There are several reasons for that. Their help is free, often readily available and the young person often knows exactly what to do. For today’s youth, being tech savvy is almost second nature. It’s as if they were born text messaging and Instagraming.
The results of a recent BrightBytes technology survey of Mineral Wells ISD students, teachers and parents bears that out.
MWISD Director of Technology Services Greg Bird last week presented school officials with the results of a survey taken earlier this year. The survey is the second one undertaken by the district, following a survey taken in early 2014.
The survey shows the district’s strengths and weaknesses in Internet and online usage, availability and skills. In response to several questions posed by the Index to Bird, he said several things stood out for him in the survey data collected from the 2,167 students, 220 teachers and the parents taking part.
“What stood out most for me is the fact that 86 percent of our students have access to the Internet from home,” stated Bird. “This is good information for our teachers to know. We have a fairly technology-rich community, and knowing that should allow our teachers to better understand how they can relate to their students in terms of technology use.”
But the survey of students showed just 26 percent feel have foundational technology skills. Bird said it is easy to see how easily young people gravitate to and use technology for educational and personal use, especially for social engagement and entertainment, but he said how they are using it is changing, and they could be limiting themselves in the knowledge and use of some effective online communication forms.
“How often do we see the results of productive, meaningful, engaging work from our students in the digital realm?” Bird rhetorically asked. “Most of us assume that even students know how to compose an email, attach a file and send it. I believe that to be true, (that) maybe five or six years ago, high school students were comfortable communicating through email. But ever since texting has become the norm, most students today are unfamiliar with using email as an effective communication tool.”
Among the students surveyed:
• Just 35 percent feel they have essential skills to collaborate on the Internet.
• Seventy percent feel they have good multimedia skills, like the ability to record and edit video.
• Seventy-four percent believe technology enhances learning and daily life.
• Just 15 percent said responsible use of technology – legal use of content, online safety, cyber bullying,etc. – is taught monthly.
• When it comes to technology confidence, 45 percent said they can resolve their own tech problems..
• Eighty-four percent of students said they easily learn new technologies.
Of the 220 district teachers who took the survey, 63 percent believe they possess the basic computing skills, and 19 percent said they would be interested in skill training. Thirty-four percent of the teachers surveyed feel have the skills to use and collaborate on the Internet, and just 35 percent feel comfortable with multimedia skills with 62 percent indicating interest in learning how to take and edit videos and other online multimedia.
At their school, 82 percent of teachers said they have access to devices for students when needed more than half the time, with half the teachers reporting a typical student-to-computer ratio of 2:1 or 1:1. Also, 92 percent of teachers say they have access to a computer for their own use at school, but just 30 percent said they have quality high-speed Internet.
Bird said the survey information will help the district address its technology needs and weaknesses going forward, stating the fact the district is participating in the survey shows the district is interested in meeting its technology needs for staff and students.
“This survey does point out a lot of what we are doing right, such as making improvements to our computer network backbones like we have done at our junior high facility this last summer,” Bird said. “The survey reflects those changes, as well as the schools whose networks still need improvements. Our classrooms having high-speed access to the Internet only makes sense. We continue to make progress towards that area.”
©2015 the Mineral Wells Index (Mineral Wells, Texas) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
