Digital Stress in Education: The Struggles Teachers Face in a Tech-Centric School Environment
Teachers' Digital Struggles: The Mounting Pressure of Technological Integration in Education - Digitalisation Pressure on Educators: Impact on Teachers' Mental Health
In the era of advancing technology, schools are transitioning into a digitized landscape. However, this shift comes with its own set of hurdles, one of the main challenges being the tech-related stress experienced by teachers. "Digitalization in schools is causing considerable additional work and digital stress," asserted Thilo Hartmann, the head of Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) in Hesse.
Teachers rely on seamless technology for their lessons. "When the technology fails, there's usually no one to help. Then teachers have to take it upon themselves to resolve these technical issues," Hartmann explained.
In many schools, technology-savvy individuals often step up to offer basic IT support in their spare time. In some cases, study directors are promoted to senior roles, taking on an increased workload. In other schools, this is handled ad-hoc with a time reduction. However, in numerous smaller schools, these responsibilities pile up without any reprieve.
Maintaining digital infrastructure can be incredibly time-consuming. From fixing broken devices to frequent updates and cybersecurity measures, the task requires continuous learning and adaptation. A bustling school with hundreds of students and scores of teachers means a multitude of devices, often putting an undue strain on those handling the tech support side.
"Small issues like malfunctioning equipment in computer labs to larger ones like connectivity issues plague our schools," Hartmann stated. The need for prompt resolution to prevent major disruptions poses yet another challenge.
In an attempt to alleviate the burden borne by teachers in Kassel, Germany, the city launched the "IT-Supporter@School" project. Twelve IT supporters were hired, each assigned to support six local schools. "Teachers are overwhelmed with the technical support; they are veterans in their respective fields but not IT specialists," said Mayor and Education Commissioner Nicole Maisch (Greens).
IT supporter Thorben Schröder articulated that he dealt with on-site problems that could be tackled swiftly. He and his team served as the immediate point of contact for issues and requests, popping in for routine checks and making emergency visits as needed.
"If my tablet malfunctions, it's a problem," said Carsten Horstmann, the deputy principal at Johann-Amos-Comenius School. The convenience of having IT supporters stems from their ability to immediately address problems while teachers often struggle to find time amongst their hectic schedules. "The experience has gotten much more enjoyable," Horstmann shared.
To support the 55 schools in Kassel and facilitate reliable digital teaching, adequate investment in digital infrastructure was essential, according to Mayor Maisch. "Our goal is to ensure that teachers can focus on their job, and digital hurdles don't absorb too much of their energy," she remarked.
The Hessian Ministry of Culture acknowledged the complexities associated with digitalizing schools. While substantial progress has been made in areas such as aligning existing frameworks, fostering competencies, and ensuring resources, there is work still to be done. The ministry emphasized the need to continually adapt to technological advancements.
Digitalization aims to ease administrative tasks and personalize teaching to suit each student. However, the burden must be equitably distributed to avoid excessive strain on teachers. The state has been instrumental in this process by providing funding for school IT infrastructure upgrades, enabling modern teaching environments.
While progress has been made in digitizing Hessian schools, the GEW has identified areas requiring improvement. The need for urgent funding to address outdated infrastructure, media education expansion, and equal access to digital tools across all schools are issues that remain unresolved.
"We have made significant strides in digitizing schools thanks to the Corona pandemic. But we are still far from our desired goal," said GEW state chairman Hartmann. He called for immediate action to bridge the growing infrastructure gap and upgrade aging devices to keep up with the changing digital landscape.
- The digitalization of schools, aimed at easing administrative tasks and personalizing teaching, should ensure that the burden is equitably distributed to avoid excessive strain on teachers.
- The ongoing digitalization process in Hessian schools has been facilitated by funding provided by the state for school IT infrastructure upgrades.
- In many schools, teachers are often required to take on technology-related responsibilities due to tech-savvy individuals offering basic IT support in their spare time.
- A busy school environment, teeming with hundreds of students and scores of teachers, often puts an undue strain on those handling the tech support side, as maintaining digital infrastructure can be incredibly time-consuming.
- In the digitalized landscape of schools, vocational training in technology could provide teachers with the necessary skills to manage the technology required for their lessons, alleviating the stress caused by digitalization.
