Use of Technology for Homework Assignments

A new First Look report, Teachers’ Use of Technology for School and Homework Assignments: 2018–19, provides information about the use of technology for homework assignments in grades 3–12. It focuses on information that can best be provided by public school teachers from their perspective and direct interaction with students. The report highlights the following findings: Twenty-six percent of teachers reported that their students have district- or school-provided computers for students to take home on a long-term basis during the school year. However, of these teachers, 40 percent reported that some of their students are not able to take these computers home. Twenty-three percent of teachers reported being very knowledgeable, and 51 percent reported being somewhat knowledgeable about their students’ access to the Internet at home. Teachers estimated the percentage of their students who have access to a computer at home, including district- or school-provided computers for students who take them home. About two-thirds of teachers estimated that 75 percent or more of their students have access to a computer at home. While computers and Internet service might exist in students’ households, computer availability for homework and the reliability of computer connections to the Internet can vary considerably. About a third (35 percent) of teachers estimated that their students’ home computers were very available for school assignments. Twenty-nine percent of teachers thought it very likely that their students’ home computers had reliable Internet access. About a fifth (19 percent) of teachers reported that they often assign technology-based homework and an additional 28 percent reported doing so sometimes. This report uses data from the 2018–19 survey, Teachers’ Use of Technology for School and Homework Assignments.