Speak Up 2008
Grades 6 - 8
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District: NORTH SCHUYLKILL SD
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| |
Results based on 143 survey(s).
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|
What grade are you in?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Grade 6
|
143
|
100%
|
34%
|
|
|
Grade 7
|
0
|
0%
|
32%
|
|
|
Grade 8
|
0
|
0%
|
33%
|
|
Gender
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Girl
|
75
|
52%
|
49%
|
|
|
Boy
|
66
|
46%
|
50%
|
|
Thinking about the other students in your class, do you consider yourself…
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|
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Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
An advanced tech user – more expert than most of the students at my school
|
38
|
27%
|
23%
|
|
|
An average tech user – the same as most of the students at my school
|
97
|
68%
|
70%
|
|
|
A beginner – below the skills of most of the students at my school
|
7
|
5%
|
6%
|
|
What types of electronic devices do you have access to for your own use? (Check all that apply)
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Cell phone (without Internet access)
|
96
|
67%
|
64%
|
|
|
Laptop computer
|
89
|
62%
|
50%
|
|
|
Desktop computer
|
128
|
90%
|
73%
|
|
|
Music or video device (e.g. MP3 player or iPod)
|
130
|
91%
|
80%
|
|
|
Video Gaming System (Xbox, Playstation, Wii)
|
131
|
92%
|
77%
|
|
|
Hand-held game (like a GameBoy)
|
124
|
87%
|
64%
|
|
|
Tablet PC
|
18
|
13%
|
8%
|
|
|
Smartphone (with Internet access, e.g. Blackberry, iPhone)
|
60
|
42%
|
24%
|
|
|
Other
|
88
|
62%
|
36%
|
|
What kind of computer or Internet access do you have outside of school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
A home computer with no Internet access
|
5
|
3%
|
6%
|
|
|
A home computer with dialup or slow Internet access
|
15
|
10%
|
12%
|
|
|
A home computer with fast Internet access (e.g. DSL, Broadband, or cable)
|
108
|
76%
|
71%
|
|
|
I only use the Internet at a location other than my home (public library, after school program, etc)
|
10
|
7%
|
5%
|
|
|
My only access to computers or the Internet is at school
|
3
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
How do you use technology for schoolwork?
(Check all that apply)
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|
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Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Access class information
(e.g. grades, teachers notes or presentations, podcasts)
|
104
|
73%
|
56%
|
|
|
Communicate with others using email, IM, or text messaging
|
91
|
64%
|
46%
|
|
|
Complete writing assignments
|
125
|
87%
|
70%
|
|
|
Conduct research
|
121
|
85%
|
64%
|
|
|
Conduct virtual experiments or simulations
|
55
|
38%
|
21%
|
|
|
Create slide shows, videos or web pages for an assignment
|
114
|
80%
|
54%
|
|
|
Get help from an online tutor
|
16
|
11%
|
8%
|
|
|
Listen to a podcast for a class
|
29
|
20%
|
12%
|
|
|
Participate in online communities
|
39
|
27%
|
11%
|
|
|
Participate in videoconferences
|
37
|
26%
|
7%
|
|
|
Participate in virtual reality environments like Second Life
|
29
|
20%
|
8%
|
|
|
Play educational games
|
105
|
73%
|
45%
|
|
|
Post to blogs or wikis
|
33
|
23%
|
13%
|
|
|
Take an online class
|
22
|
15%
|
7%
|
|
|
Take tests online
|
101
|
71%
|
32%
|
|
|
Turn in papers for plagiarism check (e.g. TurnItIn)
|
22
|
15%
|
9%
|
|
|
Twitter or post a microblog
|
11
|
8%
|
3%
|
|
|
Upload information for school (e.g. homework assignments)
|
77
|
54%
|
31%
|
|
|
Use my profile (MySpace, Friendster, Facebook) to collaborate with classmates on a project
|
76
|
53%
|
30%
|
|
|
Use online textbooks or other online curriculum
|
49
|
34%
|
27%
|
|
|
Work on projects with students in other countries
|
19
|
13%
|
8%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
1
|
1%
|
5%
|
|
Besides not having enough time in your school day, what are the major obstacles to using technology in your school?
