THE 2011 CDW-G 21ST-CENTURY CLASSROOM REPORT June 27, 2011 2011 CDW Government
INTRODUCTION A 21st-century classroom leverages technology to engage and empower teachers and students. In 2010, CDW-G launched the first 21st-Century Classroom Report to understand: The role of technology in high school education How schools are meeting students tech needs Opportunities to improve classroom technology In 2011, the research continues to offer educational leaders the opportunity to hear directly from their students, faculty and IT professionals on how to create and sustain an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in today s classroom and on tomorrow s college campus. In May 2011, CDW-G surveyed 1,000 high school students, high school faculty and district IT professionals around the country to understand how teachers and students want to use technology, measure how classroom technology is evolving and identify opportunities for further improvement. 2
THE 21ST-CENTURY CLASSROOM BY THE NUMBERS 41% Students who say they are encouraged to use technology throughout the school day 38% Students who say they use technology in nearly every class 75% Faculty who say they regularly use technology to teach 45% Faculty whose classroom technology meets their expectations 70% IT professionals who say they understand how students want to use technology as a learning tool 78% IT professionals who say districts prepare students to use technology successfully after high school 3
KEY FINDINGS Faculty envision a new classroom: High school faculty now believe 21st-century classrooms should include wireless Internet, interactive whiteboards and digital content One year ago, faculty limited must-have technology to an Internet connection, teacher computing device and LCD projector Students study with technology at home: 86% of students say they use technology more outside of school than in class Nearly all students 94% say they use technology to study or work on class assignments at home, while only 46% of faculty say they regularly assign homework that requires use of technology Digital content debuts: IT professionals report that 73% of districts are currently using or considering using digital content Students, faculty and IT say that digital content gives them better access to information, including the ability to access multiple sources from a single device Schools are not exceeding most students expectations: The percentage of IT professionals who rate their district s technology as cutting edge or current grew from 41% in 2010 to 64% in 2011 Although 94% of students say that technology skills will improve their educational and career opportunities, just 39% of students say their high school is meeting their technology expectations* *New question to student survey in 2011 4
FACULTY EXPECTATIONS EVOLVE The faculty vision of the 21st-century classroom now includes wireless Internet, interactive whiteboards and digital content Thinking about how to leverage technology to engage faculty and empower faculty and students, which of the following technologies do you believe are essential to a 21st-century classroom?* 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Must have 85% 84% 79% 73% Considering 60% 59% 55% 54% 52% 52% Emerging 45% 41% 38% 33% 26% One year ago, faculty limited must-have 21st-century classroom technology to an Internet connection, teacher computing device and LCD projector *Faculty asked to select all that apply **In 2010, this was described as distance learning 5
ED TECH TOOLKIT EXPANDS IT professionals support a growing number of technologies Over the past year, IT professionals report increased support of: Digital content (29% to 39%) Course management systems (30% to 42%) Student response systems (35% to 44%) Percentage of districts that support the following: Tools 70% Wireless network/internet 69% Interactive whiteboards 44% Student response systems 42% Course management system 39% Digital content 35% Open source applications 21% Media tablets 13% E-reader device Capabilities 41% Video and/or Web conferencing 32% Virtual learning 18% Recorded class lectures 17% Instant message/video chat 6
IT CHECKS ITS LIST While few schools offer cutting edge technology, the majority of IT professionals are confident in their IT offerings How would you rate the current level of technology in your school?* 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 10% 9% 17% 43% 45% 47% 38% 32% 29% 12% 8% 7% 1% 2% 0% Students Faculty IT Staff Cutting edge with new/innovative technology Current, no more than three years old Adequate, but could be refreshed Aging In the dark ages The percentage of IT professionals who rate their district s technology as cutting edge or current grew from 41% in 2010 to 64% in 2011 *New question to faculty and student surveys in 2011 7
BUDGET STANDS IN THE WAY Schools say lack of budget is the biggest ed tech challenge Which of the following is the biggest challenge to classroom technology at your high school?* Students Faculty IT staff Lack of budget 34% 37% 43% IT Professionals: Compared to the 2010-2011 school year, how will your IT budget change in the 2011-2012 school year? Teachers don t know how to use technology 6% 8% 16% Increase 15% Remain the same 25% My school does not have enough technology to adequately serve students 7% 14% 10% Lack of technical support, meaning that technology does not always work 8% 12% 4% Teachers use technology to teach, but they do not allow students to use it in class 14% 5% 4% Decrease 47% Don t know 13% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% *Respondents asked to select only the top challenge 8
STUDENTS WANT MOBILE LEARNING Students see greater opportunity for common mobile devices in the 21st-century classroom than faculty or IT Students Thinking about how to leverage technology to increase your interest and performance in classes, which of the following do you believe essential to a 21st-century classroom? Faculty Thinking about how to leverage technology to engage faculty and empower faculty and students, which of the following technologies do you believe are essential to a 21stcentury classroom? IT Thinking about how to leverage technology to engage faculty and empower faculty and students, which of the following technologies do you believe are essential to a 21stcentury classroom? Smartphones MP3 players 9
