FEATURE FOCUS: CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY worldwide stage.


In fact, these cloud-based learning platforms, which ensure active and collaborative learning from anywhere, have been instrumental in boosting learning outcomes.


SMART’s EdTech Assessment Tool research found that with increased adoption of classroom technology, UK schools are reporting better outcomes for their students and teachers. It revealed schools reporting high outcomes are using specific types of technology to enable active learning pedagogies, including significantly more use of collaborative software, assessment software and game-based software as well as pre-created content as compared to schools reporting lower outcomes. As a result, 84% of schools reported enhanced student preparation in the UK, meanwhile, 76% of UK schools report to have met their teaching and learning goals.


EdTech as an ally to pupils and teachers Where it means much more than substituting whiteboards for digital screens, EdTech has certainly changed teaching and learning for the better.


With technology that incorporates game-based learning to ignite students’ interest, students naturally gain an active role and feel excited by their learning, stimulating their creativity, strengthening their self-esteem and resulting in better understanding and performance. Game- based activities provide a safe way for pupils to test their knowledge, with the threat of failure diminished. They also provide immediate feedback to students so teachers and students themselves can identify gaps in their understanding and move their learning forward in ways that work for them.


And the way we track student performance has also changed with EdTech, offering more insight on student’s performance and interaction with activities and assessments, making learning data-driven to support teachers with their decisions and tailoring of teaching plans according to each student.


Likewise, with EdTech, development of critical skills like teamwork and collaboration can be developed, allowing students to collaborate via digital connections. EdTeach acts as an ally not only to support day-to-day teaching practice and improve insight, but also in its ability to help build digital fluency in pupils and ensure that they are


prepared for a future and present where tech skills, adaptability, and collaboration are vital for success.


EdTech as an ally for helping mitigate teacher burnout


Teacher burnout and shortages remain a huge problem. In fact, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research, those working within the education sector are more likely to suffer job-related stress than any other profession.


This is because while teaching can be a highly rewarding and fulfilling profession, it does come with significant challenges and huge responsibilities to juggle. From heavy workloads, supporting students’ wellbeing, exam preparation, lesson planning, pressures to elevate student performance, meeting deadlines to covering syllabuses and all the other classroom and behavioural challenges to manage, a lot is asked of teachers.


Sadly, the pandemic only escalated burnout, and as a result, NASUWT found that one in four teachers sought medical help last year because of the impact the pandemic had on their workload and mental health. Now, as a painful reality, 44% of teachers in England plan to quit within five years. Clearly urgent intervention is needed and there needs to be greater support measures to protect teachers’ wellbeing and prevent burnout


from escalating.


This is where EdTech can really support, providing teachers with the tools and resources they need to provide outstanding learning experiences, and giving them the time back to focus on their students while balancing their own personal development and energy. In fact, the majority of headteachers (74%) and teachers (65%) admit that EdTech has offered crucial support in relieving them from exhausting workloads. In many cases, EdTech can do time-consuming work for teachers, boosting efficiency and transforming lessons into interactive and collaborative experiences wherever learning takes place.


With Lumio for instance, teachers have access to professionally curated resources, including templates, digital manipulatives, activities, and full lessons available to help create and enhance teacher’s materials. And as well as offering teachers the ability to create lessons from scratch, they can import and integrate existing content from a variety of sources (PDF’s, Google Slides, PowerPoint), combine different pages and resources, and add interactive elements like games, Shout it Out! features, collaborative whiteboards, handouts, and assessments - all from a single browser tab.


Therefore, whilst it isn’t possible to eliminate all the burden and stress that comes with a hugely important and dynamic profession like teaching, EdTech tools offer a brilliant support to ease workloads, allowing teachers to focus on what they do best: supporting students. In short, EdTech that places students at the centre of their education and gives them an active role is a huge ally in the classroom, supporting teachers and pupils alike. Making a shift towards cloud-based EdTech platforms makes it easy to incorporate active learning into everyday teaching, and elevates the learning experience dramatically - producing impressive results, inspiring pupils and building connections that matter in the classroom.


With the Government’s recently announced £2.3bn additional investment in schools, this year and next, education leaders will be considering how best to use the funding, and the right EdTech will be a core area to prioritise. Investing in tools and technology that develop skill sets and prepare students for future careers, all while reducing teacher workloads and keeping staff and students supported will be crucial.


March 2023 www.education-today.co.uk 35


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