EDU 790 Week 4: Educational Technology Research
2/3/18
Hello,
This week I will be discussing some educational research that I found interesting. After reading through the selected articles, two pieces of information stuck with me. The first articles I am doing to discuss is called Survey: More than Half of Students want their Classes to go Digital, by Rhea Kelly. This article states that according to McGraw-Hill Education, "fifty-three percent of students in a recent survey said they prefer classes to use digital learning tools." This survey was given to over 1,000 college students. I was surprised by this number. I was mostly surprised because it was right in the middle. Anytime I get into a real conversation with my middle school students, I get a lot of strong opinions against digital textbooks. Now I understand they are talking about the broad spectrum of digital learning tools, not just online textbooks. However, McGraw-Hill is a huge textbook publisher. I would be curious to compare their digital textbooks vs. hard copy textbooks. In my class, the students use Pearson online textbooks. It seems great for the parents and teachers to know that the student always has their textbook, but the students seem to feel differently. When it comes to textbooks, my students want pages, book marks, and easy flipping from one page to another. I really push the benefits of text to talk functions, videos rather than images and extra online resources; but they want books. I ended up keeping a classroom set of hardcopy books in my room and the students will choose that first every time. This article also states that "ninety four precent of students said digital learning technology has been helpful in retaining new concepts." This statistic I am more likely to believe. With millions and millions of resources out there for students, I believe my teaching is better. It is so easy now to find multiple resources for students with different learning needs. I hardly have to create anything from scratch anymore. I am also curious to see how the statistics would change if they surveyed a wider range of students. How would these numbers look coming from schools that had less access to technology in the classroom?
The second article I am going to write about is from Project Tomorrow called Trends in Digital Learning: Building Teachers' Capacity and Competency to Create New Learning Experiences for Students. This article stated the three statistics below:
Hello,
This week I will be discussing some educational research that I found interesting. After reading through the selected articles, two pieces of information stuck with me. The first articles I am doing to discuss is called Survey: More than Half of Students want their Classes to go Digital, by Rhea Kelly. This article states that according to McGraw-Hill Education, "fifty-three percent of students in a recent survey said they prefer classes to use digital learning tools." This survey was given to over 1,000 college students. I was surprised by this number. I was mostly surprised because it was right in the middle. Anytime I get into a real conversation with my middle school students, I get a lot of strong opinions against digital textbooks. Now I understand they are talking about the broad spectrum of digital learning tools, not just online textbooks. However, McGraw-Hill is a huge textbook publisher. I would be curious to compare their digital textbooks vs. hard copy textbooks. In my class, the students use Pearson online textbooks. It seems great for the parents and teachers to know that the student always has their textbook, but the students seem to feel differently. When it comes to textbooks, my students want pages, book marks, and easy flipping from one page to another. I really push the benefits of text to talk functions, videos rather than images and extra online resources; but they want books. I ended up keeping a classroom set of hardcopy books in my room and the students will choose that first every time. This article also states that "ninety four precent of students said digital learning technology has been helpful in retaining new concepts." This statistic I am more likely to believe. With millions and millions of resources out there for students, I believe my teaching is better. It is so easy now to find multiple resources for students with different learning needs. I hardly have to create anything from scratch anymore. I am also curious to see how the statistics would change if they surveyed a wider range of students. How would these numbers look coming from schools that had less access to technology in the classroom?
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| Image from HomeRoom: The Official Blog of the US Department of Education |
The second article I am going to write about is from Project Tomorrow called Trends in Digital Learning: Building Teachers' Capacity and Competency to Create New Learning Experiences for Students. This article stated the three statistics below:
- Two-thirds of parents in all types of communities (urban, rural and suburban) say that the effective use of technology within the classroom provides a significant way for their child to develop college and career ready skills.
- Technology leaders (67%) say that the greatest challenge they face in implementing digital learning or expanding technology use is motivating teachers to change their traditional instructional practices to use technology more meaningfully with students.
- Teachers in blended learning classrooms are setting a new bar for transforming learning using technology. For example, 68% report that with the use of technology in their classroom they are better able to differentiate instruction for their students.
References
2017 Digital Learning Report from Blackboard and Speak Up. "Trends in Digital Learning: Building Teachers' Capacity and Competency to Create New Learning Experiences for Students." Project Tomorrow. http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speak-up-2016-trends-digital-learning-june-2017.html. Accessed 1 February 2018.
Kelly, Rhea. "Survey: More than Half of Students want their Classes to go Digital." Campus Technology, https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/11/07/survey-more-than-half-of-students-want-their-classes-to-go-digital.aspx. Accessed 1 February 2018.
I find it fascinating (and refreshing) that your students actually want textbooks! To be honest, this is the first time I have heard this. I can relate, liking a combination of paper and technology. It will be interesting, however to see if in the next few years their opinions change if they see outdated content in the textbooks.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your second set of stats you are correct in that teacher mindsets is a major hurdle in education! Does your district have technology coaches?
Hi Nicole,
DeleteWe have a lot going on when it comes to technology in my district. We have two instructional coaches, two tech integration specialists, and a team of teachers on the Digital Leadership Corps. I would say about a third of the staff are some kind of technology leader.
Wow! That's a forward thinking district!
DeleteHi Theresa,
ReplyDeleteI find myself in a different school/technology situation than you. I am a special education teacher and understand the opportunities to adapt, accommodate, and differentiate that technology can afford my students. I also happen to work for a school system that does not share my conviction and excitement in utilizing current technologies to help support my students. I believe that administration can be just as difficult as teachers when it comes to change. In our current education system we are in a challenging time of transition were we are trying to merge the old with the new.
Your experience with your students desiring books over using the online book does not surprise me. As nice as technology is, we have an inherent need to have something in our hands. I know that my students are more focused with manipulating and using there hands whether its writing or turning pages. I read a study once that said there is more comprehension of written material when reading from a book than on a screen. One reason the study stated is that it is easier to follow how far along you are with a book than on a device.