Survey says...Parents Support Technology in the Classroom!
Surprise, surprise! According to a survey by The Learning Assembly, a national network of education organizations that help educators implement and assess teaching and learning tools, parents show strong support for technology in the classroom.
As summarized by Broadway World, "parents see a growing role of technology in schools, with 66% of parents indicating that technology use has increased over the past few years. The survey also shows that while 93% of parents believe in the use of technology to tailor student learning, only 1 in 3 believe that schools are currently doing an excellent job using technology for this purpose."
The poll also found that:
- 84% of parents say they want their child to have access to educational technology outside of school to extend learning time beyond the school day. However, only 36% of parents of children who use devices in school report that their children have more opportunities to learn outside the classroom;
- While 87% of parents believe in the potential for technology to positively impact student learning, only 35% of parents whose children use devices in school say their children have learned more because of technology;
- Among parents who say technology is being used more in their child's school, 64% say it has become more integrated into the way teachers teach and students learn;
- Commonly used education terms aren't necessarily understood by parents. Only 44% said they were confident they understood the term "personalized learning" as it relates to their child's education, while four in 10 (43%) understood "competency based education," and only 31% understood the phrase "21st century skills"; and,
- 41% of parents say digital communication is the most frequent way they communicate with teachers (including email, text, and digital applications).
This bolsters recent surveys with both educators and students that show technology in classroom brings value and ultimately improves performance.
