Back to School – The Increasing Use of Technology and Its Challenges

As administrators and educators finalize plans and return to school this fall, an increase in educational technology is inevitable. Whether an in-person, hybrid, or fully-online return to school is planned, districts have learned valuable lessons from the Spring of 2020 and have obtained new levels of technological experience. However, supporting schools and their educational needs and expectations in a rapidly changing environment can significantly stress many departments – specifically the IT department.

Nearly sixty percent of teachers and administrators surveyed by Ed Week said their opinion of educational technology has grown more favorable due to the increased usage of technology during the coronavirus closures. Survey findings attributed the prevention of negative feelings to the significant role that school IT Help Desks likely played.

The increased workload for school IT departments is staggering. One district’s IT Help Desk reported an increased daily call volume increasing 800% during building closures, demonstrating just how critical the role of an accessible, experienced IT support system is for successful remote learning.

In the Spring of 2020, nearly 9 out of 10 teachers reported spending more time troubleshooting technology issues and, in many cases, devoting possible instructional time to managing technology challenges. Hopefully, some of those learning curves will have leveled off by now. As technology continues to evolve to meet demands, IT staff must continue to devote time to teaching other staff members, parents and students how to interface with the changes.

This is only one side of a multi-faceted issue, though. Recent polling by College Reaction/Axios of 800 college students showed that more than three-quarters of students felt distance learning was worse or much worse than in-person classes. From tech issues to distractions, motivation to lack of in-person interaction, college students struggled with understanding and succeeding educationally with a fully-online learning model.

Yet, schools with esports teams – teams of students that play a multiplayer video game competitively online for spectators and in tournaments – tout student engagement, college skills, future career opportunities and positive social engagement. Esports may be a consideration for schools as they strive to increase engagement, teamwork, and a form of socialization.
Mulling over all of these aspects begs the question, are schools - including public, private, and cyber schools - prepared to provide the best virtual learning options for their students? Obviously, the desired answer is a resounding yes, as countless hours of work and preparation have been poured into this very issue. For some schools though, the curveballs of unexpected or unanticipated technology hurdles may require additional support.

Intrada Technologies has years of experience planning and successfully achieving our clients’ goals. Think of us as an instant expansion of your IT department. From training and compliancy to network support and security, from hardware and software purchasing to live streaming events, we have the experience and expertise to meet and exceed expectations for your school’s technology needs.

Contact us today to learn more about how Intrada Technologies can assist your school’s technology needs by calling 800-858-5745.