Halstrom High School Blog

Personalization of High Schools with Digital Learning

Speak Up, a national research initiative of Project Tomorrow since 2003, surveys students on digital learning and solicits their opinions on how successfully their school approaches and implements technology for learning. Julie Evans presented the project’s findings and highlighted what students envision for their schools and education.

The project found that students, more than teachers and administrators, viewed technology as having a larger, more interactive role in their education. When asked about their school’s practices of “technology learning,” they expressed and experienced:

•     Frustration with unsophisticated use of technologies within education;
•     Persistent digital disconnect between themselves and adults; and
•     Exasperation of lack of relevancy in current education.

The survey found that the student vision for learning is socially-based, digitally rich, and not restricted to the classroom. Students say proper use of technology can provide teachers and students with opportunities for:

•     Collaborative learning;
•     Online communities;
•     Out of classroom learning;
•     True digital content; and
•     Mobile and online learning.

By using digital learning to personalize high schools, educators, policymakers, and administrators hope to reengage students and enable them to experience learning in new ways that are fun, efficient, and assist them with skills for their future college and career endeavors.