The old teaching method of standing before the classroom and reading from a textbook is long gone, and it has been for some time. Instead, teachers are relying on digital tools to increase student engagement and streamline their daily tasks, a recent analysis suggests.
A new report published Thursday by Bay View Analytics sheds light on the “direct impact” the pandemic had on K12 classroom materials, suggesting a significant spike in digital learning as students returned to the classroom.
For instance, teachers say they’re utilizing a handful of digital tools that help streamline mundane tasks so that more time is spent on what matters most: the students.
More than 90% of teachers only teach fully in-person classes, according to the data. Yet, technology continues to dominate the K12 sphere in three ways: an increased number of school-issued devices being provided to students, the transition to online grading and digital attendance tracking.
Despite initial resistance by many educators at the onset of the pandemic, this digital transformation has been a welcomed shift for many. In fact, some schools have begun creating their own digital resources for students.
“Our school has created instructional materials, including an online book with all resources, including free resources… I don’t see us moving back to publisher-provided resources except for specialized classes,” said one high school math teacher featured in the report.
Another educator believes teaching with digital content helps them to embrace their teaching style in ways traditionally restricted by a simple textbook.
“I find it difficult to utilize publisher-provided materials as they often do not conform to my teaching style or the way I deliver content to students,” said one high school science teacher.
So how exactly are educators relying on these digital tools in their classrooms? Here’s what the data says:
- 77% of teachers are using digital textbooks, compared to 68% last year.
- More teachers are combining multiple sources of materials to make their curricula. Self-made (as compared to commercial materials) continue to be the most common source for non-textbook classroom materials.
- Nearly one-third (29%) of K12 teachers don’t require textbooks.
It’s also important to understand how often both teachers and students are leveraging technology, which the researchers have also compiled data on. Perhaps your schools are leveraging edtech in a similar fashion. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ways edtech and other materials are being used:
Daily use of student materials
- Student tablets or laptops: 72%
- SMART Boards: 49%
- Self- or school-created homework: 31%
- Self- or school-created additional reading: 31%
- Self- or school-created quizzes and tests: 24%
- Student textbooks: 20%
- Free online instructional videos: 18%
- Educational video games: 13%
- Publisher-provided homework: 11%
Daily use of teacher materials
- Online or digital attendance tracking: 82%
- Online or digital grade book: 73%
- Self- or school-created lecture slides: 45%
- Curriculum guide: 40%
- Publisher-provided instructors’ manual: 19%
- Publisher-provided instructors’ textbook: 18%
- Free online instructional videos: 18%
- Publisher-provided lecture slides: 11%
- Publisher-provided instructional videos: 8%
- Publisher-provided homework rubrics: 5%
