Speak Up 2007
Parent Survey
| |
District: NORTH SCHUYLKILL SD
|
| |
Results based on 86 survey(s).
|
|
Are you a
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Mom
|
76
|
88%
|
79%
|
|
|
Dad
|
5
|
6%
|
17%
|
|
|
Grandmother
|
2
|
2%
|
1%
|
|
|
Grandfather
|
0
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
|
Other relative or guardian
|
3
|
3%
|
2%
|
|
Please mark any grades that your child(ren) attend
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Preschool
|
7
|
8%
|
6%
|
|
|
Kindergarten - Grade 1 - Grade 2
|
35
|
41%
|
28%
|
|
|
Grade 3 - Grade 4 - Grade 5
|
32
|
37%
|
36%
|
|
|
Grade 6 - Grade 7 - Grade 8
|
30
|
35%
|
44%
|
|
|
Grade 9 - Grade 10 - Grade 11 - Grade 12
|
24
|
28%
|
39%
|
|
|
Other
|
0
|
0%
|
3%
|
|
How would you describe your own technology skills?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
An advanced tech user – My skills are more advanced than most adults I know.
|
25
|
29%
|
34%
|
|
|
An average tech user – My skills are the same as most adults I know.
|
55
|
64%
|
57%
|
|
|
A beginner tech user – I am still learning how to use most technology tools.
|
6
|
7%
|
9%
|
|
Which of these activities do you do regularly using technology?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Create a multimedia presentation like PowerPoint
|
21
|
24%
|
40%
|
|
|
Create or listen to podcasts or videos
|
29
|
34%
|
39%
|
|
|
Download music
|
47
|
55%
|
53%
|
|
|
Email or IM my child's teacher or other adults
|
71
|
83%
|
91%
|
|
|
Email or IM or Text with my child(ren)
|
37
|
43%
|
51%
|
|
|
Go to TV show websites to give feedback or vote
|
35
|
41%
|
27%
|
|
|
Maintain a personal website like MySpace or Facebook
|
20
|
23%
|
18%
|
|
|
Participate in online communities
|
22
|
26%
|
25%
|
|
|
Participate in virtual reality environments like Second Life
|
2
|
2%
|
2%
|
|
|
Personalize news feeds
|
11
|
13%
|
12%
|
|
|
Play online games
|
47
|
55%
|
34%
|
|
|
Read or post blog or wiki entries
|
11
|
13%
|
23%
|
|
|
Remix content (such as music, video, text)
|
9
|
10%
|
10%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
2
|
2%
|
3%
|
|
What kind of Internet access do you have at home?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
A computer with no Internet access
|
3
|
3%
|
1%
|
|
|
A computer with "dial-up" or slow Internet access
|
9
|
10%
|
5%
|
|
|
A computer with "DSL or "Cable" Internet access
|
73
|
85%
|
90%
|
|
|
Smartphone with Internet access (like a Treo or Blackberry)
|
0
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
|
I do not have a computer at home.
|
1
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
Which of these online tools do you use regularly to get information and/or to communicate with your child's teacher(s) or school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Class website
|
11
|
13%
|
33%
|
|
|
School website
|
57
|
66%
|
67%
|
|
|
Email
|
35
|
41%
|
77%
|
|
|
Instant Messages or Text Messages
|
3
|
3%
|
4%
|
|
|
Listserv announcements or electronic newsletters
|
2
|
2%
|
22%
|
|
|
School bulletin boards or discussion boards
|
8
|
9%
|
14%
|
|
|
School portal that provides access to grades, homework and events
|
29
|
34%
|
33%
|
|
|
Teacher's blog
|
2
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
|
I don't use any of these tools.
|
6
|
7%
|
4%
|
|
|
I don't have access to these tools on a regular basis.
|
1
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
What has been the impact of using online tools to connect with your child's teacher(s) or school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Better able to help my child with homework.
|
20
|
23%
|
41%
|
|
|
Better informed about my child's grades and overall achievement level.
|
56
|
65%
|
62%
|
|
|
Better informed about school events
|
38
|
44%
|
64%
|
|
|
Better informed about upcoming homework assignments and tests.
