Despite being younger and fresh out of teacher-training programs, less experienced teachers are no more likely to use technology in the classroom than their more experienced colleagues, a report released last month at the International Society for Technology in Education conference in Denver says.
The finding, one of five “myths” the study refutes about teachers and technology, challenges the assumption that growing up technology-literate translates into being comfortable using technology as a teaching tool. The study is based on a nationwide survey of more than 1,000 K-12 teachers, principals, and assistant principals. The survey was conducted by Grunwald Associates of Bethesda, Md., in partnership with Walden University.
It also found that administrators and teachers often differ about how best to support technology use in schools, and that teachers don’t feel they receive enough professional development to help them effectively integrate available technology into their classrooms.