The State of Technology in Education

2020-2021 Report
Without question, much has changed in the education This survey of nearly 1,200 American teachers and
landscape since our team conducted last year’s report. The administrators explores the role technology currently plays
U.S. has experienced a reality shifting pandemic, bringing in today’s K-12 schools and how edtech solutions impact
nearly every facet of our lives indoors and online. And with learning and engagement in the classroom — wherever
these sweeping changes, education, and, more specifically, those classes are taking place.
edtech has been at the center of this seismic shift.
Contents
Where Does Edtech Stand?.............................................3
Pandemic Preparedness...................................................4
The Widening Gap in Learning........................................5
Tackling Technology..........................................................6
Let’s Talk Training..............................................................7
Innovation Nation..............................................................8
2020 (to 2030) Vision........................................................9
Conclusions..................................................................... 10
About Promethean..........................................................11

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Where Does Edtech Stand?

In 2020, educators have leaned more heavily on technology than ever

before. And over the last few months, many things have come to light
about the state of technology in education. Roadblocks like lack of

“
learning technologies, students without access to at-home Internet
connectivity, and teachers desperately needing more professional
training are widening the digital divide. Administrators have been
hard-pressed to provide both short-term solutions and forward-thinking

What is the current

guidance. Some schools have shined, while others faltered.

This has left us wondering — what is the current state of edtech in the
state of edtech in
classroom and how will it evolve in a post-COVID-19 world where hybrid
learning and other teaching methods are constantly changing? the classroom and
After diving into candid insights, key trends, and edtech predictions
how will it evolve
from real-life teachers and administrators, Promethean believes that our in a post-COVID-19
education system is evolving at an unprecedented rate, and making
effective edtech investments will be critical in the year ahead. By finding
world where hybrid
the right mix of both training and technology, schools will successfully learning and other
engage students as many districts incorporate hybrid learning into their
classroom environments moving forward.
teaching methods are
constantly changing?
This installment of our annual report shines a light on experiences from
the frontlines of education this year and what is most important as we
forge the path ahead in the COVID-19 era.

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Pandemic Preparedness

When students and teachers went home from school in spring 2020, it
was hard to imagine they wouldn’t return to their classroom for months
8%
to come. But in fact, many schools went into the fall semester with some
20%
form of virtual instruction. 15%
Key trends began to emerge, and the most common? Districts did
not have the infrastructures in place to facilitate online learning on a
broad scale. 16%

A disappointing 20% of all respondents surveyed over the summer

41%
considered their schools “very prepared to implement remote learning.”
More common (41%) was that they were only somewhat prepared —
having the right IT, but not the processes in place. 20% Very prepared to implement remote learning

41% Somewhat prepared, having the right IT, but

So how did educators cope with the shift to online? Nearly all (95%)
not the processes
of educators surveyed reported using online strategies for students’
lessons, including 8 in 10 that made their lesson content available 16% Somewhat prepared, having the right
online and one-third that brought experts and online experiences into processes, but not the right IT
the education mix.
15% Ill-prepared

But more and more, the digital divide began to present itself. 8% Not prepared at all

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The Widening Gap in Learning

Remote learning demonstrated the digital divide still runs deep in many
school districts. Teachers ranked “students lack access to technology”
and “engaging students” as their biggest professional challenges in a
remote teaching scenario. All respondents stated that the digital divide
would be their biggest barrier to maximize student success in the
coming school year.

31% digital divide across the student population

26% the impact of “summer slide”

25% budget cuts

13% lack of teacher training on technology

The investment in training and technology

6% lack of technology resources at the district level will be critical in overcoming the digital
Yet, delivering educational benefits through technology was a top-three
divide to ensure that every teacher and
priority for the upcoming school year for many of the districts. Which student has the tools they need to maintain
begs the question, how can districts deliver the same benefits to every high learning standards.
student virtually, regardless of their at-home access to connectivity and
personal devices?

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Tackling Technology

Finding the right technology mix can be a difficult task for school In a time in education where everything seems uncertain and new,
leaders. Between budget restrictions and a wide array of options in the sometimes the best technology investment is in solutions that educators
market today, identifying the best solutions for your schools requires already understand. If your school lacks the basics, then a new tech
research, testing, and strategic implementation. But luckily, there are investment might be a necessity. For schools that already had some
a few tried-and-true favorites that many educators leverage across the technology infrastructure, finding the most effective ways to use what
country, including: you already have is often the path of least resistance and most success.

52% interactive panels/whiteboards

39% tablets/iPads

38% distant/remote learning

29% projectors

23% video conferencing/chatting

Interestingly, 77% of all respondents felt that desktop computers

and laptops were the most frequently used technology in schools.
However, when asked to select the top three technologies used in
their schools from a list, interactive panels/ whiteboards and tablets/
iPads were frontrunners.

