Educators need technology that won’t get in their way. Productive digital learning environments depend on it.
A typical teacher works 54 hours a week. Less than half of that time is spent directly teaching students.1 Training educators in time management can only go so far, especially if school-provided technology is getting in their way. Even minor tech nuisances are a big deal when the threat of burnout is near.
Studies show that 82 percent of K-12 teachers want more time to focus on teaching.2 To achieve this, educators must be equipped with the best tools for the job, right from the start. Smarter technology can free up critical school personnel to focus on what matters to them most. Lenovo digital solutions running Windows 11 and powered by the built-for-business Intel vPro, An Intel EvoTM Design, are ideal for teachers and administrators. They’re designed and engineered to maximise productivity and eliminate micro-frustrations that deter focus.
Is the digital solution intuitive and easy to learn?
Productivity is important for teacher and administrator retention, student outcomes, and community-building. But today’s critical school personnel are dealing with challenges that distract them from achieving results in every area. “The level of maturing and engagement among students is not there,” one district administrator told The Brookings Institution in a recent survey.3 “It’s not just a child who has lost ground in reading, it’s that they don’t even know how to function in a classroom with other kids.”
Emotional distractions are unavoidable. Technology distractions aren’t. It will take time for students and parents to readjust. Educators must have technology with an accessible interface, fast connection, and intuitive UX to combat the interference. Be sure to also consider if substitute or supply teachers will be able to quickly learn and use the in-class solutions. Shortages of these invaluable educators are predicted to continue,4 and easy-to-use technology can help build confidence for newly trained substitutes to jump right in.
Here’s an easy way to simplify: Use the same classroom management system, such as LanSchool, across devices. “That means we can become experts on one product instead of having to become familiar with multiple platforms,” says an IT support specialist whose community school uses LanSchool Air.5 “And the same is true of our teachers. Using one solution makes training easier… This puts the power back in teachers’ hands and decreases our work on the IT side.”
Is the digital solution providing the user with autonomy over their workload?
Teachers and administrators have done a commendable job managing the proliferation of new digital tools and devices, but 87 percent say they are spending more time managing technology.6 This leaves less time to spend with students, and most teachers (63 percent) say they don’t have a lot of control or influence over their schedules.7 If given the choice, they’d spend less time on general administrative work.
To help, deploy digital solutions that can handle more compute-intensive applications. Try Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 laptops, powered by the Intel vPro platform with built-for-business performance for the classroom and Windows 11, which can quickly snap apps side by side for increased productivity.
Is the digital solution’s performance compatible with the use case?
The way K-12 schools communicate with students, parents, and other community members has drastically changed in the last two years. It will continue to change in the next two: Schools want more digital communications, including a significant increase in the use of mobile apps and texting.8 More than two-thirds of schools use five or more different channels of communication. This is just one example of the rapid evolution of school administrative roles and responsibilities. New technology must be versatile enough to adapt to changing administrative tasks as well as individual work styles. If it can enhance the work experience by adjusting to any scenario, even better.
The “use case” of K-12 technology is in a constant state of flux. Lenovo digital solutions with 12th Gen Intel CoreTM processors feature revolutionary architecture that intelligently allocates workloads to the right thread on the right core based on real- time analysis, providing optimised business-class performance to teachers every day. Device design can further support versatility. The ThinkPad X1 Yoga running Windows 11 goes from keyboard to ThinkPad Pen Pro in seconds, powered by Intel vPro, An Intel EvoTM Design with 12th Gen Intel CoreTM i7 processors.
Would an end-to-end solution be appropriate?
End-to-end management and support services can unlock even more value from K-12 technology investments by ensuring they’re always protected and devices are relevant to current needs, teaching styles, and student dynamics. Rather than sourcing solution components on your own, Device as a Service (DaaS) models provide regularly refreshed hardware, software, and services for one monthly fee. Need to own devices? DaaS models allow for asset ownership, too.
Lenovo TruScale DaaS plans can be tailored to your needs with financing customised for your education budget cycle. Cutting-edge hardware, software, expert services, and 24/7 Premier Support all come wrapped up in a single, flexible solution for a predictable monthly cost. With the right DaaS model, education institutions of every shape, size, and teaching style can access the leading technology they need to drive learning progress at a speedy but sustainable pace.
A trusted partner can help schools empower teachers and administrators to deliver their best work. Lenovo is the largest global provider of PCs in the education sector, providing a broad portfolio of software and hardware solutions for student safety, digital instruction, and classroom management powered by Windows 11 on the Intel vPro platform for an unrivalled business PC solution.
To learn more, visit: https://techtoday.lenovo.com/au/en/solutions/k-12-education
Sources
1. EducationWeek, “Teachers Told Us How They Rack Up Those 54 Hours of Work a Week,” April 2022
2. Winston School of Education and Social Policy, “Merrimack College Teacher Survey,” 2022
3. The Brookings Institution, “Restoring Pandemic Losses Will Require Major Changes in Schools and Classrooms, Superintendents Say,” 2022
4. National Association of Schoolmasters Union
of Women Teachers (NASUWT), “Supply Teacher Crisis Cannot Be Ignored,” 2022
5. Lenovo, “Simplify IT support and improve teaching with cloud and locally hosted solutions offered jointly,” LanSchool case study, 2020
6. Absolute, “Distance Learning’s Impact on Education,” 2020
7. EducationWeek,“Here’sHowManyHoursaWeek Teachers Work,” April 2022
8. Parent Square, “Communications Future Survey: Educator Perspectives on What Works to Reach Families and What Should Change,” April 2022
