Teacher says paper register beats complex digital system

Experienced class teacher Lív Reinert Nielsen says a paper register works better than the complex digital systems teachers are being required to use. She made the comments in a Facebook post and on KVF’s morning programme for International Teachers’ Day.

“This is the fourth digital system we have been required to use in recent years,” she said. “One of my tasks is keeping the register and recording absences, and I find it very difficult to see why we need such a complicated system for that. I wish we would think before digitising everything under the sun.”

Reinert Nielsen said she is not afraid of technology and is happy to use computers and tablets in her teaching. But she believes technology should serve a clear purpose.

“The saying goes that fire is a good servant but a bad master. The same applies to technology. A solution should make work easier, faster or cheaper. This system does none of those things,” she said.

Asked what she would do if she had the authority, Reinert Nielsen said she would immediately end digital attendance registration and online homework, and bring back homework and message books.

She said politicians and school leaders should be willing to admit when a decision has been wrong and stop. Digitisation has a lot to offer, she said, but it should be sensible rather than an end in itself.