According to a new national research report, "Digitally Inclined," compiled by Grunwald Associates LLC for PBS, teachers are making significant progress in adoption of digital media and Internet use. The findings clearly signal widespread changes in both early childhood and K-12 education, including more effective individualized instruction.
1) More than three-quarters (76 percent) of K-12 educators say they use digital media, up significantly from 69 percent in 2008. Of K-12 teachers who use digital media in the classroom, 80 percent are frequent or regular users. Classroom use of digital media is less common among preK-educators, with only one-third (33 percent) reporting use. However, preK educators who use digital media use it as frequently as K-12 teachers do.
2) K-12 teachers increasingly access video online. While teachers narrowly prefer using purchased or recorded DVDs, 72 percent reported they stream or download content from the Internet, up from 65 percent in 2008. About one in three (29 percent) pre-K educators use this method.
3) Teachers' use of video is one indication that they are becoming more strategic in selecting short chunks of electronic content and targeting use for specific purposes. A large majority of pre-K and K-12 teachers strongly agree that TV and video content is more effective when it is integrated with other instructional resources in the classroom. A majority of teachers are more likely to use video segments rather than entire programs, with average segment length of about five to 10 minutes.
4) Teachers are increasing their use of games, student-produced presentations and social media. Pre-K and K-12 teachers value many different types of digital media, with games and activities for students to use in school (65 percent) topping the list. Teachers increasingly value student-produced multimedia, student-created Web sites, blogs, and social media communities as well.
5) One-quarter of K-12 educators say they belong to an online community specifically for teachers, and those who use social networking sites are comfortable with a variety of online activities. Results are similar for pre-K educators.
6) PBS content and Web sites are the top choice over any other media company or channel among pre-K educators. In addition to being the top web site choice, PBS is also the go-to source for recording and downloading content for pre-K teachers. Pre-K teachers are more likely to recommend PBS resources to parents to support learning outside of class, and to watch PBS themselves, than are K-12 teachers.
