What Schools Risk by Not Making the Right Tech Investments

School is all about preparing young minds for their futures. But with all the uncertainty in the world, schools themselves are also having to prepare for more unknowns.

As we saw throughout the pandemic, the right edtech investments offer a hedge against disruption. Still, schools must be discerning when selecting the tools and solutions that support learning.

Not sure where to start? Consider these priorities to decipher leading technologies from trendy ones.

Safeguarding Students and Staff

Device management is a critical component of cyber safety, especially given how inundated schools have become with online threats.

According to FE News, “The global education sector saw a 29% increase in cyberattacks, and an average of 1,739 attacks a week…UK/Ireland/Isle-of-Man region experienced a 142% increase in weekly cyberattacks targeting the education sector.”

Choosing security-centric devices and solutions – and keeping them up to date – is your school's first line of defence.

For example, in addition to free tools like Google Workspace and Classroom, shareable Chromebooks, which can be swapped out every three years, extend the security benefits of the technology – with 24/7 support and multiple layers of built-in security features to keep students and school data safe.

Making Learning Accessible to All

Schools are ecosystems of diversity. That includes students with disabilities or learning differences, students with health issues that need to learn from home, as well as students with limited access and exposure to tech outside the classroom.

Thoughtfully-selected school devices can lead to a democratisation of learning. They not only ensure that everyone has access to educational materials, but they also provide the right programmes and devices to make those materials more accessible.

Edtech built with accessible design offers students with diverse approaches to processing new information the chance to achieve their full potential.

Some of the most popular accessibility features include:

• Visual aids

• Closed captioning

• Select-to-Speak aids

• Customisable settings

• Text magnification

• Voice typing

• Braille support

Staying Prepared for the Next Global Crisis

It's not a matter of 'if' we'll experience another disruptive global event in our lifetimes but 'when'.

Be it another outbreak of a dangerous new virus or variant, international conflict, or widespread natural disaster, schools need to look ahead to keep students from falling further behind.

Research from the University of Leeds shows that COVID-19 disruptions have resulted in two-thirds of six-year-olds falling behind in foundational skills like literacy, maths, communication and language, and personal, social, and emotional development.

Dr. Hannah Nash, School of Psychology Professor explains, “This age group of children have large gaps in the skills and knowledge they will need for later learning as they move through school. Schools will need sufficient time and resources to support them.”

A durable, reliable device with the right tools helps blunt learning disruptions by allowing the learning day to take place anywhere, anytime.

Encouraging Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity

No matter what the future holds, these tenants will always be part of a well-rounded education.

Investing in Google for Education solutions, such as Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education frees teachers up to spend more time incorporating these skills into lessons and personalising a student’s learning experience – instead of managing it. 

On the student side, mastering 21st-century problem-solving and developing the skills they'll use in their future careers is easier when they're set up with the tools they need to do their best work.

With a seemingly endless supply of modern edtech, schools need more than good judgement to separate the impactful from the trendy. Even if students never get the thrill of writing lines on a chalkboard or feeling the warm breeze from the fan of an overhead projector, technology offers them something far more memorable: an ongoing education that’s safe, accessible, and collaborative.