cosn’s 8 th annual k-12 school networking conference february 26, 2003

© 2003 NetDay

CoSN’s 8th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference

February 26, 2003

Internet-Savvy Students and Their Schools: Firsthand

Experiences from the NetDay Community Projects

© 2003 NetDay

Agenda: NetDay High School Focus Group Project

Questions Process

Findings Call for Participation

The Internet, Students & NetDay Community Projects

© 2003 NetDay

NetDay is a national nonprofit organization.

Our mission is to connect every child to a brighter future by helping educators meet educational goals through

the effective use of technology.

We achieve this mission through :

Technology mentoring and coaching in challenged communities

Modeling of best practices to build sustainable and scalable efforts

Dissemination of information and knowledge through web initiatives

Facilitation of leadership development within our K-12 schools


© 2003 NetDay

NetDay Community InitiativesDirect service, community-based programs thatprovide students and teachers in under-served communities with the resources, guidance andknowledge needed to impact educationaloutcomes through technology

Access & infrastructure development Resources Classroom mentoring & coaching Leadership development


© 2003 NetDay

NetDay Community Initiatives NetDay AmeriCorps Bridge projects

Oakland CA – 8 schools (K-12) Detroit MI – 3 schools (special education, K-

5) Rio Grande Valley TX – 8 schools (K-8) Santa Ana CA – 3 schools (K-5)

TESS Pilot Program (Teacher Development) Mississippi Delta – 3 schools (K-12)


© 2003 NetDay

Inspired by the American Institutes for Research study,

The Digital Disconnect . . .

NetDay has recently facilitated six high school focus groups in our NetDay Community Projects to get a “snapshot” of student attitudes and behavior.


© 2003 NetDay

NetDay Questions:1. How are students in rural communities

using the Internet for schoolwork?2. What are the differences in attitudes

and behavior between rural and urban communities regarding Internet use?

3. How has a NetDay Community Project influenced those attitudes and behavior?


© 2003 NetDay

Focus Group LocationsRural communities: Mississippi Delta – Rosedale MS Rio Grande Valley – Mercedes TXUrban communities: Oakland CA Detroit MI


© 2003 NetDay

Student demographics All high school students

(grades 9-12) 71 students in total 45% female, 55% male 54% African American 35% Hispanic 11% Asian


© 2003 NetDay

Focus Group Format Small discussion groups with 10-

15 students 45 general discussion questions Discussion was led by a NetDay

staff person with facilitation by our AmeriCorps members


© 2003 NetDay

General Findings: The students have a lot to say!

Role of technology within their education

Internet assignments Technology access Likes/dislikes about technology How to improve their school’s

technology


© 2003 NetDay

General Findings: Attitudes 100% agree that the Internet helps

them with their schoolwork Most Internet access is away from

school

Frustration is high regarding these roadblocks to access

School filters Teachers Lack of time


© 2003 NetDay

General Findings: Attitudes All had very detailed ideas on how

technology should be used in the classroom

90% of the students were not familiar with the term, “Digital Divide”

Detroit was the exception


© 2003 NetDay

General Findings: Behavior 96% had at least one email account

Most students had 3+ accounts

62% are online at least one hour every day

87% ranked themselves as intermediate to expert level users

33% ranked their teachers as beginners


© 2003 NetDay

General Findings: Behavior 100% have used the Internet to seek

information on colleges, careers and jobs

Lots of debate about what is cheating and what is plagiarism when using the Internet for schoolwork

Limited direction from their teachers


© 2003 NetDay

Specific Findings: Rural vs. Urban? In many areas, little or no differences.

Access opportunities How the Internet is being used for schoolwork Classes where technology is used

The differences we noted may be attributed to:

School leadership Teacher support Community support


© 2003 NetDay

Specific Findings: NetDay Influence? 3 high schools in Oakland, California

NetDay AmeriCorps Bridge Project 1 high school in the Mississippi Delta

Rosedale, Mississippi TESS Teacher Development Pilot


© 2003 NetDay

Question: How would your schoolwork be affected if you no

longer had access to the Internet anywhere?

Mississippi Delta students: “We could not do any schoolwork.”“We have to have the most current, up to date information to be accurate.”“Devastated – everything would be so much harder and take so much longer to do.”“We depend upon having the Internet now.”


© 2003 NetDay

Question: How would you describe the Internet to another

student who has never heard of it or seen it?

Oakland and Mississippi Delta students: “Like a map of information”“Information you can see”“TV you can control”“Connections across the world”“Everything you need at your fingertips”“Opportunities – a new world”


© 2003 NetDay

Question: If you were designing a new high school, what

technology does that new school need to have to support students like you?

Oakland students: “New/more computers – one for every student”“Faster Internet connections”“Software that supports our classes”“Teachers who know how to use the technology”


© 2003 NetDay

Question: If you were designing a new high school, what

technology does that new school need to have to support students like you?

Oakland students: “Palm pilots, scanners, digital cameras”“Student run technology programs”“Teachers who are creative with assignments” “After school access to the labs –

Technology is our anti-drug”


© 2003 NetDay

Call for Participation: Let’s hear from yourstudents also!

NetDay will share with you our “how-to” guide for facilitating your own high school focus group.

Share your data with us and will aggregate it for national distribution.

Email [email protected] to get the materials and the online data collection tool link.


mailto:[email protected]

© 2003 NetDay

Thank you!

Julie EvansChief Executive Officer

NetDay949-609-4660 voice949-609-4665 [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

cosn’s 8 th annual k-12 school networking conference february 26, 2003

Documents

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internet use

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schoolsthe internet

schools technologythe

netday staff person

americorps membersthe

schoolworkmost internet