Evaluating Your EdTech to Improve Student Outcomes

In the swiftly evolving digital era, schools are increasingly integrating educational technology (EdTech). It's crucial, now more than ever, to  critically evaluate the impact of these technologies on student success. Are our EdTech acquisitions truly enhancing student learning? What strategies can we employ to quantify the influence of our EdTech investments on classroom outcomes?

Emily Cook, Vice President of Education Services at Bluum, recently led an online training digging into the complexities of measuring the impact of EdTech and offered actionable insights for educators. This has become a hot topic for many educators and administrators. 

Scroll down to read the main takeaways from the online training. 

If you haven’t watched it, it’s a game-changing virtual training session revolutionizing the way we can use educational technology to improve student outcomes. By watching this video, you’ll discover tangible effects, cutting-edge research, and actionable strategies to enhance learning and accessibility.​

There's been a disconnect between the adoption of EdTech and the evaluation of its impact on teaching and learning outcomes.

Why Watch the Video

Unveil cutting-edge research from Bluum
(over 1,400 educators were surveyed)​

Quantify EdTech's Impact ​

Equip Yourself with Actionable Strategies ​

Learn to Track and Achieve Better Outcomes

Explore tangible effects of EdTech in classrooms

Gain insights into quantifying EdTech's impact​

Equip yourself with actionable strategies​

Insights from Emily Cook, VP of Education Services

As a thank you for watching the online training, we are offering a Free EdTech Evaluation document for you to use with your school or district. Get immediate access to actionable steps and strategies to improve your EdTech implementation and evaluation.

Here are the main takeaways from this online training, along with steps you can implement in your school to make the most of your EdTech investments.

Understanding the Importance of EdTech Evaluation

In an era of skyrocketing EdTech use, it's time to bridge the gap between deployment and impact.

With the recent influx of technology in schools, it's vital to understand how EdTech improves learning and accessibility through evaluation and measurement. 

Key Variables for Measuring EdTech Impact

To accurately gauge the effectiveness of educational technology in our schools, it's crucial to focus on three key variables that directly influence student outcomes. These variables serve as the foundation for understanding how technology can enhance the educational experience and ensure that investments in EdTech truly benefit our students. 


By concentrating on these areas, schools can develop a more strategic approach to EdTech integration, one that not only focuses on the tools themselves but also on how they're used to support teaching and learning effectively.

Here are the essential factors to consider:

Teacher Efficacy
The confidence teachers have in using technology to positively impact student learning. The domain of measuring impact centers on teachers' confidence in employing technology to improve student learning.

Criterion that could be used to determine teacher efficacy could entail assessing their proficiency in integrating technology, understanding the support offered during implementation, gauging their comfort level with the tool, and determining their ability to use it for differentiated instruction. We know that when teachers feel confident using classroom technology, learning outcomes improve.


Student Engagement

The level of attention, curiosity, and interest students show in their learning when technology is used. Determining student engagement may involve factors such as student reports, which could encompass feelings of school belonging, a positive classroom climate, interest in presented content, and the personal relevance of lessons.

Additionally, indicators of student engagement might include collaboration with peers during learning activities.

Accessibility

Ensuring that all students have access to technology and that it meets their individual learning needs.

Evaluating the accessibility of educational technology in the classroom may involve assessing the infrastructure supporting the technology and discerning the incorporation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in both instructional practices and technology integration.

To accurately assess the impact of educational technology in schools, focusing on these three pivotal variables: teacher efficacy, student engagement, and accessibility, can be a great place to start. These factors form the foundation for understanding how technology can improve learning and ensure that investments in EdTech are truly beneficial for students. 

By beginning to evaluate these domains, schools can develop a strategic approach to EdTech integration that not only emphasizes the tools themselves but also emphasizes their effective use to support teaching and learning.

Actionable Steps for Schools

To ensure the successful integration and evaluation of educational technology in schools, it's important to follow a structured approach that encompasses both planning and execution. 

These actionable steps provide the beginning stages of your necessary roadmap to enhance your EdTech strategy. 

Here are the critical steps to consider:

• Start Small: Begin by taking small steps toward understanding and measuring the impact of educational technology in your school.
  
  
• Engage in Active Discussions: Use platforms like webinars and professional development sessions to share insights and learn from others.
  
  
• Utilize Surveys and Research: Implement surveys for teachers and students to gather feedback on technology use and its effectiveness.
  
  
• Focus on Professional Development: Ensure that teachers receive the training and ongoing support needed to integrate technology effectively into their teaching practices.

Implementing these steps will enable schools to navigate the complexities of EdTech, ensuring that technology not only supports educational goals but also enhances the overall learning experience for students.

Immediate Steps to Implement

There are immediate, practical steps you can start to take at your school to measure your EdTech efficacy. These measures are designed to provide a clear starting point for enhancing the integration of technology in educational settings, ensuring that every tool and resource is aligned with your educational objectives and contributes positively to student outcomes.

Here are the steps you can take right away:

• Evaluate Your Current EdTech: Assess how technology is currently being used in your school and its impact on teaching and learning.
  
  
• Download the Free Tip Sheet: Take advantage of Bluum's free resources, such as the EdTech evaluation tip sheet to apply these principles in your school.
  
  
• Consider a Robust Evaluation: If you're looking for a more in-depth analysis of your EdTech usage and its impact, contact Bluum Ed Services for a comprehensive evaluation.
  
  
• Get access to Bluum’s Research Report: This report discusses this critical area of work and describes how teachers have been experiencing PD this past fall, as well as the impact and future considerations. Download the report to learn what our respondents believe about the technology in their schools, how they infuse it into their instructional practices, and the barriers they face when working with tech in their classrooms.

By taking these steps and focusing on the key variables of teacher efficacy, student engagement, and accessibility, schools can not only measure but also enhance the impact of EdTech on student outcomes.