EDUTECH SPECS: AN INTRODUCTION

Welcome to EduTech Specs – an 8-part series in which I will be taking a research-based approach to understanding the technology adoption of schools and provide a detailed forecast of educational technology in the United States.

Today we'll discuss the Why, What, and How of this blog series. I'll also provide a Preview of what you can expect from my work.

Why​ does this matter?

Studying these trends is important because schools are beginning to change the way they think about and use technology.

According to Simba Information's K-12 Classroom Technology Survey Report from 2016,

• 62% of Teachers stated that lack of devices was the major reason why students didn't spend more time on devices in the classroom.
• More than 60% of Teachers are using a learning management system (LMS) like Google Classroom or Blackboard.
• More than 80% of Teachers surveyed indicated that they use digital resources in their instruction.
• Nearly 30% of Teachers reported that they either use online resources or train themselves on how to use instructional technology.

Spending on hardware, software, and training has increased over the past five years, and schools are beginning to see the fruits of their investments.

What​ Does This Blog Cover?

Education - Instruction provided for the development of knowledge, skills, or attitudes.
Technology - Hardware or Software
Specs - "Specifications," or detailed facts usually involving measurements

EduTech Specs - "A detailed, fact-based analysis of the hardware or software being used in instructional settings."

More specifically, we'll cover this from a macroeconomic and socioeconomic perspective within the United States.

How​ will we cover this content?

1. Economics: National Trends in EduTech Spending
2. Economics: National Trends in EduTech Software Development and Company Growth
3. Demography: Trends in EduTech Spending by School Type, Income, and Region
4. Demography: Trends in EduTech Spending by Age Group and Subject Matter
5. Literature Review: Perceptions of Administration on EduTech Adoptions
6. Literature Review: Perceptions of Teachers on EduTech Adoptions
7. Development: Trends of EduTech Software vs. Hardware
8. Innovation: Study of Software Startups in EduTech space

These topics will be covered here on every Wednesday, so come back each week and contribute your thoughts to our conversation on the future of education and how technology will affect it!