Streamlining School Digitalization: Alleviating Tech Headaches for Educators
Teachers Grapple with Digitalization Overload: Challenges Facing the Modern Educator - The Impacts of Digitalisation on Educators: An Examination of Pressure Factors
Can't get past printer jams, software glitches, and internet downtime? Welcome to the digital world of education. "The surge of technical issues due to school digitalization essentially adds additional stress to educators," points out Thilo Hartmann, head honcho of the Education and Science Union (GEW) in Hesse.
Teachers depend on technology to plan their lessons, and when it malfunctions, there's often nobody to call for assistance. They then have to sort out the tech troubles on their own. At many schools, the tech-savvy teachers shoulder the burden, providing assistance as a side gig. The extra workload and digital stress are becoming a severe issue, according to Hartmann.
Keep in mind, devices need maintenance, updates, and protection - tasks that consume much time and necessitate learning new systems. You'd think schools would have their own IT departments, but alas, most operate without one, forcing teachers to dive headfirst into troubleshooting rounds.
Feeling the weight of these responsibilities? Take a cue from the city of Kassel. They've jumped on board with the "IT Supporter@School" project, hiring 12 IT supporters to aid six schools. "Schools can no longer provide the necessary technical support," admits Mayor and Education Commissioner Nicole Maisch (Greens). "These are teachers, after all, not IT professionals."
Thorben Schröder, an IT supporter, handles quick on-site fixes for common problems, serving as the schools' point of call for assistance. Carsten Horstmann, the deputy headmaster of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School, shares that the IT suppporter's quick intervention saves time and effort, making the digital experience more enjoyable for everyone.
But what about the digital infrastructure in schools? Don't fret, it's in good hands. The digital infrastructure in Kassel has been empowered by generous support from the federal and state governments through the Digital Pact I, notes Mayor Maisch. The ultimate aim is to ensure the technology supports teachers in their administrative tasks and teaching pedagogy, while minimizing the energy drain that logistics may cause.
The state of Hesse agrees with the sentiment. "The digitalization of schools reflects the complexities inherent in introducing modern technologies," explains the Hessian Ministry of Culture. Acknowledging that significant progress has been made in digitalization, they emphasize that continuous work is required to sustain this development due to the rapid pace of technological advancements.
Digitalization should aim to simplify administrative tasks and support teachers in their pedagogical work. The digital applications offered by the state and school carriers relieve teachers in many areas. In the area of IT equipment, the state supports technical assistance that eases teachers' daily burden.
Recent years have seen progress in the digitalization of Hessian schools, particularly with the increased funding for school IT infrastructure through the Digital Pact. However, GEW's Hartmann stresses that more urgent funding is essential to address the backlog, replace aging equipment, and expand media education programs. The ongoing development of digital media competence is crucial, according to Hartmann, and teaching digitalization should be questioned critically. Equal digital equipment is also crucial for all schools.
In short, a balance must be struck: harness the power of technology to improve education without drowning educators in technical stress. Embrace professional development, robust IT support, user-friendly technology, media education, digital literacy, mental health workshops, mandatory breaks, surveys, infrastructure upgrades, and collaborations with EdTech companies to create a safer, more efficient, and less stressful digital learning environment.
- To ensure a harmonious blend of technology and education, the Community Policy should include measures for vocational training in IT, providing educators with the necessary skills to tackle technical issues and alleviate digital stress, such as training programs for IT support roles within schools.
- As part of the ongoing digitalization efforts, the Education-and-Self-Development sector should prioritize the integration of technology in vocational training programs, equipping learners with not just industry-specific skills, but also digital literacy, thus preparing them for the tech-driven workforce and general news trends.
