Blended learning study

Blended learning has the ability to transform education, according to a new report—but if certain guidelines and practices aren’t ensured, blended learning could become just another add-on to an archaic system on its way out, the report warns. According to the report, blended learning, which it defines as “any time a student learns at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and at least in part through online delivery with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace,” has grown exponentially over the past decade.
Horn, M. (2011). The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning. Mountain View, CA: Innosight Institute.
http://www.innosightinstitute.org/innosight/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/The-Rise-of-K-12-Blended-Learning.pdf

Girl Scout studies

The Girl Scouts of the USA Research Institute has conducted several studies about girls, which can inform education, including libraries. In honor of a decade of research, they have published a report highlighting key findings from 22 past research efforts on topics including healthy living, civic engagement, leadership and values, safety, self-esteem, body image, and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Go Ask a Girl summarizes and points out interesting facts about girls’ attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors through changing times.
Girl Scouts Research Institute. (2010). Go Ask a Girl: A Decade of Findings from the Girl Scout Research Institute . New York: GSUSA.
http://www.girlscouts.org/research/

Technology by generation study

Generations and gadgets
Seven percent of “younger boomers,” those now between the ages of 47 and 56, and 6% of those ages 66–74 own e-readers. The highest percentages among all age groups are for devices like Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes & Noble’s Nook, according to a new report. Another tidbit: Millennials are the only generation more likely to own a laptop computer or netbook than a desktop.
Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. (2011). Generations and Their Gadgets.
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Generations-and-gadgets/Overview.aspx

Email use study

A 2010 report on digital trends found that Innovative social messaging platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well mobile communications continue to dominate online time, and web email begins its steady decline. Total web email usage was down 8% in the past year (YOY), with a whopping 59% decline in use among people between the ages of 12-17. Young people are simply spending more time social networking than anything else, up 3.8% to 14.% of all time spent online. In contrast, use of web -based email lost 1.5% at a total of 11% of time spent.
ComScore. (2010). The 2010 U.S. Digital Year in Review.
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Presentations_Whitepapers/2011/2010_US_Digital_Year_in_Review

Social-skills teaching study

Study Finds Social-Skills Teaching Boosts Academics An analysis of more than 200 studies finds that classroom programs that focus on social and emotional skills can yield learning improvements that rival those of purely academic programs. Durlak, J., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development82(1), 405-432.

Teachers and technology survey

Teachers favor interactive whiteboards, e-readers
When it comes to classroom technology, teachers favor interactive whiteboards, tablet-style e-reader devices and laptops, according to a national survey on teachers' digital media use. About 62% of teachers said they frequently use digital media in the classroom, though much of what they use is free or paid for out-of-pocket. More than three-quarters of teachers also said they are using streaming video in class, up from 55% in 2007.
PBS and Grunwald Associates. (2011). Deepening Commitment: Teachers Increasingly Rely on Media and Technology. New York: PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/about/media/about/cms_page_media/182/PBS-Grunwald-2011e.pdf

Tech as teacher research

Replacing teachers with technology: Can it be done?
More schools are testing teacherless classrooms that rely on technology to cut costs and keep class sizes low. Some research has found that students who take all or part of their classes online perform better. However, experts also say that some teacher supervision is needed for student-driven virtual lessons to ensure students stay on track. The article states that "adults still have a vital role to play as tutors, mentors, and coaches."
Ferenstein, G. (2011, Feb. 1). Teacher-replacing tech: Friend or foe? Fast Company.
http://www.fastcompany.com/1722914/can-computers-replace-teachers
US Dept. of Education. Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies.
http://ifap.ru/library/book440.pdf