|
29
|
34%
|
46%
|
|
|
Feel more connected to my child's school.
|
33
|
38%
|
52%
|
|
|
Have a better relationship with my child's teacher.
|
13
|
15%
|
37%
|
|
|
Have a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by my child's teacher.
|
12
|
14%
|
19%
|
|
|
Know more people at the school.
|
3
|
3%
|
10%
|
|
|
Learned about after school and community events through the school.
|
8
|
9%
|
32%
|
|
|
My child believes that I am better informed about his/her school, classroom and activities.
|
23
|
27%
|
35%
|
|
|
My child is doing better in school
|
9
|
10%
|
20%
|
|
|
Understand the needs at the school.
|
8
|
9%
|
23%
|
|
|
Worry less about what is happening at school.
|
8
|
9%
|
24%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
6
|
7%
|
6%
|
|
|
Other
|
2
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
What are the top 5 features that you would like to have in the perfect "one-stop" school portal or website?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Ability to email or IM with my child's teacher(s) or the school principal
|
34
|
40%
|
65%
|
|
|
Ability to email or IM with other parents at the school
|
5
|
6%
|
12%
|
|
|
Comparative test scores between my child's school and other schools
|
10
|
12%
|
20%
|
|
|
Downloadable parent information via podcasts
|
3
|
3%
|
8%
|
|
|
Emergency school information
|
31
|
36%
|
36%
|
|
|
Homework assignments
|
43
|
50%
|
70%
|
|
|
Information about afterschool or community events
|
23
|
27%
|
28%
|
|
|
Information about government policies affecting my child's school or education
|
11
|
13%
|
14%
|
|
|
Information about standardized tests and test scores
|
17
|
20%
|
23%
|
|
|
Internet safety tips
|
5
|
6%
|
9%
|
|
|
Listing of school needs or volunteer opportunities
|
22
|
26%
|
25%
|
|
|
My child's attendance, academic progress and grades
|
47
|
55%
|
65%
|
|
|
PowerPoints and materials from teachers' lessons
|
16
|
19%
|
24%
|
|
|
Recommendations on appropriate video or online games for children
|
6
|
7%
|
8%
|
|
|
Resources for parents about health and safety issues with children
|
5
|
6%
|
7%
|
|
|
Resources for parents about helping children with schoolwork
|
20
|
23%
|
21%
|
|
|
School calendar, general school news, reminders
|
36
|
42%
|
56%
|
|
|
Suggestions for additional academic activities that we can do at home to support the classwork
|
21
|
24%
|
21%
|
|
|
Teacher blog of daily or weekly lessons
|
22
|
26%
|
27%
|
|
|
Other
|
1
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
What are the top 3 things that you think would improve technology use at your child's school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Classroom teachers should receive training on how to integrate technology into learning.
|
26
|
30%
|
38%
|
|
|
Classroom teachers should receive training on how to use current technology tools.
|
14
|
16%
|
27%
|
|
|
Internet access should be wireless and available for students to use anywhere on campus.
|
11
|
13%
|
14%
|
|
|
Make sure that teachers use current, high quality technology products.
|
17
|
20%
|
33%
|
|
|
Include students' ideas on technology use at school.
|
17
|
20%
|
19%
|
|
|
Students should be able to use their own technology devices, such as laptops, that they bring to school.
|
4
|
5%
|
9%
|
|
|
Students should receive training on how to use technology for schoolwork.
|
34
|
40%
|
41%
|
|
|
Students should spend time every day using a wide variety of technology tools.
|
23
|
27%
|
22%
|
|
|
Technology tools should be integrated into daily instruction.
|
24
|
28%
|
37%
|
|
|
There should be enough technology at school for all students to use.
|
34
|
40%
|
42%
|
|
|
Other
|
0
|
0%
|
4%
|
|
Thinking about your child(ren), how does the use of technology in learning impact their academic achievement?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Accelerates learning opportunities.
|
41
|
48%
|
58%
|
|
|
Addresses different learning styles and matches my child's pace of learning.
