According to a new study by CDW-G, higher education is taking the lead in increasingly using technology in the classroom. The 2012 Learn Now, Lecture Later report notes that higher ed students and faculty are significantly more likely than their high school counterparts to use digital content (74% to 64% students, 80% to 66% faculty) and learning management systems (72% to 40% students, 67% to 49% faculty) – and 69% of students would like to incorporate even more technology into their classes as a learning tool.
“A better mix allows me to learn the material in multiple, distinct ways and helps teach me how to reach the answer through different methods, such as communicating with classmates and/or researching the answer in topic-specific databases,” said one student participating in the survey.
Seventy-six percent (76%) of IT professionals say that faculty requests for classroom technology are up in the last two years, but budget concerns are the number one across-the-board roadblock for implementation. However, cloud-based learning, training and support solutions, along with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) options are cost-effectively moving the increased use of technology in the classroom forward. The following classroom tech statistics were highlighted in the Learn Now, Lecture Later report:
Tablet Use by Students and Faculty
- 26% of students and 34% of faculty have used tablets in the classroom
- 71% of students and 75% of faculty say these use their tablets at least once a week
- 47% of students want faculty to incorporate more tablets into their classes as a learning tool.
Digital Content Use by Students and Faculty
- 69% of students and 73% of faculty have used digital content in the classroom
- 62% of students and 68% of faculty say they use it at least once a week
- 48% of students want faculty to incorporate more digital content into their classes as a learning tool.
Telepresence/Web or Video Conference Use by Students and Faculty
- 33% of students and 31% of faculty have used telepresence in the classroom
- 42% of students and 30% of faculty say these use this method of learning at least once a week
- 30% of students want faculty to incorporate more telepresence learning into their classes.
The increased use of technology by traditional K-12 schools and higher education institutions is a need, challenge and expectation that must be reckoned with as the number of virtual schools and alternative online learning resources continue to grow. What does the average 21st century classroom look like? Perhaps it’s too early to tell.
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