Submitted by Rhonda Corippo —
MOUNTAIN AREA – The community, staff and students of Yosemite Unified School District schools are invited to participate in the National Speak Up Survey, giving those who take the online survey a voice in how technology is used and viewed in education, both locally and across the nation.
The national research project survey is offered so districts can learn more about digital learning and technology in schools and community, including ways participants use technology personally and in class. The survey is about education and concentrates on how local schools use technology to improve teaching and learning. Organizers are also interested in how families and community members use technology for learning and communicating at home.
YUSD is encouraging all faculty, students, parents, and community members to join in a nationwide conversation about the use of technology for learning through Speak Up.
To “Speak Up” follow this link to take the survey. All students will be required to enter in the Yosemite district’s password (“secret word”) to access the survey. The YUSD password (“secret word”) is Welcome.
Not only will participants’ views be taken into consideration by the District’s schools, information and opinions gathered will also be included in the increasingly important U.S. national and state discussions on digital learning policies, programs, and funding.
For the purpose of this survey, the term technology refers to all kinds of electronic devices, including computers, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, and smartphones, as well as online websites, and software.
Since 2003, the Speak Up responses from nearly 4 million teachers, students, and parents have been shared with local, state, and national leaders. The Speak Up data is used regularly by policymakers who are developing new programs, funding and policies for education, according to its parent organization, Project Tomorrow.
The easy-to-take survey consists of a series of multiple choice questions plus an open-ended type question at the end where participants can write in their own response. The survey should only take about 20 minutes to complete. Before the open-ended question, there are optional demographic questions used only by organizers, they say, to give context to the national data findings. All of the answers are 100% confidential.
By being part of Speak Up 2015, participants are sharing ideas to improve education. Please encourage friends to participate in Speak Up 2015.
Rhonda Corippo is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for Yosemite Unified School District