|
31
|
36%
|
41%
|
|
|
Better able to relate academic material to real world situations.
|
28
|
33%
|
35%
|
|
|
Better able to retain the subject matter.
|
13
|
15%
|
22%
|
|
|
Better grades and performance on tests.
|
21
|
24%
|
25%
|
|
|
Develops creativity and self-expression.
|
26
|
30%
|
39%
|
|
|
Develops teamwork and collaboration skills.
|
20
|
23%
|
20%
|
|
|
Develops critical thinking and problem solving skills.
|
25
|
29%
|
37%
|
|
|
Easier to review and practice problems in difficult subjects.
|
23
|
27%
|
30%
|
|
|
Enhances self confidence.
|
22
|
26%
|
30%
|
|
|
Fosters independent work.
|
27
|
31%
|
44%
|
|
|
Greater awareness of global issues.
|
17
|
20%
|
25%
|
|
|
Improves attendance with less discipline problems.
|
6
|
7%
|
8%
|
|
|
Increases engagement in school and learning.
|
13
|
15%
|
31%
|
|
|
Personalizes the learning experience.
|
23
|
27%
|
29%
|
|
|
Strengthens communications skills.
|
13
|
15%
|
26%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
3
|
3%
|
4%
|
|
Do you think that your child's school is doing a good job of preparing today's students for the jobs of the 21st century?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Yes
|
36
|
42%
|
43%
|
|
|
No
|
7
|
8%
|
13%
|
|
|
Not Sure
|
18
|
21%
|
25%
|
|
|
No Opinion
|
4
|
5%
|
3%
|
|
|
I have not thought about this before.
|
4
|
5%
|
5%
|
|
|
I do not think this is the responsibility of K-12 education.
|
0
|
0%
|
1%
|
|
In addition to knowing core content subjects, which of these skills do you think is most important for your child(ren) to be successful in the 21st century?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Ability to work in a global society
|
25
|
29%
|
43%
|
|
|
Communicate in more than one language
|
21
|
24%
|
40%
|
|
|
Teamwork and collaboration skills
|
35
|
41%
|
50%
|
|
|
Communication skills
|
48
|
56%
|
64%
|
|
|
Ability to learn new things
|
35
|
41%
|
46%
|
|
|
Creativity and innovation skills
|
30
|
35%
|
44%
|
|
|
Know how to effectively use technology
|
46
|
53%
|
60%
|
|
|
Critical thinking and problem solving skills
|
47
|
55%
|
65%
|
|
|
Information and media literacy skills
|
22
|
26%
|
32%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
0
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
|
Other
|
1
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
What do you think is the best way for your child to acquire the technology skills needed to be successful in the 21st century?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Have access to technology at home
|
38
|
44%
|
57%
|
|
|
Teachers should use a variety of technology resources in homework assignments and reports
|
30
|
35%
|
43%
|
|
|
Make sure that my child's teacher uses the appropriate technology for instruction and homework.
|
28
|
33%
|
38%
|
|
|
Make sure that my child's teacher knows how to use technology.
|
32
|
37%
|
39%
|
|
|
Participate in after school programs or summer camps on technology
|
15
|
17%
|
14%
|
|
|
Take advanced technology classes at school
|
17
|
20%
|
29%
|
|
|
Take an online class
|
7
|
8%
|
11%
|
|
|
Use all kinds of technology as part of the typical school day
|
47
|
55%
|
54%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
1
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
Many schools are thinking about how to use mobile learning devices such as laptops, smart cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players within education. What do you think would be the primary benefits of using such devices in instruction?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Students will develop stronger communications skills.
|
16
|
19%
|
20%
|
|
|
These devices help to extend learning beyond the school day.
|
28
|
33%
|
38%
|
|
|
Use of these devices will help improve the teacher's technology skills
|
6
|
7%
|
15%
|
|
|
Improves teacher-parent-student communications
|
20
|
23%
|
25%
|
|
|
Increases student engagement in school and learning
|
25
|
29%
|
38%
|
|
|
Increases teacher productivity
|
7
|
8%
|
14%
|
|
|
Provides a way for instruction to be personalized for each student
|
22
|
26%
|
30%
|
|
|
Prepares students for the world of work
|
21
|
24%
|
37%
|
|
|
Provides ways for students to informally review classroom material
|
19
|
22%
|
24%
|
|
|
Students develop collaboration and teamwork skills
|
10
|
12%
|
15%
|
|
|
Students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
|
19
|
22%
|
22%
|
|
|
I don't think these devices will positively impact learning.
