Schools in the Digital Age: Navigating Tech Troubles - A Glimpse into the Struggles Teachers Face
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Besieged by network outages, printer malfunctions, and software updates—change is afoot as educational institutions jump into the digital world. Teachers are commonly left to tackle these technological crises. Thilo Hartmann, chair of the Education and Science Union (GEW) in Hesse, remarks, "Digitalization is pressing teachers with an overwhelming amount of additional work and digital stress."
Teachers create lesson plans with the expectation of tech functioning seamlessly. But when it doesn't, there's often no one to call for help. Teachers find themselves grappling with tech issues themselves.
Many schools look to their tech-savvy staff for IT support. As Hartmann puts it, "A few knowledgeable individuals take it on as a side venture." In some cases, study counselors are promoted to senior positions and offered extra pay. However, at many schools, especially smaller ones, the added responsibility comes on top of everything else.
Maintaining devices is time-consuming, requiring constant updates, data protection, and system troubleshooting which is often very time-consuming and requires learning new systems and coordinating effectively.
In a school with around 1,000 students and over 100 teachers, there are a myriad of devices to maintain. "The workload is excessive and can't be handled easily on the side," Hartmann said. What companies may have an own dedicated IT department, schools don't.
"When a device in the computer lab breaks down, there are technical issues, sometimes the internet doesn't work," Hartmann explains. Quick onsite-fixes are essential to ensure classes remain on schedule.
City of Kassel introduces IT Supporters for Schools
In response to teachers struggling with IT tasks, the city of Kassel introduces the "IT Supporter@School" project. Under this project, the city has employed 12 IT supporters, each supporting six schools. "Teachers are not IT professionals, trying to fix tech issues on top of their regular duties," says Mayor and Education Commissioner Nicole Maisch (Greens).
Thorben Schröder, an IT supporter, explains that he assists with immediate tech problems requiring onsite attention. He and his colleagues are the schools' go-to contacts for any issues or requests and visit regularly to address needs and emergencies.
"When my tablet stops working, I face problems," says Carsten Horstmann, deputy head of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School. The advantage of IT supporters is that they can address issues swiftly, allowing teachers the time to focus on their core duties. "It's made teaching a lot more enjoyable," he says.
Kassel's IT infrastructure for schools was developed in part due to funding from the federal and state governments via the Digital Pact I initiative. Maisch hopes to ensure that teachers in Kassel can depend on the technology, giving teachers the opportunity to present lessons without being plagued by digital issues.
Hessian Ministry Speaks: "Promote and Sustain Technical Support"
"Digital education reflects the intricacies and growing demands that accompany modern technologies," the Hessian Ministry of Culture explains. Progress has been made in areas such as adapting existing structures, promoting technical skills, and ensuring resources. However, continuous technological evolution necessitates sustained effort.
The Digital Pact's purpose is to support teachers in both administrative tasks and educational aspects. "Various digital tools provided by the state and school carriers relieve teachers in most areas," the ministry says. The state prioritizes technical support that relieves teachers during day-to-day activities.
Given the advancement in digitalized Hessian schools, ten years ago, schools lacked IT infrastructure, but today, schools across the state are equipped with a modern, IT infrastructure that supports digital teaching.
GEW sees progress in schools' digitalization, but also areas for improvement
Hartmann acknowledges, "Digitalization in schools has made significant strides due to the pandemic. However, we still have a long way to go." Funding will be essential to address maintenance backlogs in the next few years as technology ages.
GEW also emphasizes the importance of media education. Digital literacy is more than just operating a computer or browsing the internet. GEW suggests that this digital revolution should be scrutinized critically. All schools should be equipped equally with digital tools to ensure access for all students.
- The digitalization of schools requires a significant amount of technology, leading to increased tech-related issues for teachers such as network outages, printer malfunctions, and software updates.
- Teachers often find themselves responsible for troubleshooting tech issues due to a lack of dedicated IT support in schools, a burden that adds to their already overwhelming workload.
- In response to this struggle, the city of Kassel has employed IT Supporters for Schools to help teachers manage tech issues swiftly and efficiently, allowing them to focus on their core duties.
- The Hessian Ministry recognizes the need for sustained technological evolution and support, emphasizing the importance of promoting technical skills, adapting existing structures, and ensuring resources in the digitalization of schools.
