These days, technology is king. Every industry is having to adapt to the increasing use of technology and in turn benefitting from the way tech can reduce manual processes, speed up tasks, and provide accurate information at the drop of a hat.
It makes sense then that schools are also growing and changing as technology enables them to do more things, more quickly, and more accurately. However, schools are, notoriously, hard to change. With so many staff, students, and often multiple schools under one trust, implementing change is somewhat like trying to herd cats.
That doesn’t mean change is impossible, or schools would still be stuck in the dark ages. But it does mean that schools require extra time, care, and attention when trying to implement new processes. And that’s not just because change is hard, but because it comes with risks. For instance, tech is expensive, making it an expensive mistake to make. In addition, schools tend to have numerous stakeholders, meaning there is a lot riding on even very small decisions.
However, there is also a risk of being too careful. If schools don’t adapt and keep up with the pace of change, they will find it even harder to keep up in the future. Plus, there are overwhelming benefits for the use of technology in schools that can, ultimately, improve outcomes for pupils and wellbeing for teachers.
According to recent research:
Clearly then, while technology adoption isn’t terrible, there are still plenty of schools not yet investing in EdTech and making it a part of daily school life.
But is technology in schools beneficial? And if so, what benefits are these schools actually missing out on?
Importantly, teachers said that the greatest barrier to using technology to support learning in the classroom is a lack of investment in hardware, software, and WiFi.
This is especially relevant as recent research also found that “87% of teachers believe technology can engage pupils with reading, writing, speaking, and listening, specifically in terms of motivation, enjoyment and confidence”, and that education should prepare young people for the digital workplace.
In fact, the survey found:
Clearly then, teachers are at the forefront of demands for schools to embrace the use of technology. Essentially, teachers are well aware that technology isn’t going anywhere, it is already well embedded into the fabric of pupils’ daily lives, and the use of it is only going to continue to grow.
And while technology can sometimes get a bad rep for being distracting, there’s a lot to be said for schools no longer trying to work against the influence of technology in the classroom and in fact working alongside it. Young people engage with it well, it can speak to them in a language they understand, and as we’ve seen, it has the power to improve educational outcomes.
If you want to experience the benefits of using technology in your school, click here to book an informal chat at a time that suits you. Alternatively, drop us a line via our enquiry form, or give us a call on 01509 221 349.
Whether it’s communications support you’re looking for, a custom branded app, a tech solution for parents evening, a school meals or payments manager, or a website update, we can help you find the right solution for your school.
And if you’re worried about the implementation process, think again. We understand the challenges of introducing new technology into schools, so we provide a comprehensive support service so you can be sure your school is in safe hands.