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Schools failing to harness tech potential
Parents say tech puts kids "in driving seat"…

By Tim Ferguson

Published: Wednesday 16 January 2008

Four out of five schools are failing to exploit the full potential of technology to improve learning and better inform parents, according to research.

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But of the parents surveyed by the government's education technology agency Becta, 95 per cent said they feel technology is key to the education of their children.

The vast majority of respondents (80 per cent) also said technology - such as interactive white boards - bring lessons to life and engage their children more effectively in difficult subjects.

And it's not only at school that parents think tech will help their kids, as 91 per cent said the use of computers helps prepare young people to enter the workplace.

Becta CEO Stephen Crowne said the research shows parents "understand how technology can put them in the driving seat".

He added that in the near future technology will make lessons interactive "like never before" and allow teachers to access the best teaching resources from around the world.

In a statement Crowne said: "We want to move technology from the margins to the mainstream in our schools and colleges and make the most of the opportunities and benefits it can provide."

Tech guru and face of Becta's next generation learning campaign, Johnny Ball, said as technology has transformed so many aspects of people's lives it makes sense for learners to also benefit. "Education needs to catch up," he said.

The online poll was run by Populus on Becta's behalf, quizzing 2,058 parents.

Last week Becta urged schools not to implement Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system due to potential compatibility issues with earlier versions of Microsoft tech.