|
14
|
16%
|
14%
|
|
|
Other
|
3
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
Business and policy leaders believe that scientific knowledge is critical to improving our nation's economic competitiveness. To what extent do you agree that improving K-12 science education should be a top national education issue?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Strongly disagree
|
5
|
6%
|
8%
|
|
|
Disagree
|
3
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
|
Agree
|
34
|
40%
|
36%
|
|
|
Strongly agree
|
19
|
22%
|
35%
|
|
|
No opinion
|
7
|
8%
|
6%
|
|
Which of these do you think would have the greatest impact on improving your child's science education?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Conducting real research on topics that my child is interested in.
|
33
|
38%
|
52%
|
|
|
Explaining why science is relevant to my child's life
|
35
|
41%
|
40%
|
|
|
Having experts come and speak to my child's class about science careers.
|
27
|
31%
|
34%
|
|
|
Learning from a teacher who is excited about science.
|
38
|
44%
|
60%
|
|
|
Learning from a teacher who is well trained in science
|
36
|
42%
|
44%
|
|
|
Opportunity for my child to create multi-media presentations of his/her scientific findings
|
15
|
17%
|
21%
|
|
|
Reading the science textbook.
|
11
|
13%
|
11%
|
|
|
Using online databases to do research.
|
23
|
27%
|
28%
|
|
|
Using standard lab tools to conduct scientific investigations.
|
26
|
30%
|
40%
|
|
|
Using technology based tools to conduct scientific investigations.
|
31
|
36%
|
43%
|
|
|
Working with other students on projects.
|
28
|
33%
|
29%
|
|
|
Other
|
2
|
2%
|
2%
|
|
Do you think that having a good understanding of science is important for your child's future?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Yes, if he/she is interested in a job that uses science.
|
14
|
16%
|
12%
|
|
|
Yes, if he/she likes studying science subjects.
|
2
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
|
Yes, if he/she is planning to go to college.
|
9
|
10%
|
9%
|
|
|
Yes, so he/she can develop good problem solving and critical thinking skills.
|
24
|
28%
|
36%
|
|
|
Yes, an understanding of science is needed to be successful.
|
16
|
19%
|
23%
|
|
|
No, it is not important for my child's future.
|
0
|
0%
|
1%
|
|
How likely are you to encourage your child to pursue a job in a science, math or technology field?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Very likely
|
21
|
24%
|
31%
|
|
|
Likely
|
20
|
23%
|
23%
|
|
|
Somewhat Likely
|
14
|
16%
|
15%
|
|
|
Unlikely
|
1
|
1%
|
5%
|
|
|
No opinion
|
9
|
10%
|
11%
|
|
Which of these factors would greatly influence you in recommending a science, math or technology career to your child?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
College scholarships
|
25
|
29%
|
31%
|
|
|
Competition for those jobs
|
17
|
20%
|
19%
|
|
|
Government policies or legislation in those fields
|
7
|
8%
|
4%
|
|
|
Level of education required for that job field
|
10
|
12%
|
13%
|
|
|
My child's academic strengths
|
50
|
58%
|
59%
|
|
|
My child's interest areas
|
58
|
67%
|
71%
|
|
|
My own experiences or knowledge of that job field
|
7
|
8%
|
14%
|
|
|
National call for more students to enter these fields
|
6
|
7%
|
10%
|
|
|
Opportunities for internships or apprenticeships in those fields
|
18
|
21%
|
20%
|
|
|
Potential income
|
27
|
31%
|
30%
|
|
|
Prestige of the job - how well respected is the job
|
10
|
12%
|
10%
|
|
|
Quality of life
