Web 2.0 in American Schools: Administrator Perspectives

Sponsored by MacArthur Foundation in Cooperation with ASCD & Common Sense Media and Conducted by Metiri.

77% of district administrators agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "Web 2.0 has value for teaching and learning."

Yet only 44% reported taking full responsibility for the restructuring of schools to accommodate Web 2.0

Stratified Random Sample to represent all U.S. School Districts

Top priority for respondents was to keep students engaged and interested in school.  The second was to meet the needs of different types of learners and third was to develop critical thinking skills.

4.  Develop capabilities in students that can't be acquired through traditional methods

5.  Provide alternative learning environments for students

6.  Extend learning beyond the school day

7.  Prepare students to be lifelong learners

Global Awareness did not come up in the top seven, but when they dug deeper into the data it was for Superintendents.

85% of administrators surveyed said web 2.0 should be used on approved educational sites or all use should be allowed.  

When looking at the question regarding web 2.0's use in teaching and learning, the social collaborative tools were lowest, sharing visual media and polling topped the list.  That is interesting, but not that surprising.  I feel like we always adopt the tools that we understand first for our kids.  This is why they are lapping us.

School district administrators acknowledged the critical need to use web 2.0 to transform teaching and learning, and to change the structure of high schools over the next decade.  And yet, few had systemically begun to research, plan, or implement effective uses of web 2.0, nor had they restructured their schools to enable participatory reform.

ASCD, it is essential to model and they will be requiring members to be on their new social networking page on their site.  Interesting.  They believe that the negative stance that most administrators have on web 2.0 hurts adoption (i.e. we can't control it, cyber-bullying, the kids won't pay attention, etc. etc. etc.)  I would note that like it or not these issues are real and we must address them while showing the massive benefit of web 2.0 in relation to the risk.

I think when this full report comes out in April 2009 that it will be a nice planning tool for our district.  The numbers are interesting.  I would be curious to see the validity and reliability of the survey.

I am signing off for the day...  See you on-line tomorrow