With more students struggling in math than ever before, education technology (edtech) has great potential to improve outcomes for students and teachers. But not all edtech measures up! The best edtech solutions will produce quantifiable results for all students, with evidence and research to back up their claims. So what are some signs the technology you’re scoping out has what it takes?
- Meeting ESSA Requirements - The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires all students to be taught to high academic standards to prepare them for success. And because of this, it’s a great metric to help determine if the edtech you are considering is evidence driven and research based. Edtech that meets ESSA standards shows strong evidence of being effective and producing successful outcomes for students. All ExploreLearning solutions are founded in high-quality research, with products currently meeting the standards for ESSA Tier 4 and 3 evidence criteria.
- Find the Research - Quality edtech should be designed from day one using research-proven educational methods. Edtech programs should include evidence showing why the methods they use provide a real solution to the learning problem addressed. If the research isn’t easily identifiable (or non-existent!), you should ask yourself if the edtech is truly backed by science, or if it’s simply a gimmick. ExploreLearning products are designed based on rigorously evaluated empirical evidence. Read about the research behind ExploreLearning Frax, our evidence-based fraction solution.
- Find the Outcomes - The next step is to find out if the edtech really does what it claims to do. Quality edtech will be continuously and rigorously assessed, with results readily available. Look for research trials and studies, and be sure to closely review the information. ExploreLearning continuously engages in assessments of all of our products to ensure efficacy. All research results are available for review on our website.
- Review the Standardized Test Results - Positive testing results are important for both schools and students. So make sure you’re able to find information that describes how students improve on standardized tests after using the product for a certain length of time. For instance, you can read here about the positive impact that our math fact fluency solution, ExploreLearning Reflex, had on 4th graders' NAEP scores over the course of 4 years in Miami-Dade.
- Adaptive Student Learning - Meeting ESSA includes providing adaptive learning experiences to meet the needs of all students. Reach this goal by choosing adaptive and individualized edtech that keep kids engaged and challenged at the perfect level. ExploreLearning Reflex has been recognized by Digital Promise for supporting learner variability, ensuring success for all students! Whichever product you choose, don’t forget to look for reporting features that track and celebrate the new learning gains on the horizon for your school!
Looking for more resources to help you find edtech that meets your goals? Learn how to choose the right technology, and learn how to gamify learning in the classroom.
Discover our Evidence Driven STEM Solutions
Edtech can be both fun and evidence-based for real, measurable outcomes that help ALL students succeed. All ExploreLearning products are evidence-driven and research based for learning that works, without feeling like work.
You can also sign up for our CollabCrew to work directly with our product development team as they conduct evidence-based research across our entire product line, one of the many ways that ExploreLearning demonstrates a commitment to listening to all of our users' needs!
