How are you using digital technology? What are the biggest challenges? What e-learning opportunities would you like to see? Well, now we have a pretty good idea – and we’d like to share the results of our Reader Survey with you. 

Thanks to everyone who took part in our Reader Survey, in association with HP: Digital Learning in New Zealand Schools, 2019. 

Your feedback and comments are important and provide us not only with a valuable insight into the use of digital technology in schools but also help us to keep bringing you this great magazine. We learned so much from your responses and appreciate the time and effort you put into responding.

Overall impressions

Clearly, digital technology is now part of teaching life. A whopping 95 per cent of respondents use technology ‘all the time’ and the rest use it ‘most days’. A third of you describe your digital technology abilities as ‘excellent’ and more than half say they’re ‘good’. Nearly four out of five have a laptop; 93 per cent have a smartphone.

Who took part in the survey?

There was a good spread of respondents across a range of roles and schools. The single largest group identified as ‘Teacher, with specialist e-learning role’ (30.64 per cent), followed by Senior Management (24.26 per cent), ‘Teacher, without specialist e-learning tole’ (23.77), IT/Network Manager (8.33), and Principal (6.37).

Most respondents were from secondary schools (37.01 per cent), followed by primary contributing, Years 1-6 (21.83), primary full, Years 1-8 (20.85), Intermediate (10.8), composite/area (5.15), and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori (2.25).

Technology in your school

In general, schools get a fairly good mark. One in five respondents describe their school’s digital capabilities as ‘excellent’, a further half believe it’s ‘good’ and a quarter said it was ‘fair’ – leaving just 3.2 per cent as ‘not so good’. Nearly two-thirds are operating some sort of BYOD programme

Laptops, desktops and printers are pretty much ubiquitous. Interestingly, nearly one in 10 schools has Virtual Reality (VR) headsets (8.35 per cent).

Does your school operate a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) type programme for students? (%)

Looking for information and advice

When seeking information and advice about digital technology, the internet wins out, but it’s closely followed by your trusty copy of INTERFACE! Articles and reviews, school’s specialist IT staff and events are identified as the top three sources of assistance when making decisions and choices about technology.

Where do you get information about digital technology? (%)

When you’re looking for a new computing device, where do you seek recommendations and advice? (%)

 

What’s challenging you in the decisions you make about digital technology?

Cost and budgets remain a key element in your decision-making processes. More than half cite ‘price and value’ as key considerations when making a purchase. Nearly a quarter believe upgrades to hardware aren’t made because the cost is too high.

A device’s specifications are the biggest single factor is making a purchase, followed by reliability. Outdated and broken hardware is the most reported ‘pain point’, followed by managing student devices. Interestingly, making the most out of technology was highlighted as a key issue. Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) want lesson ideas and activities to get students using technology creatively and 61 per cent want to learn more about what future technologies are most relevant to education.

When selecting a new computing device (laptop or desktop), what are your main considerations? (%)

What are the issues you would most like to know more about? (%)

What are the three biggest pain points around technology at your school? (%)

INTERFACE plays a significant part

INTERFACE continues to be a key component of the e-learning journey for many of you. Eighty-six per cent of respondents have been reading the magazine for two years or more. Most are seeking information and inspiration to improve their use of digital technology. Three-quarters want to read about what others are doing. 

Feature articles are most popular, with 88 per cent reading them in ‘all’ or ‘most’ issues, followed by lesson ideas (85 per cent), case studies/reviews (79 per cent) and news (76 per cent). Nearly two-thirds keep hold of your copies for future reference; a quarter pass to a colleague. 

Why do you read INTERFACE? (%)

Congratulations to our winner

Everyone who participated in this year’s INTERFACE Reader Survey – and included their details – went into a draw to win an awesome HP Elite x 2 (RRP $3789), courtesy of HP. The first name drawn was Yvonne Marshall, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Matamata. Congratulations and thanks for taking part! Your prize is on its ways to you.