Drowning in Tech: The Unbearable Burden of Digitalization in Schools
- *
Stress Induced by Digitalization: Teachers' Perceived Challenges in the Digital Era - Digitization's Impact on Teachers: An Examination of Pressures Experienced
In today's world, technological advancements have made their way into the halls of education, leaving an array of woes behind for the teachers. Network outages, printer jams, and software updates—these are just a few issues that come with the territory of the overwhelming digital revolution. Despite the growing presence of technology in schools, the IT support remains dismal, making teachers take on the role of helpdesk agents in addition to their primary responsibilities.
With the increasing digitalization, teachers are faced with significant extra work and digital stress, claims Thilo Hartmann, the chairman of the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) in Hesse. Teachers are tasked with preparing tech-savvy lessons, only to face the bitter reality of relying on the unpredictable nature of technology. "When it doesn't work, there's often no one to turn to," says Hartmann.
In many schools, the responsibility of handling IT support lies with a handful of tech-savvy individuals who take up the job on the side. In some instances, study directors are promoted to senior study directors, given a slight pay increase, and a handful more hours on their plate to juggle the tech responsibilities. But, for many smaller schools, this responsibility rests on the shoulders of the teachers who are already stretched to their limits.
The everyday maintenance of devices can be a burdensome task. A school with 1,000 students and over 100 teachers boasts an extensive roster of devices. With no dedicated IT department, these devices require consistent care, from fixing broken computers to ensuring frequent updates and data protections. This additional workload can be overwhelming, sucking away the energy that should be dedicated to teaching.
In an attempt to alleviate the pressure, Kassel introduces the "IT-Supporter@School" project, hiring twelve IT supporters who cater to six schools each. "The schools have admitted that they can no longer provide this technical support," says Mayor and Education Commissioner, Nicole Maisch (Greens). The IT supporters take care of immediate problems, acting as a swift solution, allowing teachers to focus on their primary tasks without the constant worry of technical glitches interfering with their lessons.
Alas, unfortunately, digital progress has been met with resistance. "Nowadays, we have digital boards in almost all classrooms. My teaching is now mostly on the iPad. If my iPad is broken, I have a problem," says Carsten Horstmann, deputy headmaster of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School. Despite the intervention of IT supporters, the teachers are still grappling with the challenges of digitalization, yearning for a break from the screen.
The digital infrastructure in schools has been boosted by the generous support of the federal and state governments. However, as the state of Kassel struggles to accommodate the increasing number of digital devices, its backlog of equipment replacement looms in the horizon. The teachers' union, GEW, is calling for urgent funding to replace the aging devices in the near future.
The digital transformation of schools has its merits, but it's crucial to ensure that the progression is accompanied by continuous, comprehensive training for teachers and an up-to-date digital infrastructure. With strong educational policies, support, and resources, it's possible to create a future where digital tools work harmoniously with the teaching profession, rather than weighing it down.
- In the pursuit of harmonious integration of technology in education and self-development, it's essential to provide vocational training for teachers to competently handle the digital tools and mitigate issues arising from the technology, such as network outages and software updates.
- An effective community policy should be established to address the unbearable burden of digitalization in schools, like providing adequate technology support and general news updates about digital infrastructure developments, ensuring that teachers can focus on education without being weighed down by the constant worry of technical glitches.
