Impactful Edtech: Investing in Long-Term Student Success

Should it stay, or should it go? There’s never been a more crucial time to measure the impact of edtech tools to find (and keep) solutions with a proven record of success.

For current resources, administrators must make tough decisions about what education technology is worth the continued investment. For new products, leaders and teachers should strategically evaluate edtech programs to justify purchases amidst budget cuts and expiring funds.

But with thoughtful research, educators can select effective edtech tools that enhance instruction and increase student success—price tags well worth it for priceless outcomes.

The ROI of educational technology

Return on investment (ROI) is important for any purchase, whether a new learning management system or math curriculum. To measure ROI and edtech impact, administrators must first determine how they’ll monitor and measure success. District and school leaders in charge of purchasing and implementation should define clear goals with metrics to monitor how edtech programs enhance (or hurt) learning over time.

Why edtech is worth the investment

Effective edtech can be well worth the spend when products boost teaching and learning. The best edtech empowers teachers to enhance their instruction to propel learning forward.

Virtual simulations are one example of investments that enhance STEM learning. All students can suddenly access concepts that are impossible to observe (like the inside of a cell) or too costly or dangerous to conduct in a traditional lab at once, thanks to technology. Differentiated learning tools are other examples of powerful edtech. For example, adaptive math technology allows students to receive individualized practice that would otherwise be impossible for a teacher at a single moment in a traditional classroom.

Measuring success: Student outcomes and engagement

For curricula and supplemental learning tools, it’s critical to measure how solutions impact student learning and engagement. Educators should invest in research-based technology with demonstrated impacts on student achievement and motivation.

After a purchase, school leaders need high-quality, rigorous research from edtech vendors to see how products impact teaching and learning. Administrators should develop frequent and detailed data review cycles to measure changes in student engagement and assessment performance.

Maximizing your edtech budget and budgeting for continued growth

Maximizing edtech value is possible with dedicated planning and budgeting.

Strategies for effective resource allocation

School budget planning is a serious undertaking, but it’s essential to determine how much is available to spend. Once educators understand how much school funding they can allocate to certain areas, teams can work to spend more effectively. At the school level, teachers can explore creative edtech funding solutions, like product pilots, grant opportunities, and community partnerships, to bring new technology to classrooms.

Differentiated instruction with ExploreLearning products

For 25 years, ExploreLearning has been helping schools get the most ROI with individualized STEM solutions that work. From math fact fluency with Reflex (grades 2+) and fractions foundations with Frax (grades 3+) to introductory science and literacy with Science4Us (grades K-2) and a library of 550+ Gizmos simulations aligned with state standards (grades 3-12), ExploreLearning products help students and teachers thrive.

Renewal strategies: Keeping the momentum

Concrete data and measurable student achievement gains can provide administrators with proof of the importance of edtech in education to justify renewals and purchases.

Combatting churn with data-driven decisions

For long-term success, school and district leaders must invest in solutions based on high-quality educational research. The most effective edtech tools allow educators to see tangible student outcomes that speak for themselves.

Feedback from teachers can also provide administrators with data-driven decisions. Digging deeper to understand how frequently teachers use a specific product (and why) paints a bigger picture than assessment data or end-of-year growth reports.

Why renewing your edtech subscription makes sense

An endless cycle of purchasing new edtech and abandoning it shortly after creates frustration and exhaustion for teachers and students. It takes time and effort to implement new platforms, so if current solutions have been long-standing solutions for a reason, it’s worth evaluating if budgets allow for a renewal.

Here are a few no-brainer reasons to renew an edtech product:

• The tool has proven, consistent impacts on student achievement
• Teachers trust the product and use it frequently
• Students stay engaged while learning with the edtech tool
• Accessibility features allow all students to learn
• Included data reports help teachers monitor student growth
• PD provides continuous development
• The solution is ISO certified and protects student data

The priceless outcomes of edtech

Students and teachers reap the rewards of smart edtech investments. With strong implementation and ongoing professional development, teachers can use classroom tools to close achievement gaps and drive student growth.

Students who develop a foundational understanding of skills are better equipped to take on advanced coursework. For example, when students used Reflex and Frax in elementary school, they were 2.5x more likely to meet or exceed on-grade level math proficiency by the end of 3rd grade (40%) compared to non-users (16%). And when students achieve grade-level proficiency, teachers can teach in ways that only they can do best, extending learning through discourse, projects, and advanced work that wouldn’t be possible without students’ grasp of foundational concepts.

The best tools can also help teachers save time in the classroom. Education technology that provides in-the-moment feedback, customizable student resources, lesson plans, and offline extension activities can help teachers quickly adapt instruction to meet their classroom needs.

Planning for the future: The role of edtech in long-term success

Technology is here to stay, and the time is now to invest in products that contribute to lasting success. ExploreLearning’s STEM solutions have helped millions of students and teachers worldwide develop foundational skills that have an impact. Math fact fluency allows students to free up working for advanced problem solving, and fractions knowledge significantly impacts work with algebra. Simulations like Gizmos provide students with real-world critical thinking experiences while gaining exposure to STEM careers, while Science4Us builds a love for science at a young age.

“I would absolutely recommend Reflex to other schools. For years, we saw our students struggle with math fluency and the negative impact that has on higher-level mathematics. After a year with Reflex, we saw our math scores on our state standardized test skyrocket. One grade level saw an over 20% proficiency increase on the math portion of our state test!

We were impressed with the customer service. The training modules provided were easy to set up and beneficial for our teachers. The product itself was user-friendly, and it was obvious that students enjoyed using Reflex. We used a group of teacher leaders to engage our faculty in implementing Reflex with consistency and fidelity. They would be trained via a module offered by Reflex and then, in turn, train their peers. One-to-one technology assisted us greatly and provided many opportunities for our students to use the program. Once students begin the Green Light, they are hooked.”

 -Principal, South Carolina