Parents are demanding that schools invest more in educational apps, according to a new survey by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The majority of parents have a smartphone or tablet and they want apps to help their children learn as most believe computer-based learning will replace books in the next five years.
Most parents, 55%, say schools should use educational apps, while 18% agreed strongly that schools should encourage their pupils to use the technology.
Ian Grant, Managing Director of Britannica said: “With so many parents and children already using educational apps, it’s vital that schools embrace this new technology and really explore its potential.
The research from Encyclopædia Britannica also reveals that many parents predict that educational apps will soon replace other traditional learning methods in the classroom, such as study guides and CDs, just as the full shelf of encyclopaedias has been replaced by Google.
Grant says: “It’s clear that the days when pupils were expected to carry around a bag full of heavy textbooks for homework are long gone, as technology has evolved. Educational apps provide a wonderful opportunity for schools to engage with their pupils and really demonstrate the educational power and value of this new technology.”
The survey, which canvassed 510 parents, did not say whether parents were aware of apps already being used in schools, or that a range of education apps are already available. The Telegraph has previously highlighted 250 great educational apps for children. Teaching News also investigated the range of classroom apps available in 2010.
Many schools have highly developed IT learning systems, such as the William Allitt in Derbyshire has a webpage devoted to the apps it recommends students download.