Broadband has positive impact on education says research

An in-depth survey of 50 UK families by the Future Foundation revealed that two-thirds of children with broadband access were spending more time using the internet for academic purposes including research and revision.

Over the three-month period of the study, the time children's spent on-line for educational purposes increased by 19 per cent, while time spent on gaming and entertainment fell by 21 per cent.

Almost every child in the study (97 per cent) used their broadband internet connection to do their homework and more than half, (58 per cent), felt that their schoolwork would suffer without it.

Paul Flatters, Chief Executive Officer, Future Foundation said: 'We were surprised at the proportion of time that was dedicated to education by participants, it certainly challenges traditional fears that children will primarily use the internet for entertainment.

'The research also demonstrates that there is a widespread perception amongst 75 per cent of parents that their children's education has benefited from having access to broadband and we predict that it will be an important driver in terms of the take up of this technology in the UK'

'Emma Sanderson, director, BT Broadband said: 'We are really excited about these results. Encouraged by new technology in schools, children have been quick to explore and understand how the internet can help them with their school and homework. We expect education to be a primary reason for broadband uptake across UK families over the next twelve months'

The findings reflect the exceptional growth of broadband internet in the UK.

More than three million broadband customers now use a service provided over BT's network whilst there are an additional 1.7m cable broadband customers.

The UK also leads the G7 group of countries in terms of DSL broadband availability with more than 91 per cent of UK households connected to broadband enabled exchanges. This figure will increase to 99.6 per cent by summer 2005. BT is aiming to have five million wholesale broadband connections by 2006.

In addition, The Future Foundation predicts that half of all UK homes will have broadband internet access by 2006, rising to 80% by 2013.

The number of broadband subscribers continues to rise rapidly, having doubled in the past year to over four million today, therefore the future effect of broadband on the UK is likely to be widespread with enhanced interactivity, communication and learning across the board. Complementing this, the government has recently met its target of 100% of UK schools having computer access.

Methodology:

> The Future Foundation undertook the research for Broadband from BT with 50 families with children aged between 11 and 16 over a three month period between January and May 2004.

> Each member of the family was recruited immediately after signing up for broadband

> Each family kept qualitative diaries to provide feedback showing how they used the internet and feedback was gathered shortly after gaining broadband and later after four months of using the product

> Parents and children from each family were interviewed twice, once immediately after signing up to broadband and once four months later

> In depth interviews were conducted with both children and parents

The Future Foundation is a strategic consultancy and think-tank, specialising in areas such as forecasting, new product development, future-proofing, strategy and market mapping. The team develops thought-leadership programmes on specific issues or emerging trends, providing distinctive platforms for strategy and communications.

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