Samsung survey reveals impact of Australia's teacher shortage

Samsung has released new insights indicating that 75% of Australian teachers are impacted by the ongoing teacher shortage crisis.

According to the survey, 61% of teachers have had to take on additional responsibilities, highlighting the strain on educators.

Phil Gaut, Senior Director and Head of Display and Memory Solutions Division at Samsung, commented on the findings, stating, "Our insights highlight the critical need to future-proof Australia's education system. Educators agree that technology is key to providing productive, accessible, and high-quality learning experiences for all students."

The survey found that 71% of teachers believe that increased technology use can enhance the quality of learning opportunities they provide to their students.

However, there are significant barriers to adoption such as budget constraints (60%), access to technology (37%), and individual digital confidence or skills (43%). Despite these obstacles, nearly half (49%) of teachers think that technology can help mitigate some of the issues caused by the teacher shortage.

The crisis has had severe consequences on teachers, with 71% reporting feelings of stress and overwhelm due to their workload, 61% taking on more responsibilities, and 53% working longer hours on routine tasks. Alarmingly, 41% of respondents are considering leaving their job or the teaching profession altogether, with Queensland educators expressing this sentiment the most at 48%.

Primary and secondary school teachers feel the impact more acutely than university lecturers or specialist educators, with 43% experiencing the strain compared to 13% among tertiary educators. Primary and secondary teachers report taking on more responsibilities and working longer hours (52% and 53%) compared to their tertiary counterparts (24%).

Technology is viewed as a viable solution to these challenges. The survey indicated that 61% of teachers believe technology can provide greater accessibility to educational resources, 59% think it can enhance digital knowledge and expertise, and the same percentage believe it can offer future-proofing skills development. Additionally, 53% claim that technology can drive higher engagement with lesson content.

Despite this optimism, the perception of technology as a solution varies among different age groups. Only 23% of the youngest teachers (aged 18-24) agree that technology can address the pressure, compared to 52% of those aged 25-24, 60% of those aged 25-44, and 51% of those aged 55-64.

Many educators already incorporate technology into their classrooms, with 72% using tech for lesson content such as screens or presentations and 64% employing interactive tools for student engagement. The integration of technology has been beneficial in multiple aspects, as noted by the NSW Department of Education's Schools Digital Strategy, which highlighted that digitalisation enables teachers to devote more time to one-on-one student support and to be more present in the classroom.

Teachers frequently move between different classrooms or even schools, necessitating technology that is intuitive and easy to learn. Some of the tools highlighted by Samsung include the Flip Interactive Display and WAD Interactive eBoard, which offer features like high-resolution screens, powerful speakers, and realistic pen-to-paper writing, thereby making the learning experience more engaging and collaborative.

Outside the classroom, Samsung's connected campus vision aims to provide a seamless and efficient educational experience for students, faculty, and staff using technology such as digital signage and LED displays for real-time communication.

The survey also pointed out the challenges to adopting new technology. Affordability (60%) and personal time constraints for learning or upskilling in technology tools (50%) were major barriers.

Regional disparities were also observed, with Victorian educators showing a higher lack of proficiency or confidence in technology (45%) compared to Queensland (41%) and New South Wales (38%).

Samsung's ed-tech solutions focus on making education accessible and inclusive, accommodating various teaching styles and ensuring that students with diverse needs have the opportunity to succeed. Samsung Electronics Australia is committed to supplementing teachers and future-proofing education through technology.