the new math for justifying online learning webinar slides
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How do you analyze and justify technology investments? Join Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow, and panelists from school districts across the country to address the increasing need for districts to soundly justify all enterprise technology aid. Learn new ways to approach the challenges associated with technology investment decisions in your district.TRANSCRIPT
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Special Webinar
The New Math for Justifying Online Learning
Leveraging ROI and VOI Analysis for Ed Tech Investments
Julie EvansChief Executive Officer
Project TomorrowSeptember 29, 2011
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Today’s discussion:
• Introduce our new report
The New Math for Justifying Online Learning
Leveraging ROI and VOI Analysis for Ed Tech Investments
• Review of report methodology
• Share highlights from report
• Expert Panel
• Discussion: your thoughts and comments
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Introducing our expert panel:
Judy BauernschmidtDirector, Student Online Learning
21st Century Virtual AcademyJefferson County Public Schools (CO)
Tracy Clanton-SmithLISD-TV & Online School Coordinator
Lubbock Independent School District (TX)
© Project Tomorrow 2011
About Project Tomorrow
(www.tomorrow.org)
leading education nonprofit organization
dedicated to the empowerment of
stakeholder voices in education
programs include the Speak Up National
Research Project and related research
© Project Tomorrow 2011
About Speak Up National research project to inform federal, state & local policies, programs and funding for ed tech
Over 2.2 million online surveys submitted since 2003 from K-12 students, parents, teachers, librarians & administrators
National reports produced annually on the data results
Research topics include:
• Online Learning
• Mobile Learning
• Digital Content
Speak Up 2011 online surveys Oct 10 – Dec 23
K-12 Students, Parents & Educators
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Which of these are critical for your district?
1. Achieving your district’s core mission
2. Managing through fiscal difficulties
3. Leveraging technology to drive greater
productivity and efficiency
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Which of these are critical for your district?
1. Achieving your district’s core mission
2. Managing through fiscal difficulties
3. Leveraging technology to drive greater
productivity and efficiency
4. All of the above
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Are you also increasingly being asked these questions?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Are you also increasingly being asked these questions?
What is the return on that investment?
What is the value of that investment?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Announcing a new report from Blackboard and Project Tomorrow:
The New Math for Justifying Online Learning
Leveraging ROI and VOI Analysis for Ed Tech Investments
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOIThree goals with this new report:
1. Spark new discussions re: investment decisions 2. Provide real world insights from district leaders
3. Empowering districts with a new methodology and language for justifying ed tech decisions
(online learning projects as a proxy)
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOIReport Methodology
Guided by five key questions:
1. What factors are driving online learning projects?
2. What does VOI and ROI mean in an education setting?
3. What is the “new math” for justifying these decisions?
4. What can we learn from some innovative districts?
5. How can education leaders use this information?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOIReport Methodology
Development process:
• Literature review
• Research on ROI/VOI decision-making
• Analysis of Speak Up national data
• Survey of 34 district administrators
• In-depth interviews with 10 district leaders
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
Report Methodology
Interviewees represented the following districts:
Baltimore City Public Schools (MD)
Fairfax County Public Schools (VA)
Jefferson County Public Schools (CO)
Lubbock Independent School District (TX)
Marion County Public Schools (FL)
Mooresville Graded School District (NC)
Polk County Public Schools (FL)
School District of Clay County (FL)
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
1. What factors are driving online learning projects?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
1. What factors are driving online learning projects?
Increased interest and demand for online learning
Over 1/3 of students in grades 6-12 (who have not taken an online class) would like to take an online class
5X more parents now say that online learning is a good investment for their child’s school
26% of teachers now say they prefer online courses for their professional development
Source: Speak Up 2010 National Findings
© Project Tomorrow 2011
1. What factors are driving online learning projects?
Increased interest and demand for online learning
Source: Speak Up 2010 National Findings
Audience 2008 2010Administrators 21% 36%Teachers 49% 53%Traditional students 24% 40%Home-schooled students 5% 13%Students in continuation schools 3% 18%At risk students 10% 16%
Administrators: Who is your primary audience for online classes?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
1. What factors are driving online learning projects?
Increased interest and demand for online learning
Example: Teachers’ Professional Development
Three key motivating factors:
1. Solve training logistical challenges
2. Address state and federal compliance training issues
3. Leverage online learning for greater cost effectiveness
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
2. What does VOI and ROI mean in an education setting?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
2. What does VOI and ROI mean in an education setting?
Defining VOI – Value of Investment
Looks at how the investment achieves the core mission
Analysis success dependent upon clear cut objectives
Can evaluate both interim and end outcomes but head-on comparisons are difficult unless
program goals are similar
Traditionally the more comfortable analysis method for education leaders
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Defining VOI – Value of Investment
Example: Mooresville Graded School District (NC)
“Digital Conversion” driven by district strategic plan to transform teaching and learning district wide.
Re-purposed budget line items to be cost neutral.
Per Dr. Smith, “LMS is the glue that holds this all together for our district.”