|
21
|
24%
|
35%
|
|
|
Reports about the top jobs for the future
|
10
|
12%
|
14%
|
|
|
Reports that those jobs that are being outsourced to other countries
|
4
|
5%
|
6%
|
|
|
Job location
|
9
|
10%
|
6%
|
|
What skill(s) should be taught at your child's school to prepare them for a good job in the future?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Ability to communicate in more than one language
|
27
|
31%
|
42%
|
|
|
Ability to work with diverse groups of people
|
48
|
56%
|
58%
|
|
|
Awareness of global issues
|
26
|
30%
|
39%
|
|
|
Being creative and "thinking outside the box"
|
54
|
63%
|
65%
|
|
|
Competency in core academic subjects
|
34
|
40%
|
51%
|
|
|
Effective communication skills
|
53
|
62%
|
68%
|
|
|
Knowing how to be a good, responsible worker
|
52
|
60%
|
55%
|
|
|
Knowing how to solve problems
|
50
|
58%
|
63%
|
|
|
Knowing how to think critically
|
48
|
56%
|
63%
|
|
|
Knowing how to use technology
|
55
|
64%
|
64%
|
|
|
Learning new things independently
|
38
|
44%
|
49%
|
|
|
Specific jobs skills or vocational training
|
33
|
38%
|
24%
|
|
|
Understanding about money and how business works
|
38
|
44%
|
46%
|
|
|
Working in teams and collaborating
|
41
|
48%
|
46%
|
|
|
Other
|
0
|
0%
|
2%
|
|
|
None of the above
|
0
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
What concerns you the most about your child's Internet use, in school or out of school?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Advertising and spam
|
17
|
20%
|
40%
|
|
|
Copyright issues / illegal file sharing
|
5
|
6%
|
12%
|
|
|
Difficulty evaluating the credibility of an online source
|
18
|
21%
|
31%
|
|
|
Ineffective Internet filters and firewalls
|
9
|
10%
|
30%
|
|
|
Meeting strangers online
|
41
|
48%
|
58%
|
|
|
Online bullying
|
32
|
37%
|
32%
|
|
|
Online predators
|
49
|
57%
|
59%
|
|
|
Plagiarism and cheating
|
17
|
20%
|
22%
|
|
|
Privacy of records and information
|
23
|
27%
|
31%
|
|
|
Sharing too much personal information online
|
41
|
48%
|
56%
|
|
|
Too much time spent on the computer
|
22
|
26%
|
40%
|
|
|
Violent or inappropriate video or online games
|
25
|
29%
|
39%
|
|
|
Virtual environments
|
7
|
8%
|
13%
|
|
|
Websites that are inappropriate for my child's age
|
32
|
37%
|
54%
|
|
How comfortable are you discussing Internet safety with your child(ren) today?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Very comfortable
|
54
|
63%
|
76%
|
|
|
Somewhat comfortable
|
6
|
7%
|
7%
|
|
|
Not comfortable
|
0
|
0%
|
1%
|
|
|
I need help with this
|
0
|
0%
|
1%
|
|
Which of these technology and Internet topics would you like to learn more about?
|
|
|
Response
|
# of Responses
|
% of Responses
|
National %
|
|
|
Avoiding online predators
|
36
|
42%
|
41%
|
|
|
Copyright and illegal file sharing issues
|
7
|
8%
|
13%
|
|
|
Dealing with online bullies
|
26
|
30%
|
22%
|
|
|
Educational benefits of virtual environments and/or online gaming sites
|
7
|
8%
|
16%
|
|
|
Evaluating online information for credibility and accuracy
|
17
|
20%
|
29%
|
|
|
How much time is too much time on the computer
|
13
|
15%
|
24%
|
|
|
Finding high quality websites to help with schoolwork
|
30
|
35%
|
49%
|
|
|
Protecting my child's personal information and education records
|
37
|
43%
|
46%
|
|
|
Technology skills needed for jobs of the future
|
14
|
16%
|
26%
|
|
|
School's policies regarding plagiarism
|
7
|
8%
|
9%
|
|
|
Things to know about my child having a MySpace page
|
17
|
20%
|
25%
|
|
|
Other
|
| |