Across all age groups, teachers take on a role that can be incredibly rewarding but also highly demanding. There is pressure that stems from various sources and the weight of which can fall directly onto a teacher's shoulders. Keeping students safe, happy and provided with the necessary support and life skills, as well as ensuring they reach their potential from an academic perspective– and that’s just for students, nevermind additional demand and expectations from parents and employers.

With thousands of decisions to make in a teaching day, teachers can experience challenging moments on a regular basis and there are mental health concerns that come with it. 'EdTech anxiety' is a part of that: will it work, will the battery last, is it connected properly, will the students be able to use the tech, will I remember how to use the tech, will there really be time in the lesson plan, what do I do if it all goes wrong... 

From stress and anxiety to complete burnout, teachers must feel they have the necessary support around them, provided by the school, to seek help if required. Many UK schools currently have or are working towards sufficient support networks and policies designed to help teachers enjoy their job and carry it out effectively. One of the perhaps more overlooked methods of improving teacher wellbeing is through the establishment of up-to-date and effective IT resources, from strategies to the individual devices.

 

Concerning Statistics

Wellbeing surveys will often be carried out internally by schools, academies and MATs, with the aim of assessing teacher satisfaction and health. There are however surveys that exist to gain an understanding of issues affecting the sector as a whole, and teacher wellbeing is one of those. The Teacher Wellbeing Index is an annual survey from Education Support that asks specific questions to education staff throughout the UK. In 2022, there were multiple alarming statistics that showed just how far the education sector is from keeping teachers healthy and performing to the best of their ability:

  • 55% of staff have actively sought to change or leave their current jobs

  • 78% of all staff experienced mental health symptoms due to their work

  • 59% of staff have considered leaving the sector in the past academic year due to pressures on their mental health and wellbeing

The conclusions from the 2022 Index were even more concerning, stating that teacher stress, anxiety and depression remain at an unsustainably high level. Another survey carried out by NASUWT in 2022 further highlighted the state of UK teacher wellbeing. It found that 90% of teachers experienced more work-related stress in the last 12 months, which indicates that the problem isn’t only failing to improve, but actually getting worse. 

Now that we’ve painted what is a rather worrying picture, we want to hone in on the role of IT in teacher mental health wellbeing. As previously mentioned, IT resources and strategies may be overlooked when it comes to the wellbeing of teaching staff, however there are steps that can be taken to significantly improve the working environment that is made available to teachers.

 

Common IT Issues

IT plays a major role in a teacher’s ability to successfully manage their day-to-day responsibilities. From the initial iterations of interactive whiteboards to today’s smart devices and tablets, UK schools are continuing to invest in new technology that can help bridge the gap between classic curriculums and the new generation of students growing up in modern households with smart TVs and internet access. Because of this, IT resources available to teachers must work as intended and be secure.

There are common IT issues that arise when schools haven’t updated their resources or reassessed their IT strategies. One example is unsuitable internet connectivity, which can be a major roadblock in digital education. Slow or unreliable internet connection impedes the downloading and transferring of data such as test results, homework submissions and feedback. Wasting valuable lesson-time on slow load speeds and buffering videos can significantly disrupt the flow of the class, create frustration, and add unnecessary stress to the teacher. 

Incompatible software due to systems not being up-to-date is something most of us have likely dealt with at some stage in our lives, whether at home or professionally. It’s an issue seen in schools as well, where outdated equipment and operating systems can no longer support the latest versions of different programmes, leading to security risks and inability to access new features. 

 

Impact of Ineffective IT Resources

There are multiple ways ineffective IT resources can impact a teachers mental health and wellbeing, all of which can be mitigated by proper IT management and strategies (more on this shortly). For now, here is our list of the various ways teachers can be affected by poor IT resources:

Stress and Frustration: When teachers are expected to use IT resources that are unreliable, slow, or difficult to use, it can lead to increased stress and frustration.

Wasted Time: Ineffective Teachers may be forced to spend precious minutes or even hours trying to troubleshoot technical problems or work around limitations. 

Reduced Productivity: Streamlining administrative tasks, communicating with students and parents, and accessing educational materials are all impeded when IT fails to perform. 

Increased Workload: Teachers may have to compensate for ineffective IT resources by creating their own workarounds or spending extra time on tasks that should be automated.

Isolation: Stemming from poor communication due to emails not sending properly or lack of modern systems that have social features such as instant messaging.

 

The Solution

Ineffective IT resources are usually a symptom of reluctance to invest or a failure to understand the importance of revisiting IT strategies. An IT strategy will provide schools with the necessary information and tools to meet their educational goals and support staff and students with suitable IT infrastructure. By adopting reliable and user-friendly technology, teachers can deliver their lessons without the unnecessary stress and frustration caused by ineffective IT. 

When new equipment or resources are implemented, it’s important to support staff with the necessary training to make sure they’re feeling comfortable with the changes. Simply having updated resources may not be enough, as new software especially may have steep learning curves for those who aren’t entirely tech savvy. Fostering a culture of empathy and understanding among educators and administrators can help create a more supportive environment for teachers facing IT-related challenges.

At Novatia, we specialise in IT strategies for schools and MATs, delivering unbiased and comprehensive audits as we identify areas for improvement, provide the most cost-effective recommendations and support with implementing a new IT strategy. If you’d like to find out more about the work we do and how we can help you, simply get in touch for a friendly chat. 

 
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