Infographic Text:
Principals and teachers differ on what marks quality in digital content for instruction
| Evaluation options include: | Teachers | School Administrators |
| Teachers can modify it to meet classroom needs | 71% | 66% |
| Research-based | 58% | 74% |
| Includes professional development | 35% | 60% |
| No commercial ads within content | 54% | 47% |
Growth in teacher use of digital content
| 2015 | 2012 | |
| Videos found online | 68% | 47% |
| Games | 48% | 30% |
| Online curriculum | 36% | 21% |
| Content subscriptions | 36% | 9% |
| Online textbooks | 30% | 21% |
| Animations | 27% | 20% |
57% of school administrators say both providing enough computers/devices with Internet access and the lack of teacher training are the top challenges to implementing digital content within instruction in their schools.
80% of school administrators and librarians agree that the primary benefit, by far, of using more digital content within instruction in increased student engagement in school and learning.
How are schools paying for digital content?
71% eRate Funds
67% Funding from school education foundation
62% Specific general funds allocations
53% Title I Funds
47% State or federal competitive grants
43% Local donations from corporations
43% PTA/parent support groups
43% Repurposing other budget funds
41% Local bond measures or taxes
24% of schools say parents pay an annual technology fee
Digital content use is grade-level dependent
| K-2 Teachers | Gr 3-5 Teachers | Gr 6-8 Teachers | Gr 9-12 Teachers | |
| Content Subscriptions | 48% | 49% | 33% | 21% |
| Games | 65% | 59% | 44% | 31% |
| Online Textbooks | 27% | 32% | 33% | 33% |
| Teaching Aids | 48% | 53% | 50% | 47% |
| Videos | 67% | 72% | 69% | 65% |
Librarians say teachers in their schools are:
Does the use of digital content improve student achievement?
Yes. 54% of school principals say they are already seeing positive academic outcomes from the use of digital content in their school.
Digital Content Usage: How teachers are using digital content:
55% Encourage student self-monitoring of learning
49% Create cues, questions or advances organizers
33% Use digital content to support student creation of media and content
30% Use digital content to facilitate interaction and collaboration between students, and between students and experts on authentic real-world problems
See more on this topic on our blog: How Schools Evaluate, Use and Pay for Digital Content – Speak Up 2015
Source: Speak Up 2015 Research Project for Digital Learning Findings - the results of the authentic, unfiltered views of 505,676 students, parents and educators nationwide. Learn more about Speak Up and other research findings from Project Tomorrow at tomorrow.org.
