Almost half of UK teachers (49 per cent) would like to use the internet more than they currently do in lessons, according to a national study of 500 teachers published by ntl:Telewest Business.
The study indicates that although 78 per cent of teachers use the internet in class at least once a week, and 42 per cent at least once a day, the positive benefits it brings to pupils means teachers feel increased internet access would help pupils even further.
The impact the internet has had in the classroom is wide ranging. Some 37 per cent of teachers felt the internet had a dramatic impact on exam results, nearly nine out of 10 felt pupils were more interested in lessons and a majority felt it helped both slow learners (80 per cent) and brighter pupils (73 per cent).
Christopher Small, director of public sector at ntl:Telewest Business, said: 'The internet has transformed the way pupils are learning in the class room and the benefits are there for all to see in terms of exam results and interest in lessons. However, with just one per cent of teachers using the available bandwidth to collaborate with other schools and local businesses, a trick is being missed.'
With Department for Education and Skills (DfES) guidelines suggesting primary schools should have 2Mb bandwidth and secondary schools 8Mb by the end of the year, almost six out of 10 teachers believe their school has reached those targets. Just ten per cent felt their school wouldn’t reach these targets, with the remainder unsure.
The main use of the internet in the classroom is for access to online learning (46 per cent) and research (42 per cent), with just one per cent using the available bandwidth to collaborate with other schools and businesses.
The main barriers to internet take up were an insufficient number of PCs (59 per cent), a lack of suitable online resources (30 per cent) and a lack of time and specialist equipment such as interactive whiteboards (26 per cent). More than a third of teachers surveyed also felt there was a lack of access to the right IT skills and training to support e-learning effectively.
Teachers are also increasingly setting homework that relies on the internet, with more than half encouraging online learning, revision or research at home, and nearly eight out of ten feeling those pupils without internet access at home are at a disadvantage compared to those who do. With 4,789 libraries in the UK offering internet access, however, there should be no barriers to pupils using online resources even if they do not have access to the internet at home.
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