Parents' Acceptance of Educational Technology: Lessons From Around the World.

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Sociology of Education
• Psychology of Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of technology and parental engagement in education, especially for bridging achievement gaps.
• Effective integration of technology in remote and hybrid learning requires more than just equipment; it necessitates a shift in learning models.
• Understanding parental acceptance and use of educational technology is crucial for supporting student learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze factors influencing parental acceptance and use of technology for children's education during pandemic-induced lockdowns.
• To identify key determinants that encourage or hinder parental engagement with educational technology.
• To provide practical insights for policymakers and educators on optimizing technology use in home learning environments.

Main Methods:

• A theoretical framework combining the Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Social Cognitive Learning Theory was applied.
• Data were collected from a survey of 4,600 parents across 19 countries during national lockdowns in 2020.
• Quantitative (regression models) and qualitative (thematic analysis of open-ended responses) methods were used to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• Parental engagement in children's learning increases with well-structured technological tools suggested by schools.
• Social influence from peers, teachers, and the public significantly impacts parental acceptance of educational technology.
• Perceived difficulty and lack of skills act as barriers to parental engagement with technology for learning.

Conclusions:

• Schools and governments must provide accessible, well-structured technological tools to support home learning.
• Leveraging social influence and addressing parental concerns about technological complexity are vital for successful technology integration.
• Policy and practice should focus on meeting parents' needs to effectively utilize technology in bridging the educational achievement gap.