69传媒

Classroom Technology

69传媒 Are Battling Tech Fatigue. How Are They Responding?

By Alyson Klein 鈥 December 02, 2021 2 min read
Conceptual image of an in-person classroom in front of a virtual class
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Are schools suffering from tech fatigue?

Recent survey data from the about blended learning鈥攁 mix of face-to-face instruction and use of digital learning tools鈥攕uggests that might be the case.

Nearly half of the educators surveyed by the nonprofit think tank said their schools offered blended learning in the past, and 29 percent said they offer it currently. But just 9 percent say they plan to offer blended learning once the pandemic is over. That鈥檚 according to a survey of 1,074 educators conducted in October.

The recent data also suggests declining interest from last spring to October in offering blended learning.

A based on survey data from April and May concluded that the huge emphasis on digital learning during the pandemic would provide a boost for blended learning going forward. For instance, while just 12 percent of teachers said they used an intensive blended learning model known as the 鈥渇lipped classroom鈥 prior to the pandemic, 18 percent said they expected to use the strategy once the pandemic ends. Flipped learning involves students covering class content online at home, and in-person instruction is used for discussions, projects, practice, and individualized help from teachers.

One possible explanation, according to Thomas Arnett, a senior research fellow at the Christensen Institute and the author of both reports: 69传媒 are stretched thin and not ready to dive into less-familiar forms of instruction, such as blended learning.

鈥淚f a school is back [to full-time, in-person instruction], they鈥檙e struggling to get everything to work. Having to do blended learning on top of that is a real challenge,鈥 he said.

What鈥檚 more, the legacy of the 2020-21 school year, in which many kids failed to make much progress learning virtually full-time or in hybrid programs, might have left many educators disappointed about the value of online learning.

鈥淕enerally, there鈥檚 a sense that like, 鈥極h, we tried that online learning stuff, and it wasn鈥檛 great. We need to leave that behind,鈥欌 Arnett said.

So how are school districts prioritizing other types of instruction?

According to the Christensen Institute survey, 65 percent of educators surveyed in October said they are currently offering tutoring services, and 22 percent say they plan to continue that work post-pandemic. Twenty-nine percent said they offered tutoring in the past.

The vast majority of districts offering tutoring鈥93 percent鈥攕ay tutoring is being provided at least in part by certified teaching staff, while 16 percent are allowing some K-12 students to serve as tutors. Just 9 percent say they are working with an outside organization that specializes in tutoring, and even fewer鈥6 percent鈥攕ay they are using an online platform that facilitates tutoring.

While full-time virtual education remains an option in many districts, commitment to it appears to be declining. Forty-three percent of the October respondents said they currently provided students with the option of a full-time virtual school, while only 13 percent said they plan to stick with the option once the pandemic ends.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Don鈥檛 Count Them Out: Dyscalculia Support from PreK-Career
Join Dr. Elliott and Dr. Wall as they empower educators to support students with dyscalculia to envision successful careers and leadership roles.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Improve School Culture and Engage 69传媒: Archery鈥檚 Critical Role in Education
Changing lives one arrow at a time. Find out why administrators and principals are raving about archery in their schools.
Content provided by 
School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Classroom Technology Parents Lack Digital Know-How. Is It 69传媒' Responsibility to Fix That?
Most parents wish they had stronger technological skills so that they could help their children with online class assignments.
2 min read
Mother and son work at home on laptop.
iStock/Getty
Classroom Technology What's In, What's Out for AI, Cellphones, Cybersecurity, and Other Ed-Tech Stuff
Education technology changes quickly, and so do the trends that define how educators and students use it. What's ahead for 2025?
Image of students using laptops in the classroom.
E+
Classroom Technology Spotlight Spotlight on EdTech
This Spotlight will help you learn how to teach digital literacy skills, evaluate edtech tools effectively, and more.
Classroom Technology Cellphones in the Classroom: The Year鈥檚 Top 5 Stories
The devices distract students from learning, disrupt sleep, and can harm mental health.
1 min read
A duotone photograph of a group of elementary students sitting together and looking at their cellphones
Canva