Thrown into the Deep End: K-12 Teachers’ Educational Technology Usage in Utah During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic's shift to emergency remote teaching (ERT) revealed significant gaps in K-12 teachers' preparedness to use educational technology (ET) outside traditional settings. This study explores ET usage among Utah's K-12 teachers in 2021, focusing on tool prevalence, differences between elementary and secondary educators, and variations by educational attainment. A survey of 5,934 teachers resulted in 902 responses. Findings indicate that while traditional tools like printers and projectors were widely used, newer technologies such as Canvas and Zoom became essential. Some differences also emerged between groups. The study highlights the need for comprehensive ET training to prepare teachers for diverse instructional environments and informs recommendations for teacher preparation and professional development programs.