Examining Pandemic Spending and an Analysis of the EdTech Evidence Toolkit from OET for K-12 Institutions
“A look at pandemic spending for K-12 institutions and the “value” it brought to students.”
In the ever evolving landscape of education, technology has become an invaluable tool, transforming the way we teach and learn. However, integrating educational technology into schools is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It requires careful consideration, research, and, evidence-based decision making. This blog post highlights pandemic spending and the Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology’s (OET) EdTech Evidence Toolkit, a valuable resource for educational leaders tasked with adopting EdTech in schools.+
Schools’ pandemic spending boosted tech companies. Did it help US students?*
This article by the Associated Press reveals that schools spent pandemic relief funds (which arrived through 3 COVID relief packages and need to be earmarked by September 2024#) on products and services with little evidence of effectiveness. According to the article some speculate that purchases were made based on marketing efforts rather than merit, raising questions about their impact.
This article underscores the importance of improving the evaluation of educational technology in schools to ensure that products and services truly benefit educators and students. Now, you may be wondering how to achieve this at the school level. One viable solution is to leverage the Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology’s (OET) EdTech Evidence Toolkit. If you find this endeavor daunting, consider Gingersnap Consulting LLC. We provide tailored services to assist your K-12 institution in successfully discovering, implementing, utilizing, and monitoring the progress and effectiveness of EdTech products and services. For more insight into OET’s toolkit, continue on reading this post.
The OET’s EdTech Evidence Toolkit is designed to empower educational leaders with the ability to make informed choices regarding EdTech. It is rooted in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which encourages educational agencies to prioritize evidence-based decisions in EdTech adoption. The toolkit was developed in consultation with federal, state, and local partners to address the expressed needs of education leaders seeking guidance on evidence-driven EdTech adoption.
To effectively use the EdTech Evidence Toolkit, it’s necessary to understand the four tiers of evidence as defined in ESEA, Elementary and Secondary Education Act:
Tier 1: Strong Evidence: Represents the highest level of confidence in an EdTech intervention’s effectiveness.
Tier 2: Moderate Evidence: Indicates a reasonable level of confidence in an intervention’s effectiