Four-in-five (79%) educators and 86% of parents say technology – including laptops, video content and STEM products – is becoming a crucial part of classroom education at every level, according to a new Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® study. The survey included responses from parents and educators of children in preschool through 12th grade, gauging their views on the use of tech in education.
“A growing number of parents and teachers agree that tech is a powerful tool for education, over a wide range of subjects,” says Lesley Rohrbaugh, director of research, CTA. “Tech is helping children learn at every stage of education – from early language training all the way to mastering STEM concepts.”
Importance of Tech in Education
Key findings from the study show nine in 10 parents (92%) and educators (88%) agree students enjoy interacting with technology. Given tech’s growing trend of anytime/anywhere access, 91% percent of parents and 87% of educators agree tech allows students increased access to education. In addition, 89% of parents and 87% of educators agree tech helps students develop technological skills for the future.
The study also concluded only 34% of parents and 39% of educators say tech is a distraction for students – a contrast to the high percentage of parents and educators who agree tech is a crucial part of education.
Parents say the tech devices most important in encouraging their child’s learning are:
- Laptops (81%)
- Tablets (77%)
- Web-based software (74%)
- Desktop computers (70%)
- STEM products (67%)
Top Tech Used for Learning by Parents and Educators
The top five technologies parents say their children use most frequently (once a week or more) for learning are:
- Video content (82%)
- Mobile phones (76%)
- Tablets (73%)
- Laptops (62%)
- Email (49%)
Educators of preschool through 12th grade indicate the top five technologies they use most frequently in their classrooms are:
- Email (79%)
- Laptops (69%)
- Web-based software (67%)
- Video content (58%)
- Smart boards (56%)
CTA’s
Technology in Education: Parent and Educator Use and Sentiment study presents the findings of one online survey of 1,005 parents of children in preschool through grade 12 (fielded July 9-14, 2019) and another online survey of 502 teachers of children in preschool through grade 12 (fielded July 10-17, 2019). It is designed and formulated by CTA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer technology industry.
The complete study is available for free for CTA member companies or purchase at
CTA.tech/research.
Download the
CES Tech Talk podcast on Aug. 20 to hear Lesley Rohrbaugh discuss more findings from the Technology in Education study and hear from companies in the space. Available on all podcast platforms.
