Digital Tension in Classrooms: How the Tech Burden Weighs on Teachers
Educational Technology Pressures: Examining Teachers' Concerns Regarding Digital Transformation - Digitalisation's Impact on Educators: Examining the Psychological Effects on Teachers
In the age of digitization, schools see an influx of technical issues. And who's left to mop up the mess? Teachers, of course! "Digital everyday life is causing additional work and technical stress for teachers," asserts Thilo Hartmann, chairman of the Education and Science Union (GEW) in Hesse.
When technology fails, it can wreak havoc on teachers' lesson plans. "Nobody's around to lend a hand. Teachers end up troubleshooting tech problems themselves," Hartmann remarks. At some schools, tech-savvy teachers take on the IT role informally, while others promote study leaders to senior roles to handle the burden. However, many smaller schools are left juggling intricate tech woes single-handedly.
Maintaining a fleet of devices can consume ample time and resources. Hartmann compares the strain on school resources to a corporation's IT department, likening it to having "a dedicated IT department in a company, but schools don't have that." Burdens include occasional device breakdowns, internet glitches, updates, and security concerns. Managing these tasks can be incredibly time-consuming and may require teachers to acquire new skills and coordinate multiple systems.
In an effort to relieve teachers in Kassel, the "IT-Supporter@School" project has been enacted. The city has hired 12 IT supporters to sustain six schools each, taking tech support duties off the plates of the educators who handle them alongside their regular responsibilities. IT supporter Thorben Schröder explains that he addresses on-site issues, acting as the schools' point-of-contact for technical concerns. Carsten Horstmann, the deputy headmaster of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School, praises the convenience afforded by the change, noting, "It's much more convenient now."
Kassel's digital infrastructure expansion was funded with the support of the federal and state governments within the framework of Digital Pact I. The goal is to allow reliable digital teaching for the city's 55 schools. "Our aim is that teachers can concentrate on their job without being overwhelmed by technical issues," states Nicole Maisch, mayor and education commissioner in Kassel.
The Hessian Ministry of Culture acknowledges the complexity of digitalization in schools, commenting that significant progress has been made in areas like adapting existing structures, developing competencies, and ensuring resources. However, the continuous evolution of technology requires ongoing efforts to effectively manage this development. The ministry supports the state in its objectives, including lightening the burden on teachers through IT equipment and technical support resources.
GEW considers digitalization progress in Hessian schools commendable, yet insists more action is needed to address the backlog resulting from aging equipment and lack of financing plans for future replacements. Moreover, the union advocates for increased media education and equal digital equipment across schools. Digital media competency encompasses more than basic computer literacy and Internet browsing, as it involves critical reflection on the role of digital technologies in education.
In conclusion, teachers bear the brunt of technical difficulties that come with digitalization. While specific global initiatives aimed at alleviating tech-related stress for teachers are yet to be seen, efforts aimed at improving infrastructure and supporting educators are underway. Progress includes professional development, investing in robust digital infrastructure, and offering teacher support systems. Future directions may include providing dedicated tech support staff, implementing tech-enabled feedback mechanisms, and integrating digital literacy training into teacher education.
- In the context of digitalization, schools are grappling with an increase in technical problems, and the community policy seems to overlook the additional work and stress this causes for teachers.
- Vocational training in the field of technology and digitalization could prove beneficial for teachers, enabling them to tackle tech issues more efficiently and lessen their burden in classrooms.
- Maintaining a robust digital infrastructure in schools is essential for education-and-self-development, as tech outages can disrupt science, health-and-wellness, finance, and other subjects, impacting students' learning.
- Through vocational training programs, teachers can develop skills and competencies needed to manage technical issues effectively, ultimately fostering a smoother and more reliable digital teaching environment.
- Both the state and federal governments can collaborate on projects like Digital Pact I, which aim to fund digital infrastructure expansion and provide technology support resources for schools, thereby lessening the technology burden on teachers and promoting efficient education.
