Technology in K-12 education must evolve toward a more strategic approach focused on reliability and real use in the classroom.
Mark Skehan, CEO of The Big Picture Group, a company focused on audiovisual systems integration, has extensive experience in designing and implementing technology solutions for educational environments. His background has allowed him to witness multiple waves of innovation that promised to change everything, while also showing that the technology that truly transforms a school is rarely the most eye-catching in a showroom.
Earlier this year, he attended ISE in Barcelona (Integrated Systems Europe). After walking through its halls, with thousands of exhibitors and manufacturers showcasing their latest innovations, his main takeaway was not centered on a specific product, but on the gap between what is technically possible and what is actually reliable in a school environment.
According to Skehan, that gap is very real. Although the tools available have never been more powerful, in many educational institutions IT managers and teachers are still not taking full advantage of them. In many cases, IT departments push the use of tools such as Microsoft 365 to simplify management and reduce support tickets.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, Skehan notes that its growing presence in education is fully justified. However, he points out that the conversation often focuses on what students can do with it or how to restrict its use, overlooking its impact on how schools are designed, managed, and maintained. Technologies such as AI-assisted monitoring, predictive maintenance, and space analytics are already a reality and can help ensure long-term system reliability, not just on installation day.
One of the most significant developments, in his view, is the move toward purposeful standardization. When every classroom on a campus operates in the same way —with the same interface, logic, and experience— teachers can focus on teaching rather than on the technology. In this scenario, technology fades into the background and attention returns to students.
Another key shift is connectivity. As educational institutions expand across multiple buildings or campuses, the underlying communications and AV infrastructure becomes critical. It is not just about having screens and speakers, but about ensuring the ability to communicate at any time and under any conditions. According to Skehan, although this trend was already emerging years ago, the gap between theory and practice in schools is gradually closing.
In this context, Skehan concludes that the real opportunity for schools is to move away from reactive technology adoption and start designing it strategically. This means planning for medium-term needs, establishing standards across the campus, prioritizing the teacher experience, and ensuring proper support. Ultimately, this is not just a technology decision, but a leadership one.
