The Struggle of Stress for Teachers in the Age of Digitalization - Unveiling the Challenges
Teachers grappling under digitalization pressures: Challenges and stressors in modern education. - Digitalisation's Impact on Educators: Understanding the Pressure They Face
From network outages to printer troubles, the ever-increasing digitalization in schools is leading to a surge in technical issues that teachers often have to handle themselves. According to Thilo Hartmann, Education and Science Union chairman in Hesse, this digitalization has significantly heightened the workload and stress levels for educators.
Teachers rely on the digital tools to deliver their lessons, yet they frequently find themselves grappling with problems that they're unprepared to tackle. "When these problems crop up, there's little to no help available. These days, it's the teachers who have to sort out tech troubles," Hartmann asserts.
At many schools, the tech-savvy educators shoulder the burden of assisting their peers, hence assuming the role of informal IT support. Some schools appoint study directors to higher positions and grant them a bit more compensation for their added responsibilities. Others simply offer small time-off as a token of appreciation. For smaller schools, this added role often goes unrecognized.
Maintaining the digital ecosystem is no small feat
In a school with around 1,000 students and over 100 teachers, managing the digital devices consumes a considerable chunk of time. "Imagine if an IT department didn’t exist in a company; that’s the predicament schools find themselves in," Hartmann points out.
Technical problems ranging from computer room devices breaking down to internet connectivity issues need quick attention to avoid disrupting classes. Updates need to be regularly installed, devices kept up-to-date, and data and system protection ensured. This often requires substantial time and an understanding of multiple systems, leaving educators dissatisfied and worn out.
Kassel's Aid for Teachers
In a bid to support teachers burdened by tech troubles, Kassel initiated the "IT Supporter@School" project. The city hired twelve IT supporters who each help six schools with immediate solutions to technical issues. "These schools have confessed they cannot handle the technical support anymore—these are teachers, after all, not IT professionals, dealing with such tasks on top of their regular roles," says Mayor and Education Commissioner Nicole Maisch (Greens).
Thorben Schröder, an IT supporter, states that he assists with problems that require prompt on-site resolution. He and his colleagues function as the direct point of contact for problems and wishes from schools, regularly visiting them and in times of emergencies.
Carsten Horstmann, deputy headmaster of the Johann-Amos-Comenius School, expresses gratitude for the IT support. "Having someone who can address technical issues swiftly makes the situation much more manageable," he says.
The state of Digital Infrastructure in Schools
Kassel's digital infrastructure has been developed into a reliable platform for digital teaching, thanks in part to substantial funding from the federal and state governments through the Digital Pact I. The goal now is to support the 55 schools in Kassel to ensure that digital teaching can proceed unhampered. "Teachers should have peace of mind knowing that their digital tools will function as intended," Maisch says.
Ministry officials note that digitalization introduces complexity alongside new technologies. They've made progress in domains such as adjusting traditional structures, boosting competencies, and ensuring resources. However, ongoing efforts are necessary to maintain this continuous development.
Digitalization aims to aid teachers in minimizing administrative tasks and facilitating tailored student support. "By streamlining tasks, the digitalized tools provided by the state and school carriers provide relief for teachers," the ministry maintains. In the IT equipment domain, the state encourages technical support initiatives that free teachers from manual tasks.
Digitalization in Hessian schools has seen significant leaps in recent years, largely due to state investment. The state is working to equip schools with a robust infrastructure that supports modern, digitally-enhanced teaching.
GEW's Perspective
Hartmann acknowledges that digitalization has greatly benefited schools during the pandemic but emphasizes that much progress remains to be made. Priority funding is urgently required to address the backlog in the coming years. The current infrastructure will soon need renewal, yet there's no plan in place for its upgrading and funding.
Sensible media education is another pressing issue for Hartmann. Digital media competency encompasses competencies beyond computer usage and internet navigation. "Digitalization should not be the end goal but a means to an end within media education. It needs to be critically scrutinized," he states. Hartmann also advocates universal digital equipment provision across all schools.
Teachers are grappling with digital stressors stemming from data privacy concerns, fast-evolving technology, inadequate training, increased workload, and infrastructure limitations. To alleviate such stress, schools arefocusing on professional development programs, clear policies, digital wellbeing, infrastructure investments, and collaborative frameworks for effective digital teaching.
- In the face of digitalization, teachers are confronted with an increased workload and stress levels due to technical issues, as they rely on digital tools for their lessons, but are often unprepared to handle the problems that arise.
- To combat the digital stressors faced by teachers, schools are implementing measures such as vocational training programs to improve technical skills, clear community policies to address data privacy concerns, and infrastructure investments to ensure reliable digital platforms.
- The ongoing digitalization in education requires a continuous focus on boosting competencies and resources, ensuring that teachers are equipped with the necessary skills and tools to manage the fast-evolving technology.
- To further enable teachers in the age of digitalization, there is a need for universal digital equipment provision across all schools, as well as sensible media education to critically scrutinize digitalization and promote digital wellbeing.
