!"#$%&’()*+!,10*P001*11:Page 1 03/02/2010 10:11 Page 8
News
Parental attitudes will enhance the
success of the Home Access Programme
M
icrosoft survey Some stats that support this
demonstrates the include:
importance of a connected • More parents have a facebook
approach to learning, with account than their children
responsibilities of both teachers (73% next to 60% )
and parents as learning spreads • 51% have used internet from
beyond the classroom their mobile (suggesting they are
The study explored the attitudes comfortable/regular users)
of parents of secondary school age • 77% of parents said they played
children (11-18 year olds) across the computer games by themselves as
UK and revealed that making IT in opposed to with their children
education a success is more than (only 39%)
just about access to the right “Due to the way that children are
technology. In order for children to using PCs, there is an increasing
truly benefit, there must be parental blurring between learning-time and
understanding of PCs as a learning leisure-time and so computers in the
resource as well as effective home are becoming as important as
parental engagement. those in the classroom,” said
Fleming. “The way that students are
Some key findings include: consuming information and
• 90% of children use their home engaging with each other and their
computers at least once a week teachers is constantly changing, as is
for educational reasons – the a half of the men asked think that compared to 51% of those who the way that they learn and are
same percentage as those who the IT knowledge gap between have a household income over motivated. There is a need for
use a school computer for study. themselves and their children is £50k) This again is likely to come parents as well as teachers to adapt
But 40% of children use their harmful to their learning back to a lack of knowledge – to this changing behaviour through
home computers for study every development, compared to a third increased parental awareness and the use of technology and
day, more than the 30% that use of women asked. engagement needs to happen at programmes like Home Access.
computers daily at school. • Younger parents, despite typically all levels, regardless of income or Getting parents who aren’t on board,
• Despite the obvious generation having greater levels of expertise age with the right skill-set to support and
gap, when it comes to familiarity and knowledge of IT and the engage with their children effectively
with computers, almost all parents internet in fact worry more about There seems to be a common at home, is essential.”
surveyed (97%) believe computers their children online. (64% of misconception that children only “Microsoft fully supports the
have at least some value for their under 34s with children compared use their computers at home to play Government’s Home Access
child’s learning and 40% see it to only 43% of over 55s) games or connect to social Programme and welcomes the
describe it as ‘crucial’ • Children from higher household networks. However, the research recognition that parents, students
• 99% of parents enjoy using a income families (£50k+) are using suggests that instead the and teachers all have a part to play
computer, with 20% classing it as computers for study marginally connection gap between the home in education. We are confident that
their own favourite pastime. more than the less well off (81% PC and schoolwork comes not from Microsoft’s technologies will play a
However 58% of parents are compared to 72%) and less well students but from the parents. The large part in this process and can
worried about what their children off parents actually worry more culture of learning is changing – help make home access a reality for
are doing on the internet and about the internet (70% of kids are on board and being all,” added Fleming.
63% recognise they need to parents with household income of motivated by learning through
improve their knowledge to help less than £20k worry what their technology at home. Parents need ublogs.msdn.com/ukschools
supervise activities online. Nearly children are doing online to keep up! uwww.homeaccess.org.uk
8
www.education-today.co.uk February 2010
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