Best Buy Canada Releases Report on Technology in the Classroom

Author: Best Buy Canada
Published: 2009/09/02
Topic: Disability Technology Editorials - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Best Buy Canada will contribute $300,000 in technology grants to schools in Canada through its Best in Class Fund program in 2009.

Introduction

Main Item

Best Buy Canada Releases New Report Card on Technology In The Classroom: Students Still Disadvantaged By Lack of Access to Latest Technology

Best Buy for Kids - Best in Class Fund Brings New Technology and Innovation to Canadian Schools

Best Buy Canada, today released its Report Card on Technology in Canada's Classrooms. The report card found that two-thirds of Canadian teachers surveyed believe students are being handicapped for the future by not giving them access to the latest technology.

Best Buy Canada will contribute $300,000 in technology grants to schools in Canada through its Best in Class Fund program in 2009. The survey found that nearly all respondents believe that it is important for students to have the latest technology in order to thrive and succeed in today's world, which underscores the importance of the Best in Class program.

The Best Buy Canada Report Card on Technology in Canada's Classrooms, a national survey of 674 Canadian teachers, conducted by Leger Marketing, showed that:

One-third of teachers surveyed indicated that schools lag behind in providing the best access to new technology to students

More than half of the respondents (61 percent) believe that students have the best access to the latest technology at home

Nearly three-quarters of teachers (74 percent) agree that having the latest technology in the classroom would foster creativity

More than half of Canadian teachers use technology as part of their daily curriculum

Despite the perceived importance of technology in the classroom, as many as one in five Canadian teachers report that they infrequently use technology in their classroom

More interestingly, teachers agree that there are learning benefits for students to having technology in the classroom. More than 80 percent of respondents agreed that having the latest technology in the classroom would make students more interested in learning at school. Moreover, 87 percent of respondents agreed that having the latest technology in the classroom would create more engaging lessons for students.

According to the survey, nearly all teachers agree that having the latest technology in the classroom would bridge the divide between students who have technology at home and those who do not. Identifying communities and schools who lack access to technology is the first step to the success of the Best in Class Fund.

The Best in Class program invites students and teachers to develop proposals on why they want to integrate technology into the classroom and how it will help further learning. The top 15 submissions will each receive $20,000 technology funding grants so that the students can see their proposals come to life and how their schools can benefit from access to new technologies in the classroom. In addition, the most compelling proposal this year will be awarded an additional $10,000 in the latest HP technology for its school.

The Best in Class program is open to grades 7 - 12 in middle schools and high schools. Schools in BC, AB, MB, SK, ON, and NS are eligible to apply. One submission is allowed per school and must be submitted electronically to: bestinclass@bestbuycanada.ca between Thursday, September 10 and Friday, October 16, 2009. More information about the Best in Class Fund is available at www.bestbuy.ca/bicf.

The Best in Class Fund established a Technology Advisory Board to help shape the programs it supports and to help judge proposals from schools. Members include: new media journalist and strategist Amber Mac, educational technology teacher Julia Leong, and tech journalist, futurist and computer literacy adviser to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Andy Walker.

In 2009, Best Buy will contribute 1.35 percent of its profit to charitable organizations that are focused on youth in Canada.

About the Survey:

From July 6 to July 19, 2009, Leger Marketing conducted an online survey among 674 respondents randomly selected Canadian adults who are Leger Marketing panelists. The interviews were completed with Canadian teachers from primary to college and university level. This method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +/-3.8%, 19 times out of 20.