Educators today face the dual challenge of having to adopt technology to provide the best possible outcomes for students and staff, while also preparing students to thrive in a technology-driven world.

This task has grown more complex with the rapid rise of generative AI, which provides the potential for massive innovation in learning while also undermining existing models, and its widescale availability adds another layer of difficulty.

While it has often been the case that students have had better access to technology at home than in the classroom, the decision by some educators to ban AI entirely effectively leaves students living in two different worlds.

At the same time, educators need to also cater for a cohort of students whom for numerous reasons may not have equal access to the latest tech, making equity a persistent concern.

These challenges (and more) span the entire education spectrum. But for educators today, perhaps the greatest challenge comes in working out exactly what strategies and technologies to invest in, from the student management and information systems that underpin modern institutions to the thousands of software-based learning tools that exist today.

This decision will only become harder as AI becomes more prevalent and offers the additional choice of whether to build tailored solutions or take off-the-shelf packages.

And all the while, any investment also needs to be considered in a world where cyber criminals will look to exploit any possible weakness.

So, when it comes to technology in education, it seems there is still very much to be learnt.

Hear from Australian technology leaders in the education sector in the following chapters:

• Josh Teichman, chief transformation officer, Monash University
• Sandra Sharpham, executive director for student experience, Charles Sturt University
• Elizabeth Wilson, CIO, Department of Education, Victoria
• Daniel Hughes, CIO, Department of Education, SA
• Alan Ibbett, head of information technology, CEnet
• Nick Charlton, ICT manager, Mackillop Catholic Regional College
• Dr Neil Durrant, executive director for future studies, engagement and technologies, University of New England
• Sam Nikolsky, director, Wyndham Tech School