Teaching & Technology
78% of Elementary Teachers Spend Their Own Money on Tech for Teaching at Home
A survey of K–5 educators conducted this spring found that 78% of
teachers had to spend their own money to supplement technology needed
for teaching at home during the pandemic. The same survey found that
80% of elementary teachers spend their own money on classroom
supplies.
The findings were part of a broader private survey executed by Merrill Research on behalf of
Epson,
which gave THE Journal permission to share results. The online survey
was conducted in March. Respondents were divided nearly equally
between educators working in-person, remotely and in hybrid
environments.
The report also found that, during the pandemic, 76% of educators
brought technology home with them from their classroom or school to
help with remote instruction, including projectors (25%), printers
(39%) and document cameras (36%).
The results of Epson's survey have not been made available to the
public until now. We will follow up with further details.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 29-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEDavidNagel (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).