Some blended classrooms face the challenging task of providing each student with a personalized tech device. A national teacher survey conducted by the University of Phoenix shows that most K-12 teachers believe personal tech devices are important for completing real-world activities.

“A recent national survey from University of Phoenix® College of Education finds that more than nine in ten (93 percent) K-12 teachers believe personal tech devices can link classroom learning to real-world activities and 89 percent expect they will be used in most classrooms in the next five years,” according to Business Wire. 

More than 1,000 educators nationwide completed the survey online and they have also added the fact that they are integrating technology into their classrooms in various ways. Student conduct research and use the Internet on these devices. There are many other learning tasks that students can perform.

Classroom activities may include the following. (The results below are as shown in the original release):

• Seventy-nine percent of K-12 teachers have allowed students to research subjects using the Internet in class.
• Sixty-two percent have used games and simulations to aid learning.
• Nearly half (49 percent) have used web-based tools to help students improve writing and comprehension skills.
• More than one-third (36 percent) have allowed students to use tools to produce their own video content.
• One in five (20 percent) have used clickers* to keep students engaged. The same percentage have used wikis, blogs or social media to spur student dialogue.
• Fifteen percent have used technology to connect their students to students in another school, city, state or country.
• More than one in ten (11 percent) have brought in experts via Skype or other technology who otherwise would not have been able to join their classes.

Not only are students becoming the beneficiaries of blended learning, teachers are also getting better at teaching material as well said Kathy Cook, Dean of Technology for University of Phoenix College of Education, in the article.

“In many ways, technology is tearing down classroom walls and helping educators bring new content and experts into their curriculum,” said Cook according to the report.

“Today’s teachers are increasingly tech-savvy in both their personal and professional lives and are enthusiastic about using technology to keep students engaged and excited about learning.”

The world is becoming more and more connected through technology and the tech integration in the classroom looks to be working well according to the these survey results at least. Share your opinion in the comments below.

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Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor