Survey shows edtech underperforms in most American classrooms

84% of teachers questioned in a recent survey believe their school has inadequate technology integration leading to lower levels of student engagement. The teachers noted they would like to incorporate personalised learning and individual assignments into schools, with 40% believing that classroom technologies would help them achieve their teaching objectives. Improved education technology could also work to save teachers time that could be spent formulating lesson plans, researching new theories, or collaborating with colleagues as 33% of their time is spent on administrative tasks.

Dive Brief:

16% of teachers participating in a new survey by Edgenuity on the utilization of tech in the classroom gave their schools an A grade for technology integration, while 53% graded their schools a "B" and 31% handed out C's, D's, and F's.

gave their schools an A grade for technology integration, while The Teachers’ Dream Classroom Survey also highlight the connection between technology integration and teacher success: Out of those teachers who reported "A" grades, 80% also reported technology helps them achieve instructional objectives in the classroom.

also highlight the connection Student engagement was also tied to technology integration and student engagement, and many teachers expressed an interest in incorporating more personalizing learning in the classroom.

Dive Insight:

District administrators should use the new survey's findings as a way to take the temperature of teacher attitudes about tech in their home schools. For those educators who haven't embraced tech, professional development can help. New, no-cost digital platforms like Knowledge Delivery Systems are aimed at helped both early career and experienced educators alike.

Teacher buy-in is also important. Teachers should never feel forced into using tech, Hattiesburg Public School District Instructional Technologist Dr. Will Deyamport cautions, and buy-in should be earned, not assumed. A new study ranks teachers’ digital concerns and attitudes about technology in the classroom, and finds that in general, optimism exists for teachers, in relation to technology’s potential to improve learning outcomes and to increase access to education.

When it comes to rolling out new tech initiatives, as three North Carolina school districts learned, districts should move slowly to reduce stress on educators and school staff. These districts' device deployments offer takeaways for administrators nationwide, including advice on getting things right and avoiding expensive, time-consuming pitfalls.