Budgets are tighter than ever, putting pressure on school leaders to evaluate all purchases with a fine-tooth comb. When it comes to education technology, examining existing and potential programs is an essential responsibility for principals since the right edtech tools can greatly enhance teaching and learning.
Purchasing impactful edtech is an investment in long-term student success, with outcomes that extend far beyond one academic year. What should be top of mind when evaluating technology? Read on for practical points to consider.
Understanding your school’s needs
Each school has a unique student population, community, and staff. As the campus leader, you are most familiar with your school’s most pressing needs. When budgeting for the year, consider where you can invest dollars to tackle some of your biggest obstacles.
What are some ways to identify areas that might be worth extra investments? Consider enrollment numbers–will you need more tablets or smart boards to accommodate more students? Talk to your department heads about the challenges teams are facing. Examine assessment data and growth reports to see where students struggle most. Are there particular subjects where most students need targeted instruction or intervention? Take a walk through classrooms. What devices are working, and what do teachers turn to the most? Consider using surveys or group discussions to get feedback from your staff about what tools would make a difference in their day-to-day instruction.
Evaluate your existing edtech
Impactful edtech doesn’t always have to be new—it might already exist on your campus. Frequently changing technology can leave teachers tired and burnt out, but if products are ineffective or simply not used, they must be reevaluated before renewing.
Measure the impact of your current technology to determine what’s worth the continued investment. Create criteria aligned with your school’s top needs to evaluate all edtech against, and then determine how each purchase consideration relates to a larger school goal.
What matters most when you're evaluating edtech tools?
Here are big questions to consider when evaluating edtech programs.
- Alignment: How does the product align with your school goals, curriculum, and standards?
- Evidence-based outcomes: Is the technology grounded in high-quality research? Does the product have efficacy research that meets the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) tiers of evidence?
- Student engagement: Does the tool keep students engaged? Is it effective while still being fun and interactive?
- Accessibility: Can all students use the product? Do accessibility features exist, like keyboard controls, text-to-speech, and closed captioning?
- Data security and privacy: Does the tool protect student data and comply with privacy regulations?
- Ease of use and PD: Can teachers easily use the tool in their classroom? Is professional development included? Does the technology integrate with your current learning management systems and support single sign-on (SSO)?
- Individualized practice: How does the tool meet all students at their unique levels? What feedback do students receive? How can teachers monitor progress?
- Vendor longevity: How long has the edtech vendor been in business? Do they have repeatable examples of success and demonstrated impacts at other schools and districts? Is the company using data for continuous improvement?
How can you ensure the product is effective?
After evaluating edtech solutions, take a deeper look at research and product features to determine the level of effectiveness.
Examine the research behind the product to see what pedagogical principles shaped its development. Then, seek out rigorous research from edtech vendors for examples of proven student achievement and learning. How did students demonstrate growth using the tool, and in what amount of time? Look for studies that meet ESSA tiers of evidence. Digital Promise certified products, the Edsurge EdTech Index, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), and Evidence for ESSA are helpful online resources.
An effective edtech tool should also include reporting tools so teachers can monitor student progress. Spend time learning about product features with a demo or pilot to understand the scope of reporting included.
Establishing new budget planning processes
Budgeting for schools is no easy task, but it can be simplified by prioritizing new purchases and renewals based on impact. Examine your school budget to see what changes you need to make for the upcoming season.
For example, if you have fewer federal dollars to spend this year, determine what line items that historically received those funds need to be adjusted. Consider the whole picture, including staffing, facilities, curriculum, school events, and technology.
Use available funds more effectively and only invest in solutions with proven effectiveness that align with broader goals. Seek additional funding opportunities to bring teachers solutions that will positively impact learning.
Be sure to create an evaluation process for ongoing product review. By having a structure in place, you will better understand which edtech tools are working best at your school, leading to easier decision-making in the future.
Invest in evidence-based STEM programs
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