20/20 Trust shows digital tech boosts achievement

20/20 Trust shows digital tech boosts achievement

The latest report by the 20/20 Communications Trust shows that digital devices in classrooms are having a positive impact on student achievement, even if schools are struggling to keep up with the disruptive change they create.

The report, “Digital Technologies in New Zealand Schools”, shows that over 75 per cent of schools have noticed an impact on student achievement from using digital technologies. Most schools (75%) already include, or plan to include, digital devices as part of their ICT strategy.

Murray Sherwin, Chair of the Innovation Partnership, says the report shows the pervasive and positive impact that digitally-blended education is beginning to have on all New Zealand students.

“The internet is revolutionising our capacity to access and employ information. It is also opening new approaches to teaching and learning. These new approaches are now demonstrating how they can substantially lift educational achievement, particularly for our most disadvantaged children” said Mr Sherwin.

“We know that basic connectivity is essential in the modern educational environment. The ambition that every student and pupil should be “digitally enabled” for their education has moved from the desirable to the essential.”

However, the report highlighted that teachers still weren’t integrating the internet and devices into classrooms, and that teachers often lacked the skills or confidence to use devices effectively.

“It isn’t devices or connectivity that are transforming education, but the innovative approaches to teaching which they make possible. New and existing teachers need access to the professional development opportunities that enable them to fully exploit the new pedagogical methods becoming available in digitally enabled classrooms.”

“The education sector is working hard to raise educational achievement, and the Innovation Partnership is proud to be among the organisations working hard to help them.”

You can read the full report here.

ENDS

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