What Happened?
New research indicates a significant shift to digital coursework and resources in schools nationwide. As a result, school districts are updating their lesson plans and tools to ensure students are prepared for careers in the digital landscape.
Say Goodbye to Print
Studies show teachers and students are embracing digital technologies to enhance learning and academic outcomes. A recent study from Education Market Research revealed teachers are using more digital instructional materials than print materials in the classroom.
Educational publishers are converting their products into digital resources to match a shift in market demand for paperless lessons. In education publishing, the digital product applications market increased sales by 43.1 percent in 2013, while non-digital products reported a 7.9 percent decline.
Factors contributing to the conversion to digital classroom materials include:
- Impact of Common Core standards and assessments
- Installed base of computing devices and student-to-computer ratios
- Increased variety of digital products specifically in reading, math, science and social studies
Mobility Boom
Not only are instructors shifting toward digital materials, but schools are also investing heavily in mobile technologies to aid a more personalized approach to lessons.
McGraw-Hill Education’s second annual report on higher education trends revealed 81 percent of students use mobile devices to study, coming in second to laptops and marking a 40 percent increase between 2013 and 2014. Furthermore:
- 77 percent of students say adaptive technology has helped improve their grades
- 62 percent say technology helps them feel better prepared for classes
- 48 percent believe technology helps them save time when working on coursework – 77 percent of which report between two to five hours or more saved per week
- 66 percent said it is extremely or moderately important for them to study on a mobile device
In addition, 72 percent of students agree technology should be tailored to meet the unique demands and challenges of the student, and 79 percent believe technology should be more individualized.
District Strategies
Twin Falls The Twin Falls School District in Idaho is launching an initiative to increase the number of mobile devices available to students in the classroom to enable more personalized coursework. The five-year technology plan calls for one laptop or tablet for every two students, up from one device for every four students currently reported throughout the district’s 13 schools, Magic Valley reported.
The district receives $200,000 in state funding for technology upgrades annually, and will tap into school building funds and various grant opportunities to supplement the remaining costs. One grant, from the Idaho Department of Education, will provide $169,000 for the purchase of tablets and detachable keyboards, Magic Valley reported.
Riverside
The Riverside School District in Pennsylvania received a $105,000 grant from the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate program. The initiative is designed to connect educational institutions and libraries to broadband connectivity to ensure students and teachers have access to innovative digital learning technologies to better prepare for in-demand jobs.
With the upgrade to a faster internet connection, the school district will be able to support wireless devices to enhance coursework and academic success. Not only does the district receive funding for the installation of the technology, but can also enjoy a 60 percent discount on resources and equipment purchased from specific vendors, Ellwood City Ledger reported.
Vermont
The Vermont Lottery is partnering with the Vermont Agency of Education to launch a twice annual competitive grant program that provides mobile computing devices to winning schools across the state. The two schools each year will receive 20 mobile devices that will be used as part of the school’s long-term technology upgrade program. Special consideration will be given to schools in rural areas or serving disadvantaged populations.
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