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Let’s Talk Training

While remote learning requires technology, successful virtual

instruction is not possible without buy-in and understanding from its
primary user — teachers.

When asked what schools will need to prioritize first to make remote
learning successful, 43% of respondents said teachers will need
training on technology. But in that same vein, roughly one-third (34%)
of respondents stated that their school has no formal, outlined strategy
for using technology.
Finding new ways to use
technology to engage
students equally — either
43% in class or within a hybrid
say teachers will learning environment —
will be the ultimate 2020
need training on
technology.

(and beyond) challenge.

34% stated that their school has no formal,

outlined strategy for using technology.

An effective implementation strategy begins with ensuring that all

instructors are competent and confident with the solutions they are
expected to utilize, from interactive displays and 1:1 devices to software
that powers online learning. Further, schools need to offer continued
professional development opportunities with edtech to help educators
master the evolutions in classroom technologies and their capabilities.

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Innovation Nation
69%
Luckily, according to our year-over-year (YoY) findings, when it comes followed by that it is “best used where it can be appropriately adapted
to innovation, today’s teachers are up for it. An overwhelming majority to the learning situation.”
(69%) said in both of the last two years that they are “constantly striving
to innovate by using technology as a tool for education.” Trust in the potential of edtech coupled with a passion for innovating
can result in a true impact on the learning environment. Knowing this as
As for their view of technology in the classroom, a majority of teachers we look ahead, what can we expect in the next decade of education?

69%
YoY feel it is a great way to engage students (49% in 2020), closely
21%

69% 21% 9%

I am constantly striving to innovate by using I use technology competently in my personal I struggle with using technology to the level
technology as a tool for education life, but lack confidence implementing it to its that I feel is required in education today

21%
full effectiveness in school
9%

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2020 (to 2030) Vision

In the wake of this year’s experiences, educators are now redefining

how they teach, and students are adapting to new ways of learning — it’s
happening fast, under duress, and the changes we see now will shape

“
education for years to come.

Unsurprisingly, 82% of all respondents selected “technology use will be

routinely combined with traditional resources and teaching methods” as
the most likely trend we will see over the next ten years.
Technology use will be
What will be interesting, too, is what technologies will be adopted and
utilized most as students re-enter the classroom, and hybrid learning routinely combined with
becomes a more integrated part of school processes. For example, traditional resources and
“snow days” will likely be a thing of the past as virtual learning days are
possible during inclement weather, and sick or traveling students can teaching methods.
now keep up at home.

No longer is learning contained to the classroom, and our respondents

echoed that sentiment as they selected the biggest growth in education
over the next three years would be:

63% Remote learning

54% Virtual learning
50% Online content and resources

remote virtual online

Interestingly, robotics and coding dropped dramatically YoY from
learning learning content
the 2019 report, going from 49% to 14%. It’s clear that while forward-
thinking technologies are exciting in normal times, the focus has
shifted to getting back to basics when delivering the in-classroom
experience remotely.

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Conclusion

So, where does education technology stand in 2020-2021? In short: edtech needs to be ubiquitous enough to have value for in-
person instruction or in a virtual environment.
We’ve seen that while many schools executed some form of online
learning, most were not prepared to do so. A majority of educators are Gone will be the expectations that a solution can operate solely in a
ready and willing to drive education with technology but need the right classroom — its features will need to meet students and teachers where
training and solutions. The digital divide is far from closed, and in an they are (and be increasingly successful at doing so). Teachers will need
increasingly hybrid environment, it may only continue widening. And to understand technology better, and administrators should make
while futuristic solutions like robotics once felt like a necessity in the ongoing training a priority. Above all else, we cannot let remote and
classroom of the future, today’s teachers and administrators predict that hybrid learning remain a footnote in our school and district strategy
the real challenge over the next few years will be mastering online and planning. In a post-COVID world, the classroom is no longer contained
remote learning. within four walls, and edtech will be the key to expanding beyond them.

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 About Promethean

Promethean is a true partner for educators and innovators, with more than two
decades helping people learn and grow together. We believe collaborative
discovery is at the heart of the learning experience. Our award-winning interactive
displays and lesson delivery solutions transform learning and workspaces into
creative, connected environments to foster collective success. With headquarters
in Seattle, WA, and offices worldwide, Promethean is a member of the NetDragon
Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) group of companies.

Visit us at PrometheanWorld.com

Promethean commissioned a survey of American school administrators and teachers in 2020 that
included nearly 1,200 respondents. The margin of error for this survey is plus or minus 3.2%

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