HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN UNLEASH POTENTIAL IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR

There are over 30,000 education institutions in the UK, including primary and secondary schools, independent schools, special schools, further education colleges and universities, all with their own technology needs and infrastructure.

After months of home schooling and online education of UK pupils and students due to coronavirus, times have certainly changed for education. The need for fit-for-purpose ICT has never been greater, and the existing systems never more challenged. 

There are two main ways technology can unleash potential in the education sector. Firstly, through efficiency in resource management, and secondly, through increasing the effectiveness of teaching time.

Increasing efficiency in resource management

Saving Time Staff costs are a huge part of any education establishment’s budget. Ensuring teacher, administrator and management time is used efficiently, minimising time spent on unreliable technology, including poor accessibility and connectivity, is key to increasing efficiency. With technology in place teachers can rely on, there is also little need to invest time preparing off-line alternative approaches.

Saving Money With the right technology infrastructure in place, technical support, downtime, parts, and repair costs can be reduced. Ensuring systems are effectively scoped before being procured, and connectivity with related legacy systems is considered, can help to avoid costly mistakes and the need for inefficient workarounds.

By focusing on efficiency, both in terms of time and money, these resources can be freed up to focus on delivering more effective teaching outcomes.

Increasing effectiveness of teaching time

Collaboration Technology can support more effective management, as well as teaching, enabling effective two-way communication channels between management, teachers, pupils/students and parents. It can be used for sharing information, giving feedback and seeking input, encouraging participation from all parties.

In the class room teachers can assign tasks for students working in small groups, as well as administering online tests and automatic marking, allowing teachers more time for coaching and facilitation of effective learning, where they can add maximum value.

By ensuring pupils and students are able to collaborate well with others using technology, education providers are preparing them effectively for the world of work.

Engagement There are three ways people learn. Visual learners need to need to see pictures and graphs to visualise a concept to understand it. Auditory learners need to hear information to understand it. Kinaesthetic learners need to engage in an activity in order to fully understand a concept. Technology allows teachers to tailor teaching content in order to offer each learning style an opportunity to learn in the way that suits them best.

Using technology effectively as part of the education process also enables students to continue their studies seamlessly between the classroom or lecture hall, library and home. 

Gamification of learning, through connecting effective learning to rewards and credits, can also support some students to engage more fully with their education. 

Considering the opportunity to save time and money, as well as improving collaboration and engagement, it’s clear technology can play a significant role in both the efficiency and effectiveness within the education sector, as well as improving learning outcomes for the millions of pupils and students who attend them. 

How can we help?

Technical Reality is a leading ICT hardware supplier to the education sector, providing solutions at all stages of the tech lifecycle: new and refurbished IT; Tech-as-a-Service contracts; extended warranty packages and fully compliant IT equipment recycling.

We offering over 50,000 new and refurbished IT hardware products, all available online, in stock and ready for next day delivery. If you would like to talk to us about our great deals, and volume offers, to help you unlock the potential in your school, college or university, please contact us by email or call us on 0800 689 0664.

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