Making the connection between edutech and improved teacher recruitment

Published by Chris Ogilvie-Taylor, CEO of Marsden Grant on 22 September 2014

Making the connection between a school that uses classroom technology and an improvement in pedagogy standards is not difficult. The evidence is out there and it’s overwhelming. Teachers using edutech on a daily basis now wonder how they ever managed without it and their pupils, whose lives are largely digital-centric, expect it as their norm. And making further connections between edutech and higher rates of conversion from parent show arounds, improvements in marketing successes and even greater acceptances of increased fees are all eminently possible and factually available from edutech-using schools.

But what about making the connection between successful teacher recruitment and the use of edutech? Is that possible? I believe it certainly is and the evidence is growing for this link. Take the international schools sector as an example. Forecast growth in the sector over the next few years is exponential with thousands of new schools planned to open around the world. But the supply of qualified teachers isn’t keeping up with this rapid increase in schools and shortages are looming. As a result schools are now and will be increasingly competing for the best teachers offering ever more competitive packages as enticement. But there’s a limit to how far schools can go with these packages if classroom teachers are not to end up earning more than the Governor of the Bank of England! So other considerations come into play for teachers considering a move and an increasingly important one of these is edutech. Most teachers aged 20 – 45 have their lesson plans and resources in digital form so their concern is how well equipped a school’s classrooms are and how advanced is the classroom technology, hardware and software? For these teachers it won’t do to answer their questions on your school’s edutech situation with responses that include the words “ink markers, white boards, passive projection, thinking about it.......” The best teachers are looking for the greatest multi-media support to their dynamic, engaging and creative lessons so it’s a big drawback for them if the schools they are considering working at can’t deliver these essential resources.

Edutech has come on a long journey from being a nice-to-have for the elite to a fundamental resource for all. And its tentacles, as you can see, are far reaching. Contact me at cot@marsdengrant.com to discuss how your school can take advantage of this increasingly vital pedagogy resource.