How Technology Choices Affect Teacher Workload
“The best technologies are the ones that give teachers more time back,” says Kris Astle, manager of learning and adoption at SMART Technologies. “When technology is used to automate the robotic parts of teaching — such as grading, attendance or scheduling — it allows the human being in the room to focus on what matters most, which is connecting with students.”
However, even the best tools can add to teacher workloads due to learning curves and issues with integration and reliability. If a new tool doesn’t integrate seamlessly with existing tools, teachers must develop workarounds that can be complex or time-consuming. “For example, if a district buys a grading tool that doesn’t ‘talk’ to the attendance system, teachers are forced into manual data entry, which is time-consuming and reduces teacher efficiency,” Astle says.
Rather than starting with the question of which technologies to adopt, it’s better to determine what problem needs to be solved or what student outcomes need to be moved, says Kevin Shaw, director of AI, innovation and strategy at KIPP Public Charter Schools in New Jersey. “Technology is valuable when it serves a clear intent,” Shaw says. “The best tools in our portfolio are the ones built with educators around a defined instructional need, not the ones that arrived as a solution looking for a problem. The goal is augmentation, not automation. Technology should improve the quality of the work teachers and leaders already do, not replace their professional judgment.”
Device Management and Classroom Tools Reduce Tech Friction
Classroom disruption often comes from small issues that are easily fixable, such as devices that won’t connect, apps that won’t load or filters that block the wrong content. When districts use robust mobile device management systems, IT staff can push updates and apps silently. “This prevents lost time where teachers have to walk students through manual updates or troubleshooting, ensuring devices are ready the moment the bell rings,” Astle says.
Also, classroom management tools like Lightspeed Classroom can show teachers what students are doing on their screens and allow them to respond in real time. Tools like these allow a teacher to communicate with students without disrupting the whole class, or limit access to games or noninstructional content to keep students focused, Bennett says.
AI-Assisted Tools Give Teachers Time Back
AI-assisted tools can help teachers with tedious tasks, giving them more time to support students directly. For example, teachers can use AI tools to quickly add interactivity to static content, creating engaging lessons, Astle says. And using AI tools that leverage district content and state standards, teachers can create first drafts of content and edit them to meet the needs of specific groups of learners.
“We’re seeing teachers use AI to generate first drafts of lesson plans, differentiate materials, streamline parent communications, and understand digital activity and student engagement during class,” Bennett says. “That can save hours, and giving teachers time back helps avoid burnout.”
However, it’s crucial for districts to provide oversight for use of AI tools so that teachers don’t rely on technology that hasn’t been vetted for data privacy or instructional quality. Bennett recommends balancing empowerment with guardrails by using tools like Lightspeed Insight, which provides visibility into app use and risk.
SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to get the latest EdTech content delivered to your inbox weekly.
