The goal of this Gallup report is to better understand student and educator perceptions and usage of education technology in schools. In this report, digital learning tools are defined as websites, apps, online tutorials, online games and videos or programs used to teach and support student learning and schoolwork.
Key Findings
Access and Availability In and Out of School
Digital learning tools are integral to teaching and learning in and out of school. About two-thirds of teachers (65%) say they use digital learning tools to teach every day; 22% use them a few days a week, and 13% use them once or less per week. More than half of teachers (53%) report that their students use digital learning tools every day to learn. About seven in 10 students report using digital learning tools outside of school for schoolwork at least a few days a week.
Many teachers would like to use digital learning tools more often to teach. About half of all teachers surveyed (53%) say they would like to use digital learning tools to teach more often; 44% would like to use them about as often as they use them now. About six in 10 teachers who use digital learning tools a few days per week or less say they would like to use them more often to teach.
About four in 10 of students would like to use digital learning tools to learn more often. More teachers (64%), principals (73%) and administrators (66%) than students (42%) themselves say students would like to use digital learning tools more often to learn.
Criteria for Selecting and Purchasing
Educators select digital learning tools that support student learning and meet learning standards. Among 15 possible selection criteria, teachers are most likely to say that immediate and actionable data on students’ progress (35%), allows for personalized instruction based on students’ skill levels (35%), engaging students with school and learning (30%) and easy to use (30%) are the most important factors for selecting digital learning tools for use in their classroom.
Majorities of teachers, principals and administrators say digital learning tools support content that aligns with state standards or district initiatives. Among rated criteria, teachers, principals and administrators are most positive about the extent to which digital learning tools support content that aligns with state standards or district initiatives. Majorities of each group (53%, 51% and 51%, respectively) say they do this a great deal.
Teachers, principals and administrators say there is some but not a lot of information about the effectiveness of digital learning tools. Most teachers (84%) say they are able to choose some of their own digital learning tools for use in their class(es), though 27% say there is a lot of information available about the effectiveness of the tools they currently use. Similarly, 25% of principals and 18% of administrators say there is a lot of information available about the effectiveness of the digital learning tools they use.
Value and Utility
Teachers, principals and administrators see great value in using digital learning tools now and in the future. Teachers (81%), principals (88%) and administrators (92%) strongly agree or agree they see great value in using digital learning tools in the classroom now; slightly more among each group strongly agree or agree they see great value in using them in the future (85%, 93% and 95%, respectively).
Students say digital learning tools are fun and help them to learn things on their own. Students rated several characteristics of digital learning tools. Seven in 10 older students strongly agree or agree that they help them learn things on their own. Nearly all younger students (96%) say they are fun.
More principals and administrators than teachers support the increased use of digital learning tools. Most teachers (85%), principals (96%) and administrators (96%) fully or somewhat support the increased use of digital learning tools in their school. More principals (71%) and administrators (75%) surveyed than teachers (53%) fully support increased use of digital learning tools.
Many administrators say their district has stopped using a digital learning tool because it did not improve student learning outcomes. About two-thirds of administrators (65%) say their district has stopped using a digital learning tool that was piloted or adopted. The most common reason selected for ceasing the use of a digital learning tool is that it did not improve student learning outcomes.
Perceptions of Effectiveness
Most teachers, principals and administrators think digital learning tools are at least as effective as non-digital learning tools. Across nine objectives studied, educators say digital learning tools are at least as effective as non-digital tools. They are most likely to say digital learning tools are more effective than non-digital tools for connecting learning to students’ future jobs and careers. School districts generally have more favorable perceptions of the effectiveness of digital learning tools than teachers and principals.
Majorities of school district administrators say that digital learning tools are more effective than non-digital tools for personalizing instruction (73% versus 65% of principals and 57% of teachers).
Approaches to School and Learning
Teachers who say students in their class work on varied content at different paces are more likely to say students use digital learning tools daily. More than six in 10 teachers (64%) who say their students work on different content at different paces in class report their students use digital learning tools daily. Among teachers who say their students learn the same content at the same pace as a class, 45% report their students use digital learning tools daily.
Teachers say they know their students personally, and most students feel their teachers care about them. Most teachers (80%), principals (86%) and administrators (87%) strongly agree or agree teachers know their students personally. About three-quarters (76%) of secondary school students agree or strongly agree teachers care about them; (42%) strongly agree or agree that most of their teachers know their interests.
Read the full report here: Gallup-Ed-Tech-Use-in-Schools-2