Bridging the Gap: Connecting District Needs with EdTech Solutions That Work

How do we define “quality” for EdTech products? District leaders are under pressure to vet a growing catalog of tools against usability, privacy, accessibility, and instructional fit, often with limited capacity to do so. The gap between what districts need to see and what vendors bring to the table slows adoption and weakens implementation.

In this webinar, EdSignals Studio hosted leaders from ISTE, d.school, and a California school district to discuss research into the drivers and barriers of effective edtech adoption, what districts really look for in an edtech product, and how vendors can better meet district needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Teacher usability, culturally responsive design, and data privacy are priorities for educators in EdTech adoption, especially with the growth of AI.
• Research-backed claims and third-party certifications are critical credibility signals for district reviewers; however, certification costs can pose challenges for smaller EdTech companies with limited resources.
• Districts respond to vendors who offer clear value propositions for specific use cases and can demonstrate a clear understanding of local requirements, such as state-specific laws on accessibility, AI, and data privacy.
• Including underrepresented groups in co-design processes reduces bias and improves the product through the “curb cut effect,” where designing for edge users such as students with disabilities benefits everyone.
• Growing teacher involvement in product design and the expansion of product certifications and co-design initiatives are promising developments in the ecosystem.

Watch the Recording:

Review the Presentation:

Meet Our Panelists:

• Nicole Langford, Senior Research Associate at ISTE+ASCD. 
• Luke Mund, Manager of Educational Technology for Denver Public Schools. 
• Isabel Huff, Learning Experience Designer & Project Lead, EdTech Remix @ Stanford d.school

Moderators:

• Maraki Kebede, Education Project Lead at EdSignals Studio
• Sophie Cleff, Education Consultant at EdSignals Studio

Key Resources From Panelists and Hosts

• EdSignals Studio: How District Size and Demographics Define EdTech Buyer Segments
• EdSignals Studio: Designing Impactful Quality Seals to Engage Users
• EdSignals Studio: Bias Library
• ISTE+ASCD: Advancing Edtech Evaluation and Selection
• ISTE+ASCD: EdTech Usability Guide: Shaping Your Product Roadmap + Supplement
• ISTE+ASCD: Teacher Ready Evaluation Tool
• ISTE+ASCD: Join the ISTE+ASCD CoLab
• Denver Public Schools: Driving Edtech Coherence and Intentionality: Denver Public Schools’ Innovative Procurement Process