Brother - 10% of teaching time loft to inadequate tech.

[DCUK6]

Just found this from Brother

 

http://ictforeducation.co.uk/news/10-of-teaching-time-lost-to-inadequate-technology.html

 

Its OK for heads to say this but i bet the IT budget didn't get increased and the tech is still locked in a cupboard.

[LosOjos]

It was commissioned by Brother, so it has a barely hidden agenda to convince schools that buying new printers from them will somehow improve T&L. This line is very telling:

 

“We know that funding is always an issue for schools, but the savings that can be generated by modern print technology, in terms of time, wastage and running costs, can be transformative.”

 

I don't doubt that IT provisions aren't as good as they should be in many schools but I'd also be willing to bet that if the NMs were surveyed, they'd almost all be aware of this but unable to do anything due to budget constraints.

[Heebeejeebee]

It was commissioned by Brother, so it has a barely hidden agenda to convince schools that buying new printers from them will somehow improve T&L. This line is very telling:

 

 

 

I don't doubt that IT provisions aren't as good as they should be in many schools but I'd also be willing to bet that if the NMs were surveyed, they'd almost all be aware of this but unable to do anything due to budget constraints.

 

Yep - and in my experience any savings made don't go back into the I budget but go to refurbish the Head's office for the 3rd time in as many years

 

Cynical? Moi?

 

HBJB

Edited March 3, 2015 by Heebeejeebee

[TechMonkey]

I would also question what is counted as time lost and who decides what is inadequate tech? The number of teachers I hear that would suddenly become teaching all stars if they could just have an iPad or some resource or piece of software that we all ready have covered by at least 2 other pieces of software. Or what about the lack of practice, knowledge or training of staff? Some staff seem to think that they can just open a piece of software and use it with no prior testing. Both these issues will be laid firmly at the Techs feet as them providing inadequate support.

[clareq]

Surely the best savings in time and money is not to print anything, but submit work electronically?

[LiamH]

I bet prior to technology being so prominent in schools 10% or more of teaching time was wasted handing out forgotten stationary and work books.

 

I'm sure if they polled ICT support staff they would see the same deficiency's and point out that a lot of our small budgets are taken up trying to fit very shiney and expensive square pegs into preexisting round holes.

[mthomas08]

1. Stop Schools from throwing money at "OH Look At That" IT and instead fix/replace the Technology that gets used all day every day - Does the job.

2. Stop trying to come up with excuses why you should buy NEW technology, instead look at ways it can make your life easier and better.

3. Keep it REAL - That old chest nut. What I mean by this, whats more important - Buying a Tablet for a teacher or replace their 8 Year old PC which takes an age to logon.

4. Backbone - no matter what path you go, good servers, fast networking make a huge difference. It has done so at two Schools in my experience and that doesn't include the partnership work I have done over the years.

5. Listen to IT, some Teachers are like children, they don't care whats best at teaching and learning they simply want the "Pretty Device". Teachers should be proving its Productivity level on every piece of IT Purchasing if they refuse to listen to IT.

6. Bring back common sense to Schools.

7. Schools make the effort to employ Qualified or/and Experienced IT Staff. Sorry but an Ex Student of two years as a Technician shouldn't be running an IT Support Department. This is not aimed at anyone in particular but I have heard plenty of stories and those IT Staff are blamed for problems - instead SLT/HEADs should take responsibility.

8. Force Schools to have an improved pay scale for certain Support Staff. Some Staff are happy to do their basic functions all day, others have their roles constantly grow (like mine) and force Schools to pay adequately or be left behind.

 

Said my piece

[localzuk]

There's so much I could do here, providing flexible IT provision working to the individual needs of each member of staff etc... It'd transform teaching and administration. Only issue? It'd cost a fortune to implement... I'd need more support staff, more servers, more wireless equipment, more tablet PCs, more monitors, more software, better internet connectivity, etc... An easy half a mill could be spent in fact. Its never gonna happen, because that money is better spent in other areas - the improvements gained by those other areas outstrip the gains from tech.