Learning doesn’t start and end with the school hours. It’s an ongoing process in students’ life. Similar to educators, parents also a play a crucial role in improving student learning.
Technology nowadays makes it easy for parents to help their child learn effectively. Here are a few views of parents who find technology as a great tool to improve student learning.
According to a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates in August, 2012 for the LEAD Commission, the statistics and the opinions of parents on technology usage in education are as follows:
Fast paced world:
More than 80% of parents have recognized that the world has changed and students need to have things that help them learn to be prepared for future challenges.
Good use of technology:
When asked about “How important is it for schools to make good use of technology in the education of students today?” , more than 90% of parents said that technology utilization is very important in education.
Current Educational Goals and the % of parents who agree that technology plays a very helpful role in addressing those goals:
Real-time feedback on student performance: 75%
Individual/flexible learning, tailored to each student: 75%
More hands-on learning opportunities: 74%
Closer connections: classroom and real world: 73%
Students more engaged and active participants: 72%
Opportunities to learn from experts outside classroom: 72%
Exposing students to different perspectives: 69%
Learning opportunities beyond school hours: 63%
Connecting students with counselors to motivate/guide: 62%
Effective means of Technology utilization by teachers to improve learning:
Over 883 parents of K-12 public school children, including low-income parents, participated in this nationwide telephone survey. The following are the ways in which teachers use technology and the % of parents who strongly agree that the technology helps them accomplish the particular mean.
Assistive Technology for Special Education (94%):
Technology provides learning disabled students with materials that allow access. For example, those students with visual disabilities learn by listening to recorded materials and those with hearing disabilities learn through interactive eBooks.
Different learning styles (76%):
As we know that different students possess different learning styles. Technology with unlimited teaching and learning tools such as eBooks, apps, games, video tutorials, pictorial resources, etc. helps them adopt their own learning styles.
Assessment (76%):
Track student performance in real time, giving student immediate feedback and helping teachers to track progress, give feedback, and guide instruction tailored to each child
Personalization of learning (72%):
Technology enables educators to more efficiently accommodate the needs of a diverse group of students, helping teachers to maximize the potential of each child at every level.
Parents’ engagement (77%):
Technology helps educators effectively/consistently communicate with parents, keep them engaged in child’s education, updated on accomplishments/challenge areas/other issues that arise.
More personalized learning, tailored to student’s interests, skills, and pace of learning: 69%
Even the playing field for students who cannot get the educational help they need from their families or communities: 75%
Global collaboration among teachers (72%):
Allow teachers to communicate with educators from different towns, states, or countries, sharing ideas, challenges, and feedback on successful teaching methods/techniques.
Help break down barriers by connecting learning inside and outside school: through things like Internet homework, teachers can identify challenges, monitor progress, tailor instruction to each student’s strengths and weaknesses much more effectively: 68%
Provide students opportunity to share work/ideas and obtain feedback from a wide audience, so they can hear/learn from multiple perspectives, students around U.S./globe: 65%
Home access to broadband:
63% parents believe that having high speed internet at home is a significant advantage. Let’s learn about the benefits of it.
More than 80% parents agreed that students can greatly expand learning opportunities such as access to information, resources educational tools using technology.
More than 65% agree that technology develops teamwork and collaboration skills.
This information will help you know what parents think about the current scenario of education and its enhancement with the use of technology tools. I’d like to have your views as well. Please share with us your opinion on the use of technology as a parent to improve student learning. The comment box awaits you.
