SIf you’re in a school IT role I have a question: what is your purpose in the school and why does it matter?
Unfortunately, when I’ve asked this in workshops I get answers like: “to fix laptops,” “keep the WiFi running,” or “manage cybersecurity.” A few might say, “it’s all about the students”. But what does that really mean? How exactly does fixing a laptop or updating a server enhance a student’s education? There is a feeling that it does, but our inability as a profession to communicate our purpose is hurting our progress with technology.
The culture around technology is far from optimistic. School leaders are starting to wonder (quite rightly) if all the tech is worth it. We see headlines about social media harming our kids, major breaches of private data, and a general distrust of tech companies (5 of the 10 least trusted brands in Australia are tech companies!). The backlash is real, and it’s growing. In the public conversation, tech is increasingly painted with one brush: bad. It’s not hard to see why. But we need to be careful not to let legitimate concerns about technology’s misuse overshadow its potential. Especially in schools, where tech most likely already underpins all major school functions.
That’s why defining a clear mission for technology is more important now than ever. We are not in the business of mindlessly implementing tech because that’s what’s always been done. I believe we are in schools to design, integrate, maintain, and support technology systems that enhance learning, teaching, and school operations. (I know it’s a mouthful, but read it slowly and let it sink in)
The key word is “enhance”, what does that really mean?
Efficiency: doing things faster, smarter, with less waste.Accuracy: ensuring tasks are completed correctly and reliably.Reach and collaboration: enabling new types of work, new voices, new ways to learn.Accessibility: ensuring every student, teacher, and team member can connect, create, and contribute.
Yet, as a profession, we haven’t always lived up to this. Many IT teams have fallen into a trap believing that cybersecurity is their purpose.
It’s easy to feel useful when you’re enforcing compliance and blocking risky sites. But cybersecurity is not the mission. It’s an important risk we manage, a necessary part of reaching our goals but it’s not the outcome.
We must be careful that IT teams don’t drift into roles of gatekeeping rather than enabling. Saying “no” instead of finding safe, practical ways to say “yes.” And this issue is amplified even more at a district or system level, where decisions are often made without consultation, impacting schools with little consideration of the learning outcomes at stake.
Follow this to its end, we will may up removing technology as the bargain will no longer make sense. The enhancements we’re getting are not enough in the face of the friction, barriers and impact that the tech is having on the functions of the school.
Because in the end, it’s not about the laptops, the WiFi, or the cybersecurity audits. It’s about helping and enhancing what is possible for teachers and students to learn, grow, and thrive.