Edtech is a growing tech occupation category within the government IT SLED sector. Industry experts understand SLED as State, Local and Educational roles in IT. With emerging technologies shaping how classrooms operate, and students learn, the need for technologists who can adapt new functionality and processes to be efficient and easy to use is in demand.
When you think about Edtech, many facets to single school systems and whole district infrastructure require development and oversight. Finding Edtech talent to help build comprehensive, district-wide tools and programs is highest in these core areas:
Data Specialists
Education systems require expertise in database management as large amounts of records are stored, accessible, and often transferrable as students move through levels. Knowledge of data privacy and security is also important to protect data since a considerable amount of data collected from families and students is personally identifiable and a target for breaches. School systems, like most other industries, place a premium on these skills when hiring for edtech roles to avoid disruptions and maintain secure operations.
Obtaining certificates in data management and cybersecurity can increase one’s chances of landing a job as a systems administrator, IT manager, or help desk manager.
Edtech Design and Development: Technology That Works for the End-User
As teacher resources and testing procedures are increasingly digitized, experts in UX/UI design and functionality are needed to make new programs easily accessible and intuitive for users. This is important because different learning levels based on age and ability must be considered so that platforms and tools are optimized for the best learning outcomes.
Teachers are also expected to understand and utilize more technology than ever before while keeping pace with updates as standards and curriculums are regularly adjusted. The way they administer tests, access textbooks and work resources, and even grade has evolved dramatically. Developing platforms that save time with simple training is ideal for educators who are already busy with packed days of classroom management and curious young minds.
Core and Cloud: Having Foundational Skills That Adapt for the Future
These digital updates are important not only inside the classroom, where you can often find assistance from school IT specialists for troubleshooting, but also for the programs that bridge to home and in the community.
During the pandemic, while many school systems had the capability for offsite and remote learning, many did not anticipate how expansive these tools would become and at such a rapid pace. School districts had to implement emergency protocols to get their networks and systems up to speed requiring a surge in specialists in computer hardware and software configuration, network and security administrators, as well as telecommunications specialists that helped make all systems integrate. The skills needed to lay solid IT infrastructure that is also buildable in the future are rooted in strong computer science training.
At the same time, sound traditional systems will continue to undergo modernization, and that is where new skills in cloud development need to be applied. While the rush of remote learning has lessened, the need for connection, storage, and increased network capacity was set in motion, so specialists in cloud computing who can transform network environments, save costs, and more are valued hires.
Tech Futurists: AI and Machine Learning Will Revolutionize Hiring for Edtech
As with most industry sectors, AI and machine learning are influencing the future of edtech. Using AI and machine learning algorithms to customize programs according to students’ learning patterns and even automate grading functions to relieve teachers’ administrative burdens is just scratching the surface of how edtech will be transformed.
Like other industries seeking talent with AI skills, the edtech sector has also entered the competition for this talent market, which will struggle to keep pace with demand for the foreseeable future.
Finding specialized skills is precisely why managers for SLED hiring in Edtech will find it helpful to turn to IT staffing experts to help uncover talent that can help fill roles. IT recruiters are knowledgeable in skill sets and have far-reaching networks to tap into to find professionals who can adapt to new technologies. The ability to find top talent is amplified when working with an IT staffing firm specializing in government IT talent acquisition for the SLED sector. To work with a firm to devise a hiring strategy to build a high-performing edtech workforce, contact Prosum today.
