Burned Out and Logged On: The Untold Struggles of a CAT Teacher
Ruval Gouws
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Burned Out and Logged On: The Untold Struggles of a CAT Teacher

We teach learners how to survive the digital world. But who helps us survive it?
As CAT teachers, we often carry more than just lesson plans. We carry cables, crash reports, forgotten passwords, corrupted files, broken printers, and late-night panic messages from learners who “swear they saved their PAT.”

We’re the silent force keeping the school’s tech running while also juggling practical assessments, intensive marking, and theory that’s constantly evolving in a world where new tech pops up faster than we can update a slideshow.

Burnout in education is real. But CAT teacher burnout? It’s a special kind of fatigue.

The Reality Behind the Screen

You’re always “on call.” Even if you’re not the official IT person, your name is the one whispered when someone’s projector fails or when CAPS LOCK won’t turn off. Your assessments take triple the time to mark. Screenshots, spreadsheet formulas, Word formatting, database queries—all checked manually. No memo can do it for you. You teach learners who know less than you think—and others who think they know more than they do. That balance is exhausting.

And let’s not forget theory. Trying to explain what “non-volatile memory” is while half your class is mentally on TikTok.

The Hidden Mental Load

Beyond lessons and marking, you’re constantly:
1.  Debugging projects
2.  Designing engaging content to keep theory exciting
3.  Updating your own skills to stay relevant
4.  Managing device policies, classroom management, digital ethics
5.  Wondering if what you teach will still be relevant in five years

All while feeling invisible. Because CAT is often treated as a “soft subject” when in fact, it lays the foundation for 21st-century learning.

So, What Now?

Here’s what I’ve started doing—and maybe it helps you too:

1. Set Boundaries With Tech
You don’t have to answer WhatsApp messages about the PAT at 10 PM. Model digital wellbeing. Set “offline” hours and stick to them.

2. Automate Where You Can
Use tools like Google Forms, ChatGPT, Quizizz, or self-marking spreadsheets to lighten your load.

3. Find Your CAT Community
We’re a rare breed. But we exist. Start a WhatsApp group with other CAT teachers, share resources, or just vent safely.

4. Give Yourself Credit
What you do matters. You are giving learners the tools to function in a digital world. Celebrate small wins. Even getting everyone to name their files correctly is a win!

5. Talk About It
We need to address burnout in tech education. Speak up. Write posts. Tell your HOD when things are too much. Help others understand what you actually do. Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’ve been strong for too long—while rebooting 15 laptops, calming a crying Grade 12 whose Access file won’t open, and still delivering a killer lesson on networks.

Take the break. Log off. Rest. Your learners need you whole.

– Ruval Gouws
“Just because it’s digital, doesn’t mean it doesn’t drain us.”

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Teaching ‘Setting up a PAN, HAN, LAN.’ for Grade 10
Matt Hains
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Teaching ‘Setting up a PAN, HAN, LAN.’ for Grade 10

This content is located in CAPS under Network Technologies: Networks for Grade 10.

Setting up networks like PAN (Personal Area Network), HAN (Home Area Network), and LAN (Local Area Network) introduces students to the foundational principles of connectivity and communication in both personal and professional contexts. This practical topic helps students understand how devices interact and communicate, an essential skill for navigating today’s interconnected world.

Introduction to PAN, HAN, and LAN

Start the lesson by defining and distinguishing between the three types of networks:

  • PAN (Personal Area Network): A small, personal network used to connect devices within close proximity, such as Bluetooth connections between a smartphone and wireless headphones.
  • HAN (Home Area Network): A network designed for residential use, enabling multiple devices (e.g., computers, smart TVs, IoT devices) to connect and share resources within a home.
  • LAN (Local Area Network): A network that connects multiple devices over a relatively small area, such as within a school or office.

How to Teach the Setup Process

1. Visualising the Components

Create a visual representation of a PAN, HAN, and LAN using simple diagrams. Use icons or drawings to show how devices like smartphones, laptops, printers, routers, and smart appliances interact within each network type.

Activity: Provide blank diagrams of homes or small office setups and have students label and connect the devices they would include in a PAN, HAN, or LAN. For example:

  • PAN: Smartphone to smartwatch via Bluetooth.
  • HAN: Laptop, smart TV, and router in a home.
  • LAN: Computers and a shared printer in a school lab.

2. Simulating a PAN Setup

Set up a simulated PAN in the classroom using Bluetooth-enabled devices:

  • Pair a smartphone with a Bluetooth speaker or keyboard.
  • Discuss the limited range and simplicity of a PAN.

Key Features to Highlight:

  • Devices can connect wirelessly within a short distance.
  • Primarily for personal use, with minimal infrastructure required.

Follow-Up Activity: Ask students to brainstorm other real-world examples of PANs, such as using a fitness tracker or transferring files via AirDrop.

3. Demonstrating a HAN

Discuss the setup of a HAN using common household examples:

  • A router as the central hub connecting a smart TV, gaming console, and laptop.
  • Include discussions on wireless (WiFi) vs. wired (Ethernet) connections.

Interactive Idea: Bring in a home router (or a picture) and discuss how it works. Use role-play to assign students the roles of devices connected to a network, illustrating how a router directs communication.

Key Features to Highlight:

  • Centralised control of devices in a household.
  • Ability to share resources like internet and printers.
  • Security considerations like passwords and firewalls.

4. Setting up a LAN

Explain how LANs operate in environments like schools or offices:

  • Demonstrate using a central switch or router to connect multiple computers and a shared printer.
  • Emphasise the need for proper cabling (Ethernet) or WiFi access points for larger LANs.

Hands-On Activity:

  • Use string to represent Ethernet cables and have students “connect” mock devices (e.g., cardboard cutouts of PCs, printers, and routers).
  • Discuss network topology (e.g., star, ring) and the advantages of each in a LAN setup.

Key Features to Highlight:

  • Faster speeds and reliability compared to broader networks.
  • Localised sharing of files and resources without the internet.

Challenges and Solutions in Setting Up Networks

While teaching the setup of networks, discuss potential challenges and their solutions:

  1. Limited Resources:
    • Simulate networks using basic materials like string, cardboard, or free software like Cisco’s Packet Tracer for virtual networks.
  2. Security:
    • Explain simple security measures, such as setting strong WiFi passwords or enabling encryption.
  3. Troubleshooting:
    • Discuss common issues (e.g., devices not connecting) and basic solutions, such as restarting the router or checking cables.

Relating the Topic to Real Life

Ask students to reflect on how they or their families use networks at home. Encourage them to share:

  • The devices they connect.
  • The advantages and challenges they face.

Critical Thinking Task: Have students write a short paragraph comparing the benefits and limitations of a HAN versus a LAN.

Wrapping Up

To summarise, engage students in a quiz or class discussion to test their understanding:

  • Which type of network is best for a school? Why?
  • How would you secure a home WiFi network?
  • What is the key difference between a PAN and a HAN?

Encourage them to think about how networks could evolve with technology (e.g., IoT, smart homes).

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