The Gap Between Tech and Reality
After hours of wandering through the ExCeL halls at Bett in London last week, not only my feet and my brain felt heavy. My heart did too. Technical masterpieces, topped with AI in its most advanced forms, were everywhere. This is probably the future of schooling we are heading towards. But is it really what our students need most? The answer came just minutes later, on the front page of the daily newspapers:
“One in four pupils starting school cannot use a book“
They swipe and tap instead. Toilet training is increasingly delayed. Active vocabulary is shrinking. Of course, technology can help. But what is really missing is human attention, care, and timely intervention. What children truly need are role models; adults who look beyond their mobile screens, who truly see children and their needs.
Against this reality, the promise of around-the-clock tutoring, supervision, and optimisation through edtech feels almost cynical. Not because technology is bad, but because it cannot replace what schools are struggling with most. Let’s be honest about what today’s learners really need: time, care, attention, and role models. This is not “big news”, but common sense in staff rooms, teacher meetings, and educational research alike. The feeling of being seen and heard is one of the most powerful drivers of learning.
Being Seen: What Research and Teachers Agree On
John Hattie’s Visible Learning research consistently shows that teacher–student relationships, feedback, and teacher clarity have a strong positive effect on learning outcomes (Hattie, 2009; effect sizes well above the hinge point of 0.4). Similarly, research on belonging and motivation (e.g. Wentzel, 2012) confirms that students who feel noticed, supported, and encouraged engage more deeply and persist longer in learning tasks. A direct piece of feedback, a kind motivational note, or even a small shared success with a teacher can make a lasting difference in a student’s life.
At enduri, we try to be exactly that: a role model—empathetic and highly human. And enduri empowers teachers, students, and parents to become one too. Online where it helps, but most importantly offline, where learning actually happens. All enduri content can be used offline as well, because this is where isolated edtech turns into integrated, live learning. Learning in real life. Learning with others. Learning that is guided, human, strategy-based, and embraces mistakes.
Using Technology to Give Time Back to Teachers
And there is one more important aspect we should not forget. During a panel discussion at Bett in London, one education professional pointed out a reality that is often overlooked: many students—and teachers—still lack the most basic learning and teaching resources, as well as the knowledge to use technology meaningfully. “We have to break down these amazing technologies to a level that students and teachers can actually use and benefit from.”
So yes, let’s embrace edtech with all its power and potential. But let’s do it wisely: in ways that support teachers, give them more time with students, and create space for the interactions that truly matter.
