When Students Power Down

Last week, Education Week published a story that revealed that students are typically asked to "power down" at school, leaving their 21st century literacy skills behind. It’s an ironic reality for the state of out-of-school literacies—learned "out of school" and condemed to be used only "out of school." 

This finding was part of a report released during a Congressional Briefing of the Speak Up National Research Project. The report gives voice to 1.3 million students, all K–12 pupils who speak to educational issues involving  technology, science and 21st century skills.

While I’ve only begun thinking through the implications of the data, one thing is very obvious: students do not have the support or access to the tools that they need to prepare them for their future—and students realize that they are at a disadvantage as a result.

To learn more about the findings, check out the Powerpoint presentation from the briefing, which highlights the key points of their report: