The Tech Impact: It’s Time to Rethink Education

By Craig Smith, Jamf

Teaching in the time of Covid-19 has not been easy with many disparities in online education being brought to light. When the pandemic struck last year, forward-thinking schools that had previously implemented digitised learning approaches, with each pupil having access to their own device, such as Apple iPads, found the transition to remote learning smoother than others.

Unfortunately, that was not the case for all schools. With little to no time to support students with new devices and train teachers to create engaging online content, these schools suffered setbacks in adjusting to the ‘new normal.’

The education sector was forced to rethink learning approaches and overcome several barriers: no connectivity at home, digital literacy training for teachers and the continuation of student collaboration and engagement while in lockdown. Even access to devices, with many having to share parents’ laptops, became problematic.

Schools that have realised the benefits of technology in the new normal are now forming new missions to digitally transform their classrooms for good. Central to this is the investment in Apple Enterprise Management solutions to help reduce the burden on staff, freeing them to focus on new methods of teaching. Zero-touch deployment, enrolment and provisioning of app and devices can all take place over-the-air while enhancing native security tools.

As more schools take advantage of technology innovations, we can expect to see a shift to more flexible, personalised learning. Using an enterprise management solution, teachers can hold a 1:1 breakout session during the online class to help a student who might be struggling; they can also self-sufficiently deliver apps and files on students’ devices.

Teachers have taken a pedagogical role in helping to drastically transform and stabilise student learning in the new normal. Digitally savvy teachers have become ‘teacherpreneurs,’ helping their peers to blend traditional with new digital approaches that focus on personalised student engagement, peer to peer learning and 1:1 knowledge sharing.

To find out where education is heading next, view the EdTechX Jamf Spotlight: React — Refine — Reset | How will Tech Shape the Future of Education?