Unraveling the Digital Tangle: How Technology's Advancements Affect Teacher Well-being
Teachers' digital stress: Identifying sources of strain in the digital age of education - Digital Transformation's Impact on Educators: A Look at the Emotional Strain
The rapid digitalization in education promises a world dripping in possibilities. Yet, it's the teachers left grappling with an alarming side effect - stress. "With digitalization, the workload and stress levels for teachers have soared," says Thilo Hartmann, GEW's Hesse chairman.
Teachers face an array of technical hiccups like network outages, hardware issues, and software updates on a daily basis, traditionally the domain of the IT department. Consequently, teachers are often left to figure it out themselves, leading to additional stress. "When tech issues arise, there's no one to call. Teachers have to fix these problems on their own," Hartmann elaborates.
To fill the void, some schools rely on tech-savvy teachers, pushing them into IT support roles, while others sign on study counselors for a promotion and a slight salary increase. However, in many schools, especially smaller ones, IT support remains an undesired add-on.
Navigating the digital maze is daunting
In a school with over a thousand students and a staff of around 100 teachers, maintaining technology is a herculean task. It's a double burden that can't be managed on the side. "Imagine a corporate setting. They'd have an entire IT team for handling tech infrastructure. Schools don't have that luxury," Hartmann remarks.
The list of tasks is endless - fixing broken hardware, dealing with technical glitches, ensuring internet connectivity, installing updates, and securing data systems - all of which consume precious time and energy. Mastering new systems and co-ordinating with numerous individuals add to the complexity.
Paving the way in Kassel
The "IT Supporter@School" initiative in Kassel aims to ease teachers' burden by hiring twelve IT supporters. Each of them supports six schools. "Teachers are not tech professionals. They've been shouldering the IT responsibilities in addition to their regular duties," says Mayor and Education Commissioner, Nicole Maisch (Greens).
Thorben Schröder, an IT supporter, explains his role. He helps resolve on-site problems and acts as a point of contact for problems and requests, making regular visits to the schools and stepping in during emergencies.
Carsten Horstmann, deputy principal of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School, supports the initiative. "IT supporters like Thorben can help tackle problems quickly, while teachers might not always have the time for it. The whole experience has become much less stressful," he agrees.
The foundation of digital infrastructure
The digital infrastructure in schools has been funded in part by generous support from the federal and state governments, according to Maisch. Now, the goal is to ensure a reliable digital teaching environment for the 55 schools in Kassel. "Teachers should be able to rely on the technology functioning correctly, allowing them to focus on their core responsibilities," Maisch explains.
The federal ministry supports the expansion of technical support to reduce teachers' stress, recognizing the crucial role of technology in both administrative tasks and pedagogy. "The digital solutions provided by the state and school providers also alleviate teachers in several areas," the ministry shares.
Increasing digitalization demands a well-planned approach
""The digitalization of schools reflects the complexity associated with the introduction of modern technologies," explains the Hessian Ministry of Culture. Progress has been made in adapting existing structures, promoting competencies, and ensuring resources, but the continuous development of technology necessitates ongoing work to keep pace," the ministry adds.
GEW acknowledges the progress made in digitizing schools but also identifies areas for improvement. "The digital tools have advanced considerably due to the pandemic, but we have a long way to go," Hartmann states. The union emphasizes the need for urgent funding to address backlogs in the coming years, as well as an expansion of media education. "Digital media competence goes beyond using a computer or browsing the internet. Digitalization must be questioned critically," Hartmann said. The call for equal digital equipment across all schools echoes the necessity for equal opportunities for all students.
In essence, digitalization brings technological prowess that empowers teachers, yet it presents a double-edged sword - contributing to workload stress and burnout. Strategic planning, robust IT support, comprehensive training, communication management, and focused well-being initiatives are the keys to ensuring that the benefits of digital tools outweigh their negatives, ultimately creating a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures both teachers and students.
- The digitalization in education, while offering a wealth of possibilities, has increased the workload and stress levels for teachers due to daily technical hiccups such as network outages, hardware issues, and software updates.
- In response to the increased responsibilities of teachers, some schools have appointed tech-savvy teachers as IT support or hired study counselors for the role, while others struggle with inadequate IT support, particularly in smaller schools.
- To alleviate the burden on teachers, the "IT Supporter@School" initiative in Kassel has hired twelve IT supporters who assist multiple schools with resolving on-site problems and serving as points of contact for technical issues.
- The digital infrastructure in schools requires ongoing work to keep pace with advancements in technology, and a strategic approach should focus on well-planned digital solutions, robust IT support, comprehensive training, communication management, and well-being initiatives to ensure that teachers can benefit from the technological advantages of education without facing excessive stress.
