Survey

Teachers Say Tech Makes Learning More Fun, Students Say it Helps Them Learn

• By Richard Chang
• 12/01/16

A recent survey conducted by Quizlet, an online learning tool provider, finds that most teachers say technology makes learning more fun, while students say it helps them learn.

In a November survey of 12,525 students and 10,800 teachers primarily in the United States, Quizlet asked respondents about their use of technology in teaching and learning — including tablets, computers, apps and websites.

Overall, the results indicate a trend of teachers being significantly more likely to view ed tech apps as a good use of time in the classroom than students. Generation Z (born in 2001 and after) students expressed more positivity regarding in-classroom technology than the ed tech apps they use at home, when compared to millennial students.

The survey found two major trends among teachers and students.

Trend No. 1: Teachers say tech makes learning more fun, whereas students say it helps them learn.

Teachers are 32 percent more likely than students to say learning tech is a good use of classroom time.

• 83 percent of teachers say devices in class make learning more fun, but only 63 percent of students do.
• 80 percent of teachers say apps in class make learning more fun, but only 50 percent of students do.
• 69 percent of students say devices help them learn, but 40 percent of teachers say they help them teach.
• 66 percent of students say apps help them learn, but 38 percent of teachers say they help them teach.
• 80 percent of Boomer teachers, 84 percent of Gen X teachers and 88 percent of millennial teachers say technology makes learning more fun for their students.

Trend No. 2: Gen Z is more positive about learning tech in the classroom than millennials, but less so at home. Compared to millennials, Gen Z students are:

• 28 percent more likely to say tech in the classroom helps them learn more quickly than traditional worksheets, books and lectures;
• 24 percent more likely to say that tech in the classroom makes learning more fun;
• 12 percent more likely to say learning apps help them learn more quickly than traditional worksheets, books and lectures;
• Almost 6 percent less likely to say learning apps used at home are helping them learn; and
• Almost 5 percent less likely to say learning apps used at home are a good use of homework or study time.

One thing students and teachers of all ages agreed upon was interaction between students and teachers is an important part of a classroom learning environment.

Adobe recently released a similar survey, examining how Generation Z and their teachers view technology in and outside the classroom.

For more survey results and the complete data tables, visit this Quizlet Google Doc link.