How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms

A survey of Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers shows that digital tools are widely used in their classrooms and professional lives. Yet, many of these high school and middle school teachers worry about digital divides when it comes to their students' access to technology and those who teach low-income students face obstacles in bringing technology into their teaching. A survey of 2,462 Advanced Placement (AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers finds that digital technologies have helped them in teaching their middle school and high school students in many ways. At the same time, the internet, mobile phones, and social media have brought new challenges to teachers. In addition, they report that there are striking differences in the role of technology in wealthier school districts compared with poorer school districts and that there are clear generational differences among teachers when it comes to their comfort with technology and its use in their classrooms. Asked about the impact of the internet and digital tools in their role as middle and high school educators, these teachers say the following about the overall impact on their teaching and their classroom work:  92% of these teachers say the internet has a " major impact " on their ability to access content, resources, and materials for their teaching  69% say the internet has a " major impact " on their ability to share ideas with other teachers  67% say the internet has a " major impact " on their ability to interact with parents and 57% say it has had such an impact on enabling their interaction with students At the same time, 75% of AP and NWP teachers say the internet and other digital tools have added new demands to their lives, agreeing with the statement that these tools have a " major impact " by increasing the range of content and skills about which they must be knowledgeable. And 41% report a " major impact " by requiring more work on their part to be an effective teacher. AP and NWP teachers bring a wide variety of digital tools into the learning process, including mobile phones, tablets, and e-book readers The survey reveals the degree to which the internet and digital technologies, particularly mobile phones, suffuse teaching activities. Laptops and desktops are central, but they note mobile technology use has also become commonplace in the learning process:  …