Students want school tech

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Seven out of 10 students think that being able to use technology is more important than money or reading to landing decent jobs, a survey has found.

The YouGov study of 1,500 pupils aged 11 to 16 has shown teachers aren't the only ones calling for education to focus on technology.

In addition to believing tech is key to a good career, they also prefer it for doing their homework. More than three-quarters would rather do their work on a computer than sit down with pen and paper. Almost two thirds (some 62 per cent) also feel that using technology helps them to learn more effectively.

Tim Pearson, chief executive of educational tech firm RM, which sponsored the study, said: "Learning really has embraced the digital world, and with new technology a crucial part of young people's lives it is not perhaps so surprising that they respond so positively to learning using ICT."

Indeed, while the findings varied across the UK, it was clear most students are expecting to use technology to learn. Good thing then, that technology is nearly ubiquitous in schools and homes. Nearly all (some 99 per cent) of students have access to a computer of some sort at home, with 49 per cent having their own machine.

Nearly as many, some 97 per cent, said they use a computer at school.

But a computer alone isn't enough. They want the internet too. Six out of 10 students have already signed up for online social networking. In Wales, 13 per cent of students are online more than 20 hours a week - the highest rate across the UK.

Pearson also warned not to forget about students left on the wrong side of the digital divide: "While the number of households owning laptops or PCs is increasing every year, there is still a need for those without access to be given flexible options for joining the digital revolution," he said.

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