Why do schools employ so many digital tools?
Imagine being a teacher trying to handle a variety of apps, accounts and platforms every day. There are platforms for homework, another platform for grading, a third for attendance, a quarter of communication, and more. What promises to facilitate teaching and learning can turn into a challenge not only for teachers, but for students and parents. Digital tools were introduced in schools with the intention of making lessons more engaging, personalizing learning for students with diverse needs, and assisting teachers with administrative tasks. So why doesn’t schools want to invest in all the latest apps that promise to save time, improve test scores, and keep parents connected?
Certainly, technology has incredible potential in education. It can provide interactive courses, automate boring tasks, provide performance and attendance information, make learning more comprehensive, and provide support to students of a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. However, if a school adopts many digital tools at once, the benefits begin to fade. Instead of making life easier, all this technology creates confusion, wastes money, and actually increases the stress of both teachers and students. In other words, digital tool professionals can’t deny it, but many of them can be a burden. Find out how a wealth of digital tools cost in schools and help you find alternative approaches.
Sponsored content – Article continues below
Trend Learning Management System (LMS)
The disadvantages of using too many Edtech tools
Hidden financial costs
When schools implement digital tools, they usually focus on what they promise, such as better engagement, more efficient grading, creative ways of learning. But they often overlook increasing prices. Generally, all new platforms come with a license or subscription fee. These fees may not seem like that in themselves. However, if a school subscribes and pays for many tools at once, each offering a different feature, costs increase rapidly. Next is the hidden infrastructure costs. More digital tools mean students need more powerful devices, teachers need faster Wi-Fi, and IT teams need to be careful about everything. Therefore, these tools will allow schools to invest in stronger networks, more devices, and additional IT staff.
Teacher’s burnout syndrome
For many teachers, digital tools are added to already heavy workloads. Every platform comes with its own login, dashboard, and learning. Rather than focusing on lessons with teachers or connecting with students, teachers often struggle to switch between apps and look at tutorials to understand the capabilities of each platform. This is an extra work. For example, you might need to create one assignment in the school’s official LMS, upload it to another grading tool, and share it again in a communications app for parents. It is a triple of single task work and can also lead to emotional fatigue. When teacher energy is discharged through managing tools, they become frustrated, less satisfied with their job and risk burning out. Digital tools are supposed to save teachers time and make their work easier. But if they are too many, the opposition arises.
Students are overwhelmed
Today’s students are on the plate. Assign on one platform, quizzes on another platform, read materials in a third, and announce them via email or chat app. Needless to say, each tool comes with its own features and login. So instead of focusing on learning, students often spend extra time just finding a place to find what they need. This overload affects the scope of attention and motivation. Students can quickly lose interest when simple tasks like submitting homework find complex. Moreover, not all students have the same level of access at home. Some have reliable Wi-Fi and personal devices, while others rely on shared computers and slow connections. When schools adopt multiple digital tools, these gaps widen.
Privacy and security risks
When schools use digital tools, they usually track student performance to facilitate learning. However, to do so, these tools collect important data about students, such as grades and personal information. The more tools schools use, the more data there is. This is dangerous. If one tool is facing a violation, it can leak personal student information and cause family concern. Some EDTECH vendors are serious about protecting this information, but sometimes they are not. Thankfully, regulations like GDPR and FERPA can keep student data safe, but it can be difficult to ensure that all of these tools comply with them.
Lack of integration
Too many digital tools always risk them not connecting to each other. Each platform has its own layout, storing information separately. While each tool may be useful in its own right, the lack of connections between them creates troubling experiences for teachers and students. For example, teachers may need to record grades in one system, track attendance on another system, and post assignments on a third platform. These systems are not connected, so teachers must enter the same data multiple times. This not only makes you frustrated, but it also wastes the time you can spend preparing for classes and interacting with students.
How can schools use digital tools more wisely?
Schools should use fewer technical tools to reduce digital overload, but make sure they use them effectively. The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to be thoughtful about the tools needed in the classroom. When schools narrow down their technology, they save money, reduce confusion, and improve the experiences of both teachers and students.
To decide which tools to maintain, consider the following:
Ease of use. Is the tool easy to learn and navigate, or is it complicated? If you spend more time learning how to use than teach, that’s not a good choice. Integration. Does this tool work well on platforms already in use? Connecting tools easily reduce double work and make tasks smoother. Proven results. Is there any research or teacher feedback that shows that this tool improves learning or efficiency? Instead of trusting advertising and marketing tricks from vendors, schools should look for real results.
Teachers must also be part of the decision-making process. Teachers use these platforms every day, so they need to guide their decisions, not their leaders or vendors. If the teacher is part of the process, it is more likely that he will adopt and use the tool of his choice.
Conclusion
Schools don’t need so many digital tools to succeed. They just need the right thing. By choosing quality over quantity, schools can reduce costs, simplify teacher workloads, and improve student learning. Being loud about the platform also helps to protect student data, ensuring that time and energy is spent in the classroom. Technology should not feel like a barrier, it should feel like a helping hand. Schools with smarter, more meaningful approaches can use digital tools to make a real impact on education that supports students and teachers’ development.
