A new survey by online polling company YouGov Plc, on behalf of RM, underlines just how technology is changing the way young people in Britain learn.

This year's RM "School Gate Survey" questioned 1,501 11-16 year olds across Britain, and examined their thoughts on the impact of IT on their learning and the value they place on it.

• 93% of 11-16 year olds with computer access at school surveyed do at least some or all of their homework on a computer/ laptop.
• 78% of these prefer doing homework on a computer or laptop to pen and paper
• 50%  of 11-16 year olds surveyed would like to spend more time learning at home
• 49% own their own laptop or PC
• 77% use the Internet every day
• 93% of 11-16 year olds surveyed feel that technology has helped them to learn more

The results of the research found that 93% of 11-16 year olds feel that technology has helped them to learn more and 78% of those with computer access at school said they now prefer doing their homework on a computer or laptop rather than on paper. Further, 93% of respondents do at least some or all of their homework on a computer.

The survey also revealed the extent to which young people are engaging with the Internet, with over three-quarters (77%) of those questioned using it every day, and 21% using it once or twice a week. This is supported by the fact that half (49%) of the respondents own their own laptop or PC.

With this access has come a desire for enhanced flexibility in where young people learn, and a dissolving of barriers between home and school. 50% of those young people surveyed voiced a desire to spend more time learning at home.

Young People's engagement with technology doesn't stop with computers. New technologies and social networking sites are widely enjoyed, with 60% of respondents using Facebook/ Myspace and/ or Bebo, 66% playing video games, 69% a mobile phone, 65% an MP3 player and 51% using a digital camera. There is a strongly expressed interest in using these for learning, with 30% saying they would like to use video games to help them learn, 20% an MP3 player and 18% social networking sites.

When asked what aspects of learning they thought would most help them get a good job in later life, a majority (70%) chose technology, backed by having a supportive family (83%) and a good teacher (84%).

Tim Pearson, CEO of RM, said, "Learning really has now embraced the digital world, and with new technology a crucial part of young people's lives it is not perhaps so surprising that they respond so positively to learning using IT.  With nearly every single pupil questioned by YouGov for this survey having access to a computer/ laptop at school (97%), there are real opportunities for those of us committed to supporting learning to feed this enthusiasm for technology with ever better resources and flexible solutions."

As a light hearted finale, our respondents were asked if they could invent something to help them learn in the future, what would it be?  Some of the best ideas included:

• Some kind of computer that can access every book that has ever been published at the press of a button
• A CD that you listen to whilst sleeping to help me learn the hard bits
• A personal helmet that you wear that teaches you what you want to know
• A helper robot that you can ask for tips or to check spelling
• A virtual teacher that can be taken anywhere - but doesn't tell me off
• Smaller and cheaper laptops that can be taken anywhere without fear of being mugged
• Computer games to help me revise

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1,540 adults who had been screened as having a child aged 11 to 16 inclusive in the household. From this there were 1501 children who took part in the main survey. By definition all these children have access to a computer or laptop. Fieldwork was undertaken between 9th - 12th November 2007.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have not been weighted.

Fiona McLean, Head of Corporate Communications RM,
01235 854539, fmclean@rm.com