During the pandemic, educational institutions swiftly integrated a vast array of digital tools, reacting to ever-evolving needs and urgencies. As relief funding wanes and the demand for measurable results rises, districts now face the crucial task of refining their digital ecosystems.
A recent report by LearnPlatform shows that U.S. districts utilized 2,739 edtech tools on average in the 2023–24 school year. Now, leaders are focused on reducing redundancies, cutting costs, and enhancing the tools that truly benefit educators and students.
EdSurge engaged with three districts — Oklahoma City, OK; Natick, MA; and Grapevine, TX — to explore their approaches to refining their edtech strategies.
A strategic edtech approach must be anchored in a robust instructional vision. This principle underpins the EdTech Systems Guide from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, detailing the processes of selection, implementation, and evaluation.
From Chaos to Coherence
In Oklahoma City, Eric Hileman, Executive Director of IT Services, has been steering a shift from excessive tech use to streamlined efficiency. Initially adopting a “lock and block” stance, the district later found itself with an unwieldy 1,800 apps by 2020. Hileman, alongside Neal Kellogg, Director of Digital Procurement and Data Privacy, employed 1EdTech’s TrustEd Apps program to effectively assess and condense their inventory.
One surprising discovery was a costly, unused literacy program, sparking wider efforts to evaluate and justify tool adoption. This initiative is part of a broader five-year vision to enhance accountability, leading to a reduced list of 250 approved apps selected for privacy, interoperability, and alignment with educational goals.
Ensuring Equity and Embracing AI
Natick Public Schools in Massachusetts experienced a surge in tool adoption during the pandemic. Now, as Grace Magley, Director of Digital and Personalized Learning, explains, the focus is on refining this selection through an equity-driven lens.
An Equity and Accessibility Committee was established to reassess tools based on criteria like AI capabilities, language support, and accessibility. This strategic shift is essential as AI elevates both the potential and cost of educational tools.
By embracing thorough tool piloting, teacher feedback, and data analytics, significant cost reductions followed, demonstrating the power of intentional digital curation.
Elevating Student Participation
Kyle Berger, CTO at Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in Texas, equates refining tech ecosystems to sorting through an overstocked garage. With tools like Lightspeed Insight and ClassLink Analytics, Berger maintains a focus on practical usage and community feedback to drive meaningful change.
Listening to student and family voices revealed areas like screen time concerns, prompting efforts to correlate tech use with educational outcomes, while aiming for a focused set of core applications.
Prioritizing Vision
Beth Rabbitt, CEO of The Learning Accelerator, emphasizes that aligning edtech with educational values is key to fostering effective learning experiences. By capturing diverse perspectives, districts can ensure their tools reflect genuine community needs.
As districts transition from unchecked growth to thoughtful refinement, the focus remains on cultivating smart systems that drive exceptional educational outcomes for all learners.
For further details, visit the original article on EdSurge.