(Check all that apply)
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Computers or other tech equipment are not available
|
16
|
11%
|
11%
|
|
|
I am unable to access the Internet
|
6
|
4%
|
8%
|
|
|
I cannot access my personal email account or send email or IM to classmates
|
52
|
36%
|
31%
|
|
|
I cannot use my own computer or mobile devices
|
29
|
20%
|
30%
|
|
|
I don't have the skills I need
|
5
|
3%
|
6%
|
|
|
Internet access is not fast enough
|
25
|
17%
|
18%
|
|
|
My assignments don't require using technology
|
6
|
4%
|
12%
|
|
|
School filters or firewalls block websites I need to use
|
30
|
21%
|
34%
|
|
|
Software is not good enough
|
11
|
8%
|
12%
|
|
|
Teachers don't know how to use the technology
|
6
|
4%
|
8%
|
|
|
Teachers limit our technology use
|
43
|
30%
|
34%
|
|
|
There are rules against using technology at my school
|
34
|
24%
|
25%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
33
|
23%
|
16%
|
|
|
Other
|
21
|
15%
|
9%
|
|
In some schools, students use mobile devices (cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs etc.) to help with schoolwork. How would you use a mobile device to help you with your schoolwork?
(Check all that apply)
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|
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Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Access social networking sites (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Friendster)
|
55
|
38%
|
27%
|
|
|
Conduct Internet research
|
86
|
60%
|
52%
|
|
|
Create or share documents, videos or podcasts
|
43
|
30%
|
28%
|
|
|
Email, IM or text message a classmate
|
79
|
55%
|
47%
|
|
|
Email, IM or text message my teacher
|
44
|
31%
|
29%
|
|
|
Play educational games
|
84
|
59%
|
39%
|
|
|
Receive reminders and alerts on my cell phone about homework and tests
|
71
|
50%
|
48%
|
|
|
Record lectures so I can listen later
|
47
|
33%
|
30%
|
|
|
Share and edit calendars, or organize bookmarks
|
47
|
33%
|
31%
|
|
|
Upload or download information from my school's portal
|
34
|
24%
|
23%
|
|
|
Work on projects with my classmates
|
93
|
65%
|
49%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
10
|
7%
|
9%
|
|
|
Other
|
16
|
11%
|
8%
|
|
How could your school make it easier for you to work electronically?
(Check all that apply)
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Let me use my own laptop, cell phone or other mobile device
|
100
|
70%
|
62%
|
|
|
Provide access to social networking sites
|
59
|
41%
|
36%
|
|
|
Let me access software applications from any computer at home or school
|
38
|
27%
|
35%
|
|
|
Let me access school projects from any computer at home or school
|
70
|
49%
|
48%
|
|
|
Provide tools for me to organize my schoolwork
|
72
|
50%
|
43%
|
|
|
Provide tools for me to communicate with my classmates
|
81
|
57%
|
45%
|
|
|
Provide tools for me to communicate with my teacher(s)
|
63
|
44%
|
35%
|
|
|
Unlimited Internet access
|
78
|
55%
|
51%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
7
|
5%
|
7%
|
|
|
Other
|
15
|
10%
|
6%
|
|
How would you describe your interest in taking an online class?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
I researched taking an online class
|
15
|
10%
|
10%
|
|
|
I took an online class for school
|
13
|
9%
|
9%
|
|
|
I took an online class for personal reasons (outside of school)
|
5
|
3%
|
7%
|
|
|
I have not taken an online class but I am interested
|
35
|
24%
|
35%
|
|
|
I am not interested in taking a online class
|
91
|
64%
|
47%
|
|
Why would you take an online class?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
To take a class not offered at my school
|
31
|
22%
|
29%
|
|
|
To get extra help in a subject
|
64
|
45%
|
44%
|
|
|
To fit my schedule
|
22
|
15%
|
19%
|
|
|
To earn college credit
|
45
|
31%
|
36%
|
|
|
To work at my own pace
|
52
|
36%
|
36%
