How Teachers Are Using Technology (PEW)

Buchanan, J., Friedrich, L, Heaps, A., & Purcell, K.  (2013, February 28). How teachers are using technology at home and in their classrooms.  Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/02/28/how-teachers-are-using-technology-at-home-and-in-their-classrooms/

I read an article entitled How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms.  2,462 Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers were surveyed and asked how digital technologies have helped them in teaching their middle and high school students.  Most teachers say that the impact of digital tools has made more work for them.  It was noted in the article that the laptops and desktops in many schools have become obsolete.  Now schools are using devices such as, tablets and smartphones.  73% of AP and NWP teachers say they or their students use mobile phones, 45% say they or their students use e-readers, and 43% use tablet computers to complete assignments. While over half of students are getting the education and use of digital tools at school, only 18% have access to digital tools at home.  This is leading to a widening gap in technology education.  Years of experience is also a factor when thinking about digital education.  Younger teachers, with fewer years of experience are more likely to use and teach students how to use digital tools.  Older teachers (55 and up), are “scared” of the technology.  While this article is titled How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms, it did not discuss much about teachers using technology at home.  It mentioned teachers using technology for professional communication, but it relied heavily on technology used at school.

I found this article very interesting.  I found that my district really needs to check-up on technology.  The district I work for has a no tolerance policy on cell phones and tablets in the elementary, middle, and high schools.  Seeing the percentage of AP and NWP teachers that integrate these digital tools, it is a shame that kids in my district aren’t allowed to have them.  The article talks about the technology gap within higher and lower income schools, but I would like to see the technology gap in older and newer schools.  When new schools are built they tend to get the latest technology, but the older schools like mine have NO technology.  We have one class in third, fourth, and fifth grade that have Smartboards.  My school is 58 years old.  In the elementary that opened last year, Smartboards were put in each classroom.

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