Brussels, 22/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - Although new technology is widespread in school programmes, the rate of ICT use and the levels of digital skills remain low, according to a survey carried out by European Schoolnet and the University of Liège on behalf of the European Commission. The report suggests that acquisition of these skills needs to be considerably boosted and use of them among teachers as well as pupils supported. Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “We need to invest more in the development and use of ICTs in schools. Europe will only resume sustained growth by producing highly skilled ICT graduates and workers”. Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, said: “ICT skills and training must be available to all students and teachers, not just a lucky few”.
The survey reveals that:
1) Only one in four 9 year olds studies at a “highly digitally-equipped school” with recent equipment, fast broadband (10mbps plus) and high connectivity (website, email for students and teachers, local area network, virtual learning environment);
2) Only half of 16 year olds are in such “highly digitally-equipped schools”;
3) 20% of secondary students have never or almost never used a computer in their school lessons;
4) Students' frequency of ICT-based learning activities in the classroom increases when schools have specific formal policies to use ICTs;
5) There are marked country differences. Scandinavian and Nordic countries have the best equipment (Sweden, Finland, Denmark); while students in Poland, Romania, Italy, Greece, Hungary and Slovakia are most likely to lack the right equipment;
6) Laptops, tablets and netbooks are replacing desktop computers in many schools;
7) Lack of equipment does not mean lack of interest: some countries with the highest use of computer equipment are the ones with the lowest scores on equipment provisions (e.g. Bulgaria, Slovakia, Cyprus and Hungary);
8) It is essential for students to have access to ICTs at both home and school;
9) Most teachers believe there is need for radical policy change;
10) Teachers are generally confident and positive about the use of ICTs for learning. This confidence is key: skilled and confident teachers are more important than the latest equipment to delivering digital skills and knowledge;
11) However, teacher training in ICTs is rarely compulsory and therefore most teachers devote spare time to private study of these skills;
12) Teachers use computers to prepare lessons more often than they use them in lessons.
In conclusion, the study recommends: an integrated approach to ICT teaching in schools is needed, meaning not only investment in infrastructure but also greater investment in teachers' training, rewards for teachers using ICT in the classroom, and the creation of ICT coordinator posts. The Commission is also recommended to work to reduce divergence in ICT teaching between countries, support projects on new approaches to teaching through digital technologies, support high quality digital learning resources for teachers and regularly monitor progress in the use of digital technologies and digital competence.
These findings and recommendations will feed into the digital agenda's efforts to enhance every European's digital skills, so that they can all participate fully in society. They will assist the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs (see EUROPE 10798) and other Commission initiatives, for example, the Rethinking Education Strategy and the forthcoming Opening up Education proposal. (IL/transl.fl)