|
|
|
To complete high school requirements
|
35
|
24%
|
28%
|
|
|
It is more interesting than a traditional class
|
28
|
20%
|
18%
|
|
|
It is easier for me to learn in an online class
|
25
|
17%
|
18%
|
|
|
I don't know
|
53
|
37%
|
25%
|
|
|
Other
|
11
|
8%
|
7%
|
|
If you have taken (or thought about taking) an online class, how might this type of learning make school more interesting?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
I would be in control of my learning
|
49
|
34%
|
39%
|
|
|
I would be more comfortable asking my teacher questions
|
48
|
34%
|
32%
|
|
|
I would be more motivated to learn
|
41
|
29%
|
30%
|
|
|
I would feel more connected to school
|
46
|
32%
|
27%
|
|
|
I would receive more attention from my teacher(s)
|
28
|
20%
|
21%
|
|
|
It would be easier for me to succeed
|
52
|
36%
|
34%
|
|
|
It would be easier to share ideas with my classmates
|
53
|
37%
|
28%
|
|
|
It would be easier to review class materials as many times as I want
|
58
|
41%
|
31%
|
|
|
I prefer to learn in a traditional classroom
|
27
|
19%
|
13%
|
|
|
I do not know
|
27
|
19%
|
18%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
23
|
16%
|
11%
|
|
|
Other
|
7
|
5%
|
4%
|
|
Some states and districts are considering requiring all students take an online class to graduate from high school. Do you agree or disagree with this policy?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Strongly agree
|
15
|
10%
|
11%
|
|
|
Agree
|
24
|
17%
|
20%
|
|
|
Disagree
|
21
|
15%
|
16%
|
|
|
Strongly disagree
|
37
|
26%
|
17%
|
|
|
No Opinion
|
39
|
27%
|
24%
|
|
Imagine that you can design a new kind of textbook that will be 100% online. What should be included in that new online textbook?
(Check all that apply)
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Ability to create podcasts or videos
|
88
|
62%
|
51%
|
|
|
Ability to download information to my cell phone
|
97
|
68%
|
53%
|
|
|
Ability to make electronic highlights or notes
|
114
|
80%
|
61%
|
|
|
Access to online tutors at anytime
|
96
|
67%
|
49%
|
|
|
Advanced topics to extend my learning
|
98
|
69%
|
51%
|
|
|
Animations and simulations that explain concepts
|
101
|
71%
|
51%
|
|
|
Games to explore concepts or ideas I'm learning
|
118
|
83%
|
59%
|
|
|
Links to real-time data
(e.g. population, weather, NASA, earthquakes, Google Earth, etc)
|
101
|
71%
|
51%
|
|
|
Links to useful websites
|
110
|
77%
|
57%
|
|
|
PodCasts from subject experts
|
61
|
43%
|
34%
|
|
|
PowerPoint presentations from teachers
|
109
|
76%
|
53%
|
|
|
Quizzes and tests that I can take myself
|
107
|
75%
|
58%
|
|
|
Self paced tutorials
|
78
|
55%
|
41%
|
|
|
Tools to help me collaborate or share information with my classmates (e.g. blogs, social networking sites, wikis, bookmarking)
|
84
|
59%
|
42%
|
|
|
Tools to help me develop my writing skills
|
74
|
52%
|
45%
|
|
|
Tools to help me organize my schoolwork (communications, organize my assignments, take notes)
|
99
|
69%
|
52%
|
|
|
Video clips about topics I'm studying
|
97
|
68%
|
51%
|
|
|
Videoconference opportunities
|
63
|
44%
|
30%
|
|
|
Virtual labs
|
77
|
54%
|
44%
|
|
|
Other
|
11
|
8%
|
7%
|
|
How do you use web 2.0 tools outside of school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Upload or download videos, podcasts or photos to the Internet
|
74
|
52%
|
37%
|
|
|
Use web tools to create or modify and upload videos, music, audio or animation
|
64
|
45%
|
32%
|
|
|
Create new work using pre-existing text, graphics, audio, video or animation (MashUp)
|
43
|
30%
|
24%
|
|
|
Communicate with others through email, IM or text message
|
89
|
62%
|
45%
|
|
|
Communicate with others through discussion boards, social networking sites, chat or online communities
|
57
|
40%
|
25%
|
|
|
Participate in virtual reality environments like Second Life
|
36
|
25%
|
16%
|
|
|
Participate in online games
