ASCD’s K-12 Digital Content Report on Ebook and Audiobook Trends for the Classroom and School Library Was Just Released

Download the full report here.

Highlights from the Executive Summary:

• This follow-up to the 2016 research among school leaders and district supervisors clearly indicates increases in the use of digital content (defined here as e-books or audiobooks, as opposed to print materials, that can be used as instructional content or for independent/student choice reading) that was only hypothesized in the 2016 study. The reported use of digital content has grown by 15 percent overall since 2016, with its use as part of a school or district’s curriculum showing a reported increase of 39 percent.

• This research reinforces many of the insights seen in 2016, particularly the benefits of digital content, which largely explain digital content’s growth. Its ability to deliver individualized instruction and encourage independent practice are the most mentioned benefits in both research studies.

• Across the board, in every subgroup, these administrators reported that their teachers were most likely to be using digital content for ELA, rather than for any other subject area. Of the three specific areas in which improving literacy is a goal, they were working with digital content to improve literacy for struggling readers most frequently, followed by using digital content for early readers or for language acquisition/English as a Second Language (ESL).

• Looking a year or two down the road, these leaders have prioritized professional development as the top area for digital content, followed by informational texts/literary nonfiction.

Heartland AEA provides 2,000+ ebooks, 4,000+ digital audiobooks and other rich digital content for preK-12. Learn more at our website or explore AEA Scout (log in with SSO).