Blog Juice for Educational Technology

NSBA Executive Director Anne Bryant released new survey results today at the T+L² Conference here in Denver showing that respondents believe students are more engaged in learning, have increased critical thinking skills, and a stronger ability to communicate as a result of technology. NSBA conducted an e-mail survey the week of October 17 of approximately 1,500 registrants of the T+L² Conference, which included technology specialists, teachers, administrators, and school board members. More than 400 registrants replied to the survey.

Another compelling finding is that 85 percent of respondents said that their new teachers were only somewhat prepared or not prepared in effectively integrating technology into the classroom. “This is a wake-up call to schools of education around our country,” said Bryant in a special news briefing.

And while approximately 78 percent of respondents said that home access to the Internet was a problem for their low-income students, only 10 percent said that closing the digital divide was a challenge for their districts. Many reported that students, when not at school, access the Internet at community centers.