational uses of technology, and to know and understand our users. This information is critical in helping us to not only tailor free resources for science and math education that are interesting and engaging. We incorporate findings from Speak Up! data into professional development opportunities that assist teachers and educators to effectively integrate and implement digital resources into their classroom teaching.
Project Tomorrowis that rare organization that not only develops critical thinking, problem solving and creativity in students, but then gets feedback from the students as to the effe ctiveness of the program. They do a great job of preparing students to be the innovators and leaders and of the future. If your focus is science, math or technology, Project Tomorrow can make a difference in your school district.
For 3 years, Arizona has had students, staff and parents take the Speak Up Survey, which focuses on the use of educational technology. Because of a partnership with SETDA (State Educational Technology Directors Association) and Project Tomorrow, the state office receives aggregate student, teacher, and parent data. Project Tomorrow staff has been extremely helpful in supporting us getting our numerous districts into their survey. The data that we receive helps inform my office of Educational Technology on how educators and students are using technology inside and outside of school and the ways that they would like to use technology in their classrooms. This is an outstanding organization to work with.
Project Tomorrow collects data and feedback from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and pre-service teachers about education issues through their annual Speak Up survey. This data is then distributed to the schools, districts, and states providing them with valuable information about the thoughts of all the different stakeholders in the school community. The results of the nationwide survey are shared with key decision makers and policy influencers at annual Congressional Briefings for both the House & Senate. These survey results are very important because they help stimulate local, state, and national discussions about education trends that in turn help to shape education policy and funding decisions. Julie Evans and her team do a wonderful job of collecting, analyzing, and sharing this data at conferences, webinars, and briefings.
Blackboard has partnered with Project Tomorrow for 3 years. Along with many in the K12 education industry, we rely on the valuable market trend data and information that Project Tomorrow collects from key education stakeholders - students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Project Tomorrow's insightful reports help inform decisions to bring new solutions to the K12 education market in an effort to create an engaging learning environment for children in the 21st century.
For several years Project Tomorrow staff have collaborated with State Department of Education staff in their data collection initiative. Not only have they consulted with us as they craft each year's national survey, but they also work with us to analyze the data and provide reports to help inform our work in the states. We know more about the experiences and practices of our students, parents, teachers, administrators, and preservice teachers as a result of Project Tomorrow's Speak Up surveys, allowing us to craft programs, curriculum, professional development, etc. to benefit our schools.