As the resident geek among many of my friends and family, I hold sometimes contrarian opinions about the role that technology plays -- or should play -- in our lives. One topic that we debate fairly often is the role technology plays in education. I personally think that it will help neutralize the disparity in public education resources that varies zip code by zip code, but I worry that access won't universal enough.
Turns out that Americans are fairly split in their opinions about this. A new survey of about 1,145 U.S. adults by Poll Position found that 47 percent of Americans believe that technologies such as e-readers, media tablets, smartphones and other electronic devices will have a positive impact on education. About 33 percent of respondents, though, think they will have a negative impact, and another 21 percent have no opinion. So, we have a long way to go before we will realize the potential of technology in the education climate.
By the way, the survey didn't specify whether the technology would be used in elementary schools or higher education. It simply asked about technology's role in "educational development for youth in America."
Age and gender played a role in the survey respondents. Just 35 percent of the respondents aged 65 or older, for example, thought that technology would have a positive role. Men were slightly more inclined to feel positive about technology: approximately 49 percent of the men foresaw a positive impact, while 47 percent of women thought technology would have a positive effect.
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