|
85
|
59%
|
38%
|
|
|
Update my profile (MySpace, Facebook or Friendster)
|
76
|
53%
|
35%
|
|
|
Write or contribute to a blog (my own or someone else's)
|
33
|
23%
|
18%
|
|
|
Use web tools to create a list of resources I want to share or remember (e.g. del.icio.us, digg, diigo, magnolia, reddit)
|
31
|
22%
|
17%
|
|
|
Use web tools for writing collaboratively with others (e.g. GOOGLE docs, writeboard or letterpop)
|
42
|
29%
|
20%
|
|
|
Contribute to a wiki
|
20
|
14%
|
12%
|
|
|
Use web tools to notify me about things I'm interested in (e.g. news or magazine articles, changes to websites)
|
35
|
24%
|
22%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
25
|
17%
|
20%
|
|
Why is learning science important to you?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
I might want a job that uses science
|
89
|
62%
|
41%
|
|
|
I want to earn good grades
|
108
|
76%
|
54%
|
|
|
It helps me develop my problem solving and critical thinking skills
|
67
|
47%
|
35%
|
|
|
To graduate from high school
|
92
|
64%
|
48%
|
|
|
To help me get into college
|
99
|
69%
|
50%
|
|
|
To help me make informed decisions in the future
|
89
|
62%
|
36%
|
|
|
Science is not important to me
|
9
|
6%
|
10%
|
|
|
I don't know
|
6
|
4%
|
10%
|
|
Which of these activities (outside of school) would increase your interest in studying science?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Visit science-related places (e.g. museums, aquariums, zoos etc)
|
87
|
61%
|
46%
|
|
|
Watch TV shows about science
|
91
|
64%
|
45%
|
|
|
Read books about science
|
55
|
38%
|
27%
|
|
|
Learn about careers and jobs that use science
|
80
|
56%
|
41%
|
|
|
Discuss science news and events
|
66
|
46%
|
28%
|
|
|
Participate in science clubs or fairs
|
57
|
40%
|
25%
|
|
|
Play computer games that include a science theme
|
103
|
72%
|
46%
|
|
|
Celebrate science-related events (e.g. Earth Day, Mars Rover)
|
61
|
43%
|
28%
|
|
|
Participate in science research projects (e.g. tracking bird migrations, monitoring water quality etc)
|
61
|
43%
|
27%
|
|
|
Meet professionals in the science field
|
63
|
44%
|
30%
|
|
|
Use science skills to solve a community problem
|
58
|
41%
|
25%
|
|
|
Other
|
15
|
10%
|
8%
|
|
Our national leaders would like to have more students pursue careers in science, technology, math or engineering. Right now, are you interested in a job or career in any of these fields?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
No, those subjects are too hard for me
|
4
|
3%
|
4%
|
|
|
No, my strengths are in other areas
|
12
|
8%
|
11%
|
|
|
No, my parents say that other jobs are better
|
1
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
|
No, those subjects are not interesting to me
|
14
|
10%
|
9%
|
|
|
Maybe, I would like to know more about those jobs or careers
|
49
|
34%
|
21%
|
|
|
Yes, I am somewhat interested in a job or career in those fields
|
14
|
10%
|
13%
|
|
|
Yes, I am very interested in a job or career in those fields
|
29
|
20%
|
17%
|
|
|
Other
|
12
|
8%
|
8%
|
|
Which of the following would help increase your interest in a career you might be thinking about?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Learn about careers through "Day in the Life" podcasts or videos
|
55
|
38%
|
30%
|
|
|
Learn from teachers who have worked in the professional field I'm interested in
|
76
|
53%
|
33%
|
|
|
Meet successful role models
|
84
|
59%
|
46%
|
|
|
Participate in career exploration programs after school
|
58
|
41%
|
27%
|
|
|
Participate in career exploration programs during the summer
|
44
|
31%
|
21%
|
|
|
Participate in virtual tours of companies
|
48
|
34%
|
25%
|
|
|
Provide scholarships to college
|
73
|
51%
|
39%
|
|
|
Talk to professionals about their jobs
|
75
|
52%
|
41%
|
|
|
Use tools that professionals use in my classroom
|
60
|
42%
|
26%
|
|
|
Visit companies
