WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY.... FIVE YEARS ON: A LOOK AT
THE LEGACY OF LOCKDOWN Comment by SEAN D’ARCY, Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot!
F
ive years ago, we were in the midst of a lockdown. Kahoot! recently surveyed its teacher network of over 300,000 teachers to ask about school preparedness should lockdowns reoccur, and what legacies remain in the classroom for those students still in the system. Over a quarter (27%) of UK teachers would quit rather than face another lockdown, while over half don’t believe their school is adequately prepared for another lockdown.
More than half (51%) of teachers believe student engagement has worsened since lockdown, pointing to ongoing challenges in re-engaging students in a traditional classroom setting. A third (34%) say their students have shorter attention spans post-lockdown, struggling more to maintain concentration. And nearly a quarter (23%) cited increased anxiety and psychological issues amongst students.
The survey’s findings are deeply concerning: teachers are expressing their concerns that schools and the education system have failed to adequately address the last pandemic’s impact on British schoolchildren. Even after five years, it feels like schools are still not equipped for any future lockdowns. Disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs, who were already facing challenges, are now at an even greater risk of falling behind. It’s concerning to see how these circumstances affect the most vulnerable learners.
The pandemic stress-tested the education system in the UK, revealing strengths and exposing vulnerabilities. With over half of UK teachers
believing their schools are not in a better position to handle lockdown-mandated remote teaching and learning than in 2020, we can clearly see a disconnect between perceived systemic improvements and on-the- ground realities.
On one hand, we see the strength and adaptability of UK educators: many report
improved relationships with colleagues and personal growth in their teaching skills.
However, the most concerning finding of this survey is the risk of losing valuable teaching talent. Many teachers indicated they would consider leaving the profession if another lockdown were imposed, highlighting the significant pressure they have faced. Additionally, the reported decline in student engagement, along with ongoing impacts on attention spans and mental health, should be taken seriously. This survey gives us an honest insight into the real challenges faced by teachers and students during lockdown.
The education sector has shown incredible grit and innovation, but it’s clear that the effects of the pandemic linger. Despite these challenges, there is hope on the horizon as educators, policymakers, and technology innovators collaborate to create more resilient, flexible, and inclusive educational systems that can thrive in any circumstance.
HOW THOUGHTFUL EDTECH IMPLEMENTATION
EMPOWERS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS Comment by BEN BROWN, Head of UK & Ireland at Optoma
T
he role of technology in education is continually evolving. Too often, discussions around edtech focus solely on functionality, barriers or costs rather than the deeper impact it can have on teaching and learning. The power of edtech lies not just in its capabilities but in how it is implemented. By seamlessly integrating technology into the classroom, schools can create an environment that fosters creativity, empowers teachers, and ultimately drives long-term school improvement..
Fostering creativity through innovative, adaptable tools Creativity is essential for success in all aspects of the modern world, yet traditional teaching methods sometimes struggle to maximise opportunities to nurture this skill. Edtech can help unlock and foster creativity by providing students with interactive and immersive experiences that encourage greater exploration and problem-solving.
Technology provides the opportunity to turn static learning into something far more engaging through different media types – from visual solutions and interactive displays that integrate resources easily within the classroom to VR and gamified learning – improving the quality and variety of learning. When used effectively, these technologies encourage students to think critically, collaborate, and express themselves in new and meaningful ways.
Additionally, the most adaptable solutions will allow teachers to maximise engagement by adapting content to the specific needs, interests or learning styles of their students. This can be a solution that intuitively allows teachers
26
www.education-today.co.uk
to switch between custom content for different aged cohorts, or one that even allows learning to meet the needs of individual students, unleashing every child’s creativity.
Empowering teachers without adding to their workload To allow teachers time and space to nurture creative thinking within their classrooms, it’s essential that these technology solutions don’t create added complexity or stress. When implemented correctly, edtech streamlines workflows, automates administrative tasks, and allows educators to focus on supporting each student’s individual learning journeys. For example, interactive displays and cloud-based collaboration tools can make lesson planning and content delivery more dynamic, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks. Intuitive solutions that integrate tools and different media types in an easy-to-use and seamless platform allow teachers to have everything they need to enhance a student’s learning experience at their fingertips.
Seamless integration: technology that enhances, not disrupts The key to successful edtech adoption is ensuring it integrates smoothly into existing classroom routines. Too often, technology is introduced with little consideration for how it fits within the school’s broader teaching and learning strategy.
For instance, an interactive display should serve as a collaborative hub, facilitating discussion, collaboration and engagement, rather than a static screen that limits teacher-student interaction. Similarly, digital collaboration platforms should enhance group work and project-based learning, making it easier for students to share ideas and work together creatively. Edtech’s success to revolutionise education depends on thoughtful implementation and a willingness to step outside the box and embrace creativity – helping to create a culture of innovation and adaptability across the whole school.
April 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
