How IT Solutions Can Enhance Education Outcomes | For School Business Leaders

The incorporation of IT solutions within the educational environment plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic progress of students. Nigel Milligan, a renowned expert in this field, offers valuable insights for School Business Leaders (SBLs) aiming to bridge the gap between teaching and ICT solutions.

In order to effectively support school improvement plans and offer the best possible assistance, it is imperative for schools to adopt a forward-thinking approach to their ICT strategies. This necessitates ensuring that technical support providers or in-house teams possess a comprehensive understanding of the school’s vision, enabling them to implement and fully support the most suitable technology solutions.

A common challenge in this pursuit lies in the inclination for technical support teams or providers to recommend solutions based on their own preferences, whether it be the most profitable product for external providers or bias from the internal IT team towards technology with which they are most comfortable. To address this, it is crucial for decision-making to involve a wider team of leaders, including the technical team, to make strategic choices aligned with the school’s educational objectives.

While there are undeniable benefits to embracing devices such as iPads and Chromebooks, schools often encounter resistance to change. As such, the decision to adopt new technology should be approached strategically and involve input from a range of stakeholders. It is essential for students to have access to a variety of platforms, devices, and software to better prepare them for future careers. Therefore, it is vital to pose challenging questions to IT providers and technicians to ensure decisions are well-informed.

A comprehensive approach to addressing the synergy between teaching and ICT solutions involves considering a range of pertinent questions. These include inquiries about educational objectives, teacher training and support, digital inclusion, monitoring and evaluation, budget and resource allocation, data security and privacy, futureproofing, and sustainability. Thorough examination of these aspects enables school leaders to make well-informed decisions about ICT provision and its potential impact on teaching and learning.

It is crucial to highlight that inadequate demonstration of understanding and cooperation from the IT support provider may warrant exploration of alternative providers. Drawing from his extensive experience in working with school IT, Nigel emphasizes the importance of ensuring that IT solutions are aligned with whole school decisions and have the potential to make a positive difference.

In conclusion, the integration of IT solutions in the educational setting is a multifaceted endeavour that demands careful consideration and collaboration between educational and technological stakeholders. By posing the right questions and engaging in meaningful conversations, school leaders can pave the way for effective ICT provision that enhances the overall educational experience for students.