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According to our nation’s students, the value of using technology for learning is clear—when used effectively, it helps them develop the skills they need for future success. Less than one-third of students say they have regular access to interactive technologies such as virtual labs, multimedia tools, augmented reality, coding resources, and AI tools that foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving. Students report that their best use of digital resources for learning happens on their own time, outside of school, most often through their smartphones.

In the edLeader Panel “From Engagement to Learning: Congressional Briefing on Closing the Gap Between Student Aspirations and Classroom Practices,” Dr. Julie A. Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow and the founder of the Speak Up Research Project, shared the 2023-24 Speak Up results and discussed the difficult question every school is facing today: what role should technology play in school? Discover what students say most engages them, why they do their best work, and why they are also divided on bringing smartphones to school.

This year, more than 100,000 K-12 students, classroom educators, administrators, parents, and families participated in the Speak Up Research Initiative about the role of technology for learning in and out of school. The Congressional Briefing is an annual presentation of Speak Up results to national policymakers and includes a panel of middle and high school students from across the United States, offering their authentic, no-spin views on learning today.

So, what do we need to know to increase the efficacy of classroom learning, especially when using technology?

One key takeaway: our cautious approach to technology in school may be fostering a reaction exactly opposite of what we aspire to. Dr. Evans mentioned how, as educators, we hope our students become lifelong learners. However, their desire to become lifelong learners is “impacted by the types of learning experiences that students have in school.”

One student on the panel absolutely agreed. She described passive learning as long lectures in class and not project based. “It can seem like a chore,” said Kennedy, a high school senior in Kentucky. “I think that the way that you see learning also affects how you see education . . . if you have active learning in your classroom . . . you might see education as a very positive thing.”

What types of active learning did the panel suggest? Activities that help them develop meaningful career and college-ready skills, including teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills.

“I think the biggest skill is definitely communication and teamwork because, in the job market, you’re not going to be working on projects alone. We need more collaboration and teamwork in school to allow students to thrive in the job market,” said Suvan, a high school senior in Virginia.

Across the board, the research and the student panel reflected that students want more agency in their learning to pursue what interests them most. All students on the panel described an ideal high school as similar to college, one that allows students to personalize their learning and select courses relevant to a chosen career.

The research also demonstrated that when students use technology regularly, including AI, the additional exposure helps them feel more confident about recognizing the pitfalls schools are trying to protect them against, like biased or inaccurate information.

According to the student panelists, the same holds for banning cell phones. All agreed it’s necessary to limit cell phone use in order to limit distractions. One student described a classroom experiment where, in one hour, 12 students received more than 200 phone notifications during class. “It’s 50/50,” said Brynn, a high school senior in California, as she described how integral cell phones are to getting things done efficiently.

Kennedy added, “As you saw in the data, a lot of websites are blocked for students. In my college class, the email that we need to use to get into all of our classes is blocked on a regular school computer. So I have to use my phone.”

View the Congressional Briefing recording for more research insights and the top three things that the student panel described for their best learning, including how essential their relationship is with their teacher.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, From Engagement to Learning: Congressional Briefing on Closing the Gap Between Student Aspirations and Classroom Practices.

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21st Century Learning is a free professional learning community that serves as a forum for collaboration in a world where change is constant and learning never stops.

Project Tomorrow is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to ensure that today’s students are well-prepared to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and engaged citizens of the world. We support that mission with programs and research that focus on innovation and new learning models in the K-12 classroom, including through the effective use of technology.

Article by Suzanne Bell, based on this edLeader Panel