© Project Tomorrow 2011
2. What does VOI and ROI mean in an education setting?
Defining ROI – Return on Investment
Earnings generated per dollar of investment : comparing solution costs to monetary benefits
Monetary benefits as savings and/or new revenue
Provides way to compare investments with an objective, financially focused assessment
Traditionally, has not been a standard practice in K12 education due to inherent challenges
© Project Tomorrow 2011
2. What does VOI and ROI mean in an education setting?
Defining ROI – Return on Investment
Inherent challenges & opportunities:
• 56% of administrators said they have little or no familiarity with ROI
• Only 18% had to complete an ROI analysis to justify their current online learning project
• 85% said they would use a set of ROI tools to evaluate future investments
• 75% of administrators say they would use these ROI tools for other ed tech decisions
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Defining ROI – Return on Investment
Example: Marion County Public Schools (FL)
Catalyst for online teacher PD was financial.
New legislation required teacher training – contract required teachers to be paid a stipend for afterschool PD. Online PD avoided the stipend pay and saved over $45,000. And provided way to “testdrive” online learning.
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Investment Justification
VOI AnalysisValue of Investment
ROI AnalysisReturn on Investment
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOI
3. What is the “new math” for justifying these decisions?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
3. What is the “new math” for justifying these decisions?
Introducing . . . . . .
A New Tool for District Leaders:
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
© Project Tomorrow 2011
3. What is the “new math” for justifying these decisions?
A New Tool for District Leaders:
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Step 1: How?
Step 2: Who?
Step 3: What?
Step 4: When?
Step 5: Where?
Step 6: Why?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Step 1: How?
Step 2: Who?
Step 3: What?
Step 4: When?
Step 5: Where?
Step 6: Why?
The questions provide a
structured way to collect
the data you need for
either an ROI or a VOI
analysis. And provide a
format for articulating the
analysis results to your
stakeholders and/or
decision-makers.
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 1: How?
How are you approaching the justification of your online learning project? Using an ROI or VOI analysis? Or both?
Is an ROI analysis required to gain approval or commitment?
Or it is more important to articulate the benefits through a VOI analysis?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 2: Who?
Who is your targeted audience for your online learning project?
What are the needs of this audience?
What are the current and future costs of meeting those needs?
Why is online learning the best solution for this particular audience and their needs?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 3: What? What is your specific online learning project that will address the needs of the targeted audience? What online courses or environment are you providing?
What are all of the costs associated with your solution?
What is the value-add of your solution?
How will this solution impact student achievement?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 4: When?
When will your participants access the online learning course or the environment that you are providing?
During the school day, afterschool, during summer recess, in the evening?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 5: Where?
Where will your participants be when they access the online learning course or the environment that you are providing?
At home, in the classroom, in a computer center, at the library, in the faculty room?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 6: Why?
Why is your online learning project a justifiable decision by either ROI or VOI standards?
If ROI, what the cost savings or new revenue derived from the investment?
If VOI, how does this project address our core mission as a district?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Ladder Step 6: Why?
Bottom line:
Why is this project a good investment of our district’s time and/or resources?
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
ROI Analysis – some factors to consider:
Budget expense line items
• Meeting costs – travel costs• Print materials, textbooks and curriculum guides• Teacher stipends / substitute fees• Redundant software licenses• Communications with parents• Transportation costs
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
ROI Analysis – some factors to consider:
Sources for new revenue
• Fees for PD courses – internal and external staff• Fees for summer school courses• Selling district courses• Virtual school management and/or consulting
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
VOI Analysis – some factors to consider:
Potential value propositions
• Course expansion and credit recovery• Student engagement, achievement, productivity• Teacher productivity• Increased participation in PD• Parental/community interactions• Curriculum alignment and consistency• Increased staff morale and motivation• Greener approach• Competitive edge
© Project Tomorrow 2011
The Online Learning Justification Ladder
Report includes:
• Three case studies• Jefferson County PS – Teacher PD Program• Clay County Schools – Home Connections Program• Lubbock ISD – Online Summer School
• Ladder worksheet
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Introducing our expert panel:
Judy BauernschmidtDirector, Student Online Learning
21st Century Virtual AcademyJefferson County Public Schools (CO)
Tracy Clanton-SmithLISD-TV & Online School Coordinator
Lubbock Independent School District (TX)
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Recommendations on leveraging ROI and VOI
1. Know what you need to gain approval
2. Create a comprehensive plan
3. Don’t overreach but target a high profile need
4. There is no such thing as a free lunch
5. Don’t be afraid of ROI
6. Engage your stakeholders in the justification process
7. As your project matures, the label “project” is no longer appropriate
8. You can do this!
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Speak Up 2011New online surveys for students,
parents & educators open for input:
October 10 - December 23
Data back to schools & districts:
February 2012
Learn more atwww.tomorrow.org
Enable, engage, empower your stakeholder voices!
© Project Tomorrow 2011
Let’s Talk ROI & VOIYour thoughts and comments!
Julie EvansChief Executive Officer
Project Tomorrow