How Educational Technology Affects Lower-Income Students
We’ve spent time discussing how technology in the classroom can positively impact university students––but what about the years before college begins?
Educational technology in K-12 classrooms is vital, and a recent study from The Joan Ganz Cooney Center shows just how it impacts students. The center focused only on families with earnings below the median household income, but the findings are valuable for teachers and students in any demographic.
According to the survey of more than 1,100 lower-income families, 80 percent of parents think technology improves the quality of education. This means that four in five lower-income students are likely to come from homes with parents who approve of a technology-rich education. Additionally, almost 90 percent of parents think technology helps their kids prepare for tests.
Only 7 percent of parents said their children spend too much class time using technology. Most parents say their kids are spending the right amount of time with ed tech––and 15 percent said they wish it was used even more frequently.
It goes without saying that parents who approve of educational technology will encourage their students to participate in technology-rich classrooms, which will prepare them for an educational experience filled with tech.
So what can educators learn from this? Here are two takeaways from this important research.
Develop Clear Plans
When preparing a lesson plan, you should know the why behind each lesson you choose. If parents have questions about why technology is important in the classroom, you’ll have clear answers for them. Seventy-four percent of parents worry about their children being exposed to inappropriate content online, and making sure that safeguards are in place to avoid this will only help alleviate fears.
Ask Questions
As mentioned above, parents are cautious about technology mainly because of the horror stories they’ve heard. Parents also worry about their children being bullied or focusing on their computers and phones instead of friendship, family and time outdoors.
The only way for educators to address these fears is to first become aware of them. Create a space for safe and open communication so parents can reach out and share concerns––and educators can ask questions to gauge their comfort levels.
Why This Matters for College Instructors
As we noted at the start of this piece, students don’t just magically appear on campus. They arrive with 13 years of educational experience that helps form their expectations for college, and students who experience ed tech during K-12 years will almost certainly be at an advantage in a classroom that utilizes technology, mobile or otherwise.
Additionally, this study’s focus on lower-income students provides a unique perspective. This subset of your classroom may not be able or willing to spend significant sums on technological tools, which may make free or low-cost options a better choice.
