Over the past three years, schools have only gotten more advanced in terms of educational technology. In fact, as of August 2022, 94% of all public schools report providing digital devices to students who needed them, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ School Pulse Panel. However, nearly one-fourth (23%) report offering zero digital literacy training for students, a number parents want to see lowered.
Recent explosions in edtech, including tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the number of schools switching to 1:1 as a result of the pandemic, have resulted in a substantial uptick in the number of students using technology in and out of the classroom. This shift has put even more pressure on educators working to ensure their students practice safe digital habits, such as online safety and avoiding cyber threats. Parents of school-aged children see these risks as an increased need for schools to provide students with proper training and sufficient technology education.
New research from CompTIA Spark, a non-profit that seeks to empower youth through technology, reveals that parents have overwhelmingly positive views toward education, especially in terms of how it may benefit their children. As a result, they believe tech education and digital should become essential funding priorities in K12 schools. That’s according to 80% of the more than 1,100 parents surveyed.
“Technology curriculum can help parents and educators open students’ minds to new learning opportunities and future careers,” CompTIA Spark CEO Charles Eaton said in a statement.
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In addition, two-thirds of parents believe that technology is moving in a positive direction, compared to 56% of students in a previous survey. In contrast, only 14% of parents hold negative views toward technology citing concerns over privacy and control of personal data, distractions, cybersecurity risks and cyberbullying.
“These responses show that parents see technology as a distraction to students, rather than a tool to help them,” Eaton said. Instead, tech companies like CompTIA Spark seek to change this narrative by showing students and parents how technology can help them thrive in their future careers.
However, several factors bar students from receiving adequate technology education, despite 8 in 10 parents reporting that tech education in their schools is “sufficient.” These include:
- Child is not interested in technology (top reason with the widest margin at 38%).
- School lacks resources for tech classes.
- Child lacks the aptitude.
- Classes surrounding the subject are too difficult.
- Material is boring.
- Teacher quality is lacking.