TECH INTEGRATION EFFORT FALLS SHORT Despite improvements and the importance of technology for future success, students expect more 94% of students believe learning and mastering technology skills will improve their educational and career opportunities* But just 39% say their high school is currently meeting their technology expectations* Technology will play a major role in my future, and if I am exposed to it now, I will be able to adapt to it later. High school student *Percentage of students who agree or strongly agree 10
STUDENT TECH TIME HAPPENS AT HOME Students are using technology at home, even when homework does not require it 86% of students say they use technology more outside of school than in class Classroom tech disconnect: 94% of students say they use technology to study or work on class assignments at home BUT Some teachers use many printed assignments, and I think it would be great if they could utilize something like Google Docs for turning in assignments. High school student Just 46% of faculty say they regularly assign homework that requires use of technology 11
DIGITAL CONTENT ENTERS THE EQUATION While 73% of faculty say digital content is essential for the 21st-century classroom, most schools do not offer digital content As an alternative to traditional print textbooks, IT professionals report that their district s high schools are: Using digital content 11% Considering digital content 15% Top digital content benefits:* Average Response #1 Access to current information 36% #2 Ability to access multiple sources of content from one device 34% #3 Instant access to content 31% Considering a combined environment 47% Top digital content challenges:* Average Response Not considering digital content 17% Don t know 10% #1 Affordability 65% #2 Some faculty prefer print materials 53% #3 Faculty reluctance 44% *Respondents asked to select all that apply; rankings based on averages from students, faculty and IT professionals 12
DEFINING THE DIGITAL DEVICE Digital content devices must be wireless and full function Thinking about a device to deliver digital content to students (e.g., laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone), which of the following are very important features?* Students Faculty IT staff #1 Wireless Internet access 62% 57% 55% #2 #3 #4 #5 Full functioning productivity device (e.g., Internet access, reader, word processing, etc.) Ease of updating and/or adding content to the device Ability to add notes to onscreen documents Ability to manage the device over the network 57% 56% 38% 42% 52% 44% 37% 35% 25% 36% 49% 49% #6 Screen size 19% 23% 18% *Percentage who rated the feature a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = not at all important and 5 = very important 13
RECOMMENDATIONS Creating the 21st-Century Classroom
PLAN TO INVEST A growing number of IT professionals say their district plans to increase its investment in classroom technology in the next two years Does your district have plans to upgrade or improve classroom technology in the next two years? Yes No Unsure 14% 21% 65% More schools are investing in improvements. This percentage grew from 51% in 2010 to 65% in 2011. 15
COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE High school students and faculty use tech for peer communication and research, but not collaboration Communication gap: Asked about their daily tech use: 59% of students said they use tech to communicate with other students 68% of faculty use it to communicate with other teachers Just 14% of students use it to communicate with their teachers Collaboration gap: Asked about tech use for learning purposes: 59% of students said they use tech to communicate with other students Just 23% said they use it to collaborate with other students Students and faculty are both online, but few are connecting with each other. Noted one educator, [Technology] makes the instruction more interactive, more engaging. It meets students on a common ground where they can use their unique abilities as digital natives. When asked what they would like to be able to do with technology, one faculty member replied, Be able to have students collaborate on assignments, written critiques, etc. 16
SEEK STUDENT INPUT The majority of faculty and IT professionals believe they understand student needs; they may be overconfident 74% & 70% And, just 30% of students say their high school seeks student input on classroom technology of faculty of IT professionals think they understand how students want to use technology as a learning tool but just 49% of students agree I don t want to type things just to say I used technology at school. If I am using technology, I want to be doing something I couldn t do without it. High school student 17
CALLS TO ACTION Consider the students Think outside the box Young students are more in touch with technology these days, and might know a few more tricks than their teachers. Students learn from teachers and vice versa. High school student For my language class, I would like to be able to use music and movie clips regularly, perhaps in class and on individual ipods that students could take home. High school faculty Invest in engagement Understand the impact We are experimenting with reversed instruction where kids watch lectures as homework and do assignments with the instructor during the school day. District IT professional Give me time to plan lessons using technology. The resources are great, but putting together lessons via Moodle or a similar program requires a lot more time than writing and copying a worksheet. High school faculty 18
Methodology CDW-G hired O Keeffe & Company to conduct an online survey of high school students, high school faculty and district IT professionals in May 2011 Sample size and margin of error: 1,000 Full sample: ± 3.0% margin of error at a 95% confidence level 400 Students: ± 4.9% margin of error at a 95% confidence level 300 Faculty: ± 5.6% margin of error at a 95% confidence level 300 IT professionals: ± 5.6% margin of error at 95% confidence level Student grade levels Freshman 18% Sophomore 25% Junior 37% Senior 20% Faculty/IT district locations Urban 28% Suburban 50% Rural 22% Faculty/IT district sizes Less than 600 students 12% 600-2,499 students 32% 2,500-9,999 students 27% 10,000 students or more 29% 19
Thank you. For all media questions and inquiries, please contact: Kelly Caraher CDW Public Relations 847-968-0729 kellyc@cdw.com Meredith Braselman O Keeffe & Company (703) 883-9000 ext. 107 mbraselman@okco.com 20