Key points:
While most students say they are eager to learn and feel a strong sense of belonging at school, teachers still face challenges that slow improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes , according to a new report from Discovery Education.
Teachers are eager to accept changes that produce positive results, but major obstacles to these results remain, according to The Education Insights report from Discovery Education.
The report reveals key areas of opportunity for addressing student engagement and captures the prevailing attitudes and beliefs of superintendents, teachers, parents and students.
Three areas of intervention emerged in the report:
1. All stakeholders must foster student engagement to motivate curiosity, inspire exploration, and enable effective learning. Research shows that engaged students are more likely to find learning interesting and challenging. Sixty-eight percent of teachers say that getting students excited about learning is a major challenge for them. Additionally, almost all teachers and students (94%) agree that curiosity is the key to unlocking learning, but 80% of students say there aren’t enough opportunities to be curious. Students need to be challenged appropriately in their learning, and prioritizing curiosity and exploration can boost student engagement.
2. Career exploration and the development of 21st century skills are increasingly essential because teachers, parents, and students are concerned about preparing students for the future as the workforce evolves. When students see how their current studies relate to potential career paths, they are more likely to be motivated and invested in their studies. This integration of curiosity-driven learning and hands-on exploration of future opportunities guides students toward academic and career success. Sixty-seven percent of students fear their education will not evolve to meet future workforce needs. Seventy-four percent of superintendents believe that preparing students for job opportunities has improved compared to five years ago, while only 41 percent of teachers agree. As educators work to engage and motivate students, survey results suggest they need to focus on two key areas to better prepare students for the future: career readiness and development of interpersonal skills.
3. Providing more targeted support for teachers and students can increase confidence and improve achievement. Studies show that teachers who feel supported are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and stay in the profession longer, creating a more stable and effective learning environment for students. Research consistently shows that personalized learning approaches – where
Teaching is tailored to students’ unique strengths, needs, and interests, leading to improved academic performance, increased engagement, and higher levels of motivation.
“While The Education Insights report from Discovery Education found that students, parents, teachers and superintendents have a generally positive view of the current state of education, but it also found that there are obstacles to overcome,” said Brian Shaw, CEO of Discovery Education. “Educators are worried about keeping students engaged, and students are unsure about their preparedness for the future. Discovery Education’s goal with this research is to highlight opportunities for improvement so that all stakeholders can collaborate to solve these challenges and create a better future for all learners.
Additional results include:
- Curiosity is important for everyone. There is broad consensus on the importance of curiosity in learning, with over 90% of surveyed stakeholders agreeing that curiosity is at the heart of learning. However, 82 percent of students and 75 percent of teachers believe there are not enough opportunities to be curious in today’s classrooms.
- Students want to learn more life skills. Eighty-eight percent of district leaders, teachers, parents, and students consider life skills very important, but only 57% of students believe their schools adequately teach the life skills needed for their future success .
- Teachers see promise in adaptive learning. Ninety-three percent of teachers believe that adaptive learning resources would help students learn more effectively and 75% of students say that learning at their own pace would increase their chances of participating in lessons, feeling empowered school and better prepared for the future.
- Time is running out. Ninety-four percent of teachers surveyed said they were looking for classroom tools that would give them time to focus on their students.
- AI tools from education experts are more reliable. When it comes to artificial intelligence, 72% of teachers and parents, as well as 85% of superintendents surveyed, believe that personalized AI-based learning materials are more reliable when developed by AI experts. education. Additionally, 84 percent of teachers and 90 percent of superintendents believe that as teachers receive more training on how to use AI, it will become a more reliable tool in education.
The survey data was collected by The Harris Poll, a leading research organization, on behalf of Discovery education in August 2024. It included 1,524 responses from K-12 students, parents of K-12 students, and K-12 teachers and superintendents.
