Our look at two years of EdTech Assessment Tool data finds the better the results, the more tech that’s in use — but teachers differ on a couple of points.
Previously: EdTech Assessment Tool Spots A 10x Trend
Our new visual report, “EdTech Assessment Tool: Connecting Strong Capabilities with High Outcomes,” reaches a stunning conclusion from two years of data: educators who report the highest level of overall technology planning and implementation capabilities in their schools are ten times more likely to observe high teaching and learning outcomes.
It’s a clear connection that’s gotten stronger over time. We dig into the details in our first post about this new report. But it’s not the only clear connection.
To get to these conclusions, we’ve analyzed nearly 1,300 self-assessments completed with EdTech Assessment Tool by educators (including administrators, tech leaders and teachers) around the globe. Educators have benchmarked their schools against nearly two dozen capabilities drawn from U.S. and international standards and best practices—such as ISTE and the OECD—and reported on both teacher and student results in their school(s).
They’ve also shared what technology they use. That EdTech use reveals even more connections.
Teachers Want To Engage
Teachers have a unique, close-to-the-classroom perspective on the technology in use. Nearly 400 of them took the self-assessment over the two-year period in addition to principals, district administrators and IT leadership.
Teachers were more likely to report their schools used some technologies at a higher level than others who took the survey. Specifically, they reported more use of more engaging technologies: 7 percent more for interactive whiteboards and displays, and 6 percent more for game-based software. Teachers also identified the amount of software apparently purchased at some point but not in use — up to one-quarter of it, overall.
We Didn't Script This: The More Tech In Use, The Better The Tie To High Outcomes
Technology reported in use also was connected to all of the educators who observed high teaching and learning outcomes in their schools. The link was true of front-of-classroom hardware (interactive whiteboards and displays, non-interactive screens, non-interactive projection systems) and teaching and learning software (lesson creation, presentation, collaborative, assessment and game-based).
Top Takeaway: Educators who said their schools had high outcomes also had the highest use of these types of hardware and software. The steeper the slope of the purple arrow — led by lesson creation, assessment and game-based software — the greater the impact of the tech on outcomes.
Take The EdTech Assessment Yourself
Learn how your school or district can prioritize EdTech work and investment for better results. The SMART EdTech Assessment Tool’s self-evaluation will give you a free custom profile with useful recommendations.
Oh, and if you missed our earlier report on blended learning, download it for free now: “Remotely Ready: Global Insights into Effective Teaching and Learning in a Pandemic.” It’s a great companion piece to the new visual report!