|
51
|
36%
|
29%
|
|
|
Work in a part-time job in those fields
|
47
|
33%
|
32%
|
|
|
Work with mentors who can help me with my college and career planning
|
52
|
36%
|
27%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
14
|
10%
|
10%
|
|
|
Other
|
10
|
7%
|
5%
|
|
If you were the school principal, what would you do to make sure that every student was successful?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Give students the flexibility to select projects they would like to work on
|
107
|
75%
|
54%
|
|
|
Have more school counselors
|
55
|
38%
|
27%
|
|
|
Have teachers who are interested in each student's success
|
102
|
71%
|
53%
|
|
|
Involve students' parents at school
|
73
|
51%
|
31%
|
|
|
Know every student's name and what's important to them
|
94
|
66%
|
46%
|
|
|
Let students earn college credit with high school classes
|
88
|
62%
|
48%
|
|
|
Listen to students' ideas about how to make school better
|
115
|
80%
|
57%
|
|
|
Make sure every student belongs to a group or club
|
52
|
36%
|
24%
|
|
|
Make sure students feel safe at school
|
106
|
74%
|
58%
|
|
|
Personalize learning for every student
|
75
|
52%
|
41%
|
|
|
Provide more classes at different times for students who have to work
|
78
|
55%
|
38%
|
|
|
Provide online classes
|
79
|
55%
|
42%
|
|
|
Provide opportunities to explore careers
|
79
|
55%
|
43%
|
|
|
Provide students with extra academic support to be successful (tutoring, after school programs, summer school, etc)
|
81
|
57%
|
42%
|
|
|
Reduce the number of students in each class
|
46
|
32%
|
26%
|
|
|
Set high expectations for all students
|
65
|
45%
|
31%
|
|
|
Teach students how to be successful for work or college
|
84
|
59%
|
45%
|
|
|
Treat all students equally and with respect
|
96
|
67%
|
53%
|
|
|
Use technology to make classes more interactive
|
90
|
63%
|
47%
|
|
|
I don't know
|
8
|
6%
|
8%
|
|
|
Other
|
10
|
7%
|
6%
|
|
Which of these information and media literacy skills will you need to be successful in the 21st century? (Check all that apply)
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Ability to identify a research question
|
96
|
67%
|
49%
|
|
|
Ability to identify information sources and how to locate resources
|
82
|
57%
|
44%
|
|
|
Ability to organize information
|
85
|
59%
|
51%
|
|
|
Ability to prepare written or verbal reports of research
|
82
|
57%
|
44%
|
|
|
Ability to produce blogs, vlogs, podcasts, digital storytelling, or video reports
|
69
|
48%
|
37%
|
|
|
Know how to analyze and interpret stories, commercials, or in the media (TV, magazines, newspapers, blogs etc)
|
64
|
45%
|
41%
|
|
|
Know how to detect bias, censorship or propaganda in resources
|
46
|
32%
|
29%
|
|
|
Know how to evaluate my own work to improve my effectiveness
|
72
|
50%
|
41%
|
|
|
Know how to summarize research
|
75
|
52%
|
43%
|
|
|
Know how to use technology and digital content responsibility
|
80
|
56%
|
42%
|
|
|
Understand how to evaluate the relevance, authenticity, and credibility of resources
|
57
|
40%
|
34%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
22
|
15%
|
11%
|
|
|
Other
|
5
|
3%
|
4%
|
|
What is the best way for you to acquire these information and media literacy skills?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Learn on my own just by using technology
|
67
|
47%
|
38%
|
|
|
Learn through a special class at my school
|
63
|
44%
|
32%
|
|
|
By using technology as part of my regular classes
|
79
|
55%
|
45%
|
|
|
Take an online information and media literacy class
|
49
|
34%
|
25%
|
|
|
From my parents
|
74
|
52%
|
36%
|
|
|
From my friends
|
61
|
43%
|
34%
|
|
|
Other
|
18
|
13%
|
6%
|
|
If you were assigned to research a topic on the Internet, how would you know a resource was credible?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Author is an expert with published credentials
|
69
|
48%
| | |