Technology & Innovation - Issue 12

option contributes to effective teaching. When asked which activities are most hampered by outdated hardware, teachers identified: •Running multiple applications simultaneously – 53% • Playing videos smoothly – 52% •Using interactive whiteboard features – 41% •Running edtech Software – 26% • Deploying group collaboration tools – 21% •Accessing cloud-based solutions – 18% These technical issues translate into real teaching problems. According to teachers, outdated hardware can lead to: • Slower lesson pace – 57% • Increased lesson preparation time – 45% •Reduced student engagement – 43% • Limited availability of resources – 35% •Restricted teaching methods – 33% • Lower quality student outputs – 18% That impact on student engagement is of particular concern. In an era when young people are accustomed to using responsive technology in their daily lives, the contrast with slow, unreliable school computers canmake educational content seem outdated and irrelevant. Perhaps most worryingly of all, 65% of teachers believe that their pupils are being let down by their school’s IT provision. The costs of outdated technology Maintaining old IT equipment carries both financial and human costs. 56% of schools regularly discuss the high cost of maintaining old IT equipment at senior leadership level. This frequency clearly indicates how the issue is a drain on management time and attention that could be better directed towards other matters. The issue affects staff morale and retention as well, with 46% of teachers believing that their school’s IT has had a negative effect on staff retention. This suggests that poor technology provision isn’t just an issue for students, but is also impacting on a profession already facing tough recruitment challenges. When asked about the greatest risks to teaching at their school, teachers identified computer hardware failure (58%) as the top concern, followed by computer maintenance costs (38%), cybersecurity vulnerabilities (32%) and staff frustration and retention, due to poor and outdated hardware (24%). It’s telling that hardware issues rank higher than even cybersecurity in teachers’ minds. Schools are budgeting for improvements, with the average annual budget for hardware upgrades and maintenance this year working out as £2,491. However, given the scale of the problems being reported, that figure seems insufficient to address the large backlog of outdated equipment across entire school networks. The support side, however, presents a more positive picture. Despite their frustrations with the hardware itself, 65% of teachers believe that their school has adequate IT support in place for when devices fail. This suggests that schools have invested in technical staff, or else enlisted third-party providers, and are doing their best with limited resources. Conclusion This research suggests that schools recognise the need for modern technology, but that outdated equipment continues to disrupt teaching. On average, teachers lose 37 minutes per week to tech issues, adding up to over 1,300 hours annually in a typical secondary school. With 65% believing that students are being let down, the impact is being felt across the curriculum. To help close this gap, ASUS offers reliable, education-focused devices through it’s BR and CR series, built to withstand everyday classroomuse and empower students to learn without limits. Combined with simplified IT management, ongoing support, and durable design, ASUS solutions help schools scale seamlessly and inspire the future of learning. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE 62% of schools had planned upgrades before the Windows 10 end-of- service deadline 67% of teachers would prioritise upgrading school hardware if more funding were available 54% of teachers see “good user experience” as the top priority when buying new devices 54% of teachers are most interested in interactive films as a future edtech development 8% of schools plan to continue using Windows 10 past the end-of-service deadline BEYOND THE FROZEN SCREEN The real impact of outdated school tech Download the full report here 33 WH O L E S C H O O L teachwire.net