Empowering Evidence-based Decisions for Better Education Outcomes

Identifying which ed-tech tools work

Schools across the country are adopting new technologies at an increasingly fast pace—but they don't always have timely insights into what's working. For teachers and administrators navigating a rapidly changing educational environment, real-time evaluations are crucial to ensure ed-tech tools effectively support student success. 

A dynamic approach to evaluating educational technology

To give educators a timely and accurate view into the effectiveness of their ed-tech tools and strategies, Mathematica and its partners launched the Ed Tech Rapid Cycle Evaluation Coach (now called the Evidence to Insights Coach), a tool designed to assess the effectiveness of education technology under real-world classroom conditions. This rapid-cycle evaluation resource focuses on:

• Generating your own evidence on what works in your unique context

• Allowing mid-cycle adjustments to optimize tech implementation

• Using analytics to understand the impacts of your education program or practice

• Helping education leaders make better, more informed choices through evidence-based decisions

The Evidence to Insights Coach has been accessed by users in all 50 states and every continent. School districts that use the tool to implement rapid-cycle tech evaluation could ground decisions about ed-tech investments in evidence, rather than assumptions. The Evidence to Insights Coach allows decisionmakers to successfully conduct their own evaluations of education technology providing structured guidance and a clear framework. For example, an early education program in Oklahoma incorporated the tool into its planning for evaluating an instructional coaching model for early childhood educators. The district noted that the tool can support timely, data-informed decisions by analyzing outcomes like teacher-child interactions and classroom quality.

It matters because with a better way to understand and evaluate the value of ed-tech products, educators can more quickly determine what's right for their classrooms, their students, and their budgets.