Key points:
- Edtech tools are valuable, but so is PD to help teachers use them effectively
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- Solving the IT staffing challenge in K-12 education
- For more news on edtech trends, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching hub
An overwhelming majority of educators (93 percent) say they believe edtech makes teaching and learning better, according to a new survey from classroom management solution NetSupport.
The survey asked educators who either manage or use technology about the use and benefits of education technology in their schools. Educators were asked about the challenges they encounter and whether more funding or training or another support would improve the effectiveness of education technology.
Given the growth in number of edtech tools used per school district reported by LearnPlatform–tripling between 2017 and 2023–NetSupport gathered insight from classroom teachers, IT staff, and administrators about how well-equipped educators feel about using and managing technology.
Among the findings:
When it comes to the number of edtech tools used in schools and classrooms, some educators feel comfortable with their current number of tools, while others are a bit overwhelmed–30 percent said they have too many edtech tools to understand and use, 38 percent said they feel comfortable with their current mix, 17 percent said they don’t have enough to do their jobs the way they’d like, and 16 percent said they have enough tools, but not the right tools.
Looking at what educators want for their classrooms, 32 percent would like more time to learn and improve how they use classroom tech, 28 percent would like more funding for more (or enhanced) edtech products and services, 22 percent would like more training and support for the tools they already have, 10 percent would like fewer tools and a simplified approach to technology use, and 8 percent would like more one-on-one instruction time that doesn’t rely on technology.
When it comes to where responsibility lies for proper edtech integration and effective use, responsibility falls on:
- Classroom teachers: 34 percent
- IT staff or departments: 27 percent
- School leaders such as head teachers/principals or department heads: 27 percent
- Purchasing officers or departments: 3 percent
- MAT/District leadership such as boards or superintendents: 4 percent
- Someone else: 4 percent
“These results support our experience in working with teachers and education leaders. Across the globe and in the United States, educators say that devices and learning technology offer significant benefits, but we cannot overlook the pressing need to give teachers proper training and time to manage the technology they are currently using,” said Al Kingsley, CEO of NetSupport.
“Furthermore, purchasing technology needs to be made on clearly stated goals,” added Kingsley. “The fact that respondents to this survey suggested that teachers, IT staff, and school leadership shared roughly the same amount of responsibility indicates to me that perhaps there is some confusion about who is responsible for such decisions. There is less confusion about responsibilities when the decision to purchase is based on clearly stated objectives.”
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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