Classroom Technology Integration Relatively Unchanged in Last Year

• By Leila Meyer
• 06/25/13

The level of technology integration in schools has remained relatively static over the last year and is still significantly lower than the ideal, according to the Software and Information Industry Association's (SIIA) sixth-annual national survey measuring progress toward building a framework that embraces technology and e-learning in United States educational institutions.

The SIIA presented the results of its 2013 Vision K-20 Survey at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 2013 conference and expo taking place this week in San Antonio, TX. The survey is an online self-assessment consisting of 20 benchmark statements related to progress toward the SIIA Vision K-20 goal of promoting effective use of technology in the classroom. The report surveyed nearly 1,500 educators and administrators from kindergarten through post-secondary educational institutions.

This year was the first year the survey included questions about bring-your-own-device (BYOD) implementation in schools. Only 20 percent of respondents from the elementary school level allow BYOD in the classroom, compared to almost half of secondary school respondents, but that gap is expected to narrow over the next five years. Most respondents from kindergarten to grade 12 levels where BYOD is allowed said device use is restricted, whereas only half of respondents from BYOD postsecondary institutions reported device restrictions. Respondents at all levels expected the levels of device restriction at their institution to remain the same over the next five years.

Other key findings from the report:

• Levels of technology implementation are generally higher at postsecondary institutions than at K-12 institutions;
• Interest in technology integration remains high and both K-12 and postsecondary institutions rate it as very important; and
• Levels of bandwidth access have remained relatively unchanged over the last two years, with bandwidth access for communication dropping slightly and the greatest increase in bandwidth for collaborative learning, video-based communications, and other multimedia-rich interactions.

SIIA developed the 2013 Vision K-20 Survey "to provide benchmarks against which educators and administrators can measure their institutional progress in using technology to provide 21st century tools, anytime/anywhere access, differentiated learning, assessment tools, and enterprise support," according to a news release from the organization. This year's survey results indicate that while educators at all levels want to see levels of technology integration increase, they need support to make that change happen, and for levels of educational technology to meet educators' ideals, the rate of integration needs to increase.

The complete 2013 Vision K-20 Survey report is available on the SIIA's site.