Byron Kennedy on the State of EdTech in K-12
Hello all, and first off, let me say thank you to the education leaders, teachers, administrators, and education enthusiasts hearing or reading this! As a father of three amazing children now teens, a member of school boards, and as a child of a family of educators and artists, I and we as a society owe you a tremendous gratitude for your work.
Through my company's work with more than 70 K-12 schools across the country, we have been seeing a much greater need for total school tech system support. There has obviously been a massive increase in school internet and Wi-Fi usage with hybrid and remote learning, but something many schools were not prepared for was the integration of services such as:
Student device deployment and management
Content filtering and student safety online (at school and at home)
Help-desk support for teachers and school administrators (and even parents now!)
Managed Google Workplace Suite for Education
On-campus and online classroom technology including Zoom and different multimedia activities designed to connect teachers and students
More and newer school-wide software and communication systems
Planning for technology needs when the future is unclear or uncertain
So, as we look to 2021 and beyond, what I see as the most critical need is bringing these services together in a way that is manageable and affordable. Many school administrators scrambled to sign up for services they thought they might need; the problem is, many of these systems do not speak to one another and/or the schools themselves do not have the staffing needed to support them. That has had a detrimental impact on both teaching and learning.
Ultimately, how can K-12 leaders expect to staff experts in every school IT function? At best, it is unrealistic, both practically and economically. What EVERY K-12 school needs is the right level of breadth and depth in ALL of these skills in a way that works harmoniously with their school’s mission, plans, and onsite team. We have proven that is both possible and transformative.
"KTG came to our school at a time of transition in our tech management. The team stepped-in seamlessly to assess, support, and upgrade our technology for teachers and students. From day one, they have been thoughtful, proactive, and always at the ready to respond to any and all tech needs.
Our students are working on 1-to-1 remote managed devices, with security features, software, and applications regularly updated. Our teachers have direct support to address hardware and software needs, and can lean on KTG’s experience and expertise for advice and recommendations.
We are grateful to partner with a tech support team that aligns with the mission and culture of our school. They manage the technology, empowering our teachers and students to focus on the learning."
— Joseph Nagel, Principal, School of the Madeleine, Berkeley, CA
One important component missing from the current “Edtech paradigm" is the human element. As education technology has developed over the years, people have been relying more and more on the quick benefit and fix of technology, and sometimes taking their focus off of the people the systems are actually supposed to help: students, teachers, administrators and even parents. I would be remiss if I didn't mention this because we need to recognize that, especially given the realities of 2020, COVID, the accessibility of marketable skills for our youth, the economic ability for family creation, and even California fires! There is a new normal for K-12 education technology, and people are absolutely at the center.
If you’re an education leader, teacher, or EdTech enthusiast, I’d love connect and hear your thoughts and ideas on the state of technology in education - Byron Delane Kennedy
