| Although technology use goes beyond the classroom computer, its increased availability in the classroom, connection to the Internet and ability to provide instruction in alternate formats make it a prime classroom tool. How technology-ready are schools? Several resources(pdf) were used to provide a picture of technology availability and use in today's classrooms. Computer Availability and Use - The ratio of students to computers is 5 to 1- up from 6 to 1 in 1999
- 99% of schools have computers
- 66% of teachers use computers for classroom instruction
School Internet Access - The ratio of students to computers with Internet access is 7 to 1- up from 9 to 1 in 1999
- 98% of schools now have some sort of access to the Internet, someplace in their building
- Internet Connections types;
- 77% of instructional rooms have Internet access
Teacher Use of the Internet - 59% have Internet access at home
- 39% of teachers with access to computers + Internet use them to create instructional materials and administrative record keeping.
- 68% use the Internet to find information resources for use in their lessons (equal home+school use)
- 28% do this on a weekly basis
- 30% expect students to use the Internet for information gathering ("web searches")
- 66% use it for class time instruction
| By the Numbers: Internet Usage as a Teaching Aid | Teacher Training - 90% have had some computer training.
- 23% feel "very well prepared" and 10% more feel "prepared" to use technology (computers/Internet) effectively
- These teachers have more teaching experience and 32 hours+ of professional development
- Need more training and support
- in Multi-media and Internet use.
- Less than 30% of schools have a full-time education technology coordinator.
Resources NCES Report: Internet Use (OERI: May, 2001) Neilsen Ratings Becker, Henry Jay (1999). Internet Use By Teachers. Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations. Guerard, Elizabeth B. (11/13/00) Quality Education Data: Teacher internet use grows more sophisticated. eSchool News. Teaching Learning and Computing Reports |