Sixty-two percent of K-12 schools participating in a recent survey support Chromebook initiatives, and 22 percent of those schools use Chromebooks as a primary classroom device.
While Chromebooks appear to be increasing in popularity, Windows presence remains heavy–92 percent of survey respondents said their schools use at least one Windows-based application, and 29 percent said they use five or more Windows applications for teaching and learning.
[Editor’s note: We’re always tracking mobile device trends for you; click here and here for the latest information.]
The survey of K-12 educators and IT professionals from more than 1,500 K-12 schools comes from Ericom Software, a provider of application access and virtualization solutions.
Device compatibility with existing applications emerged as a top priority for survey respondents, with 43 percent saying their dependence on desktop and cloud-based Windows applications influenced their thoughts about Chromebook deployment. Sixty percent of respondents said browser-based access to Windows applications on Chromebooks would make them a viable solution.
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“This survey suggests that schools are searching for a solution that allows them to integrate cost-efficient Chromebooks into the learning environment without sacrificing access to Windows and other applications,” stated Ilan Paretsky, Vice President of Marketing at Ericom Software. “HMTL5 browser-based remote access provides K-12 schools with a simple solution by making both desktop and cloud-based Windows applications available through a standard browser – a two-for-one solution, simplifying life for both users and IT staff.”
One-to-one initiatives are also emerging as a popular solution in K-12 learning environments. Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of respondents’ schools consider one-to-one capability when evaluating IT solutions. However, according to 71 percent of respondents, at this point, school-issued devices such as laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks, are limited to use during the school day and on school property.
Based on survey results, K-12 schools are using a mixture of strategies to increase device access, with 46 percent of respondents saying their school’s top priority is giving every student access to a device within the next three years.
Survey data shows that only 24 percent of students have access to devices inside and outside of school, but BYOD is becoming a popular way to extend educational technology beyond the classroom. Currently, 43 percent of respondents’ schools have a BYOD policy in place.
Other K-12 mobile technology trends include:
- More than 80 percent of respondents said they prefer mobile devices (laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks) over desktops for use in schools
- Tablets may not be as popular as before: 71 percent of respondents prefer laptops or Chromebooks as classroom devices while only 8 percent prefer tablets
- Almost three-quarters (68 percent) of schools support online and cloud-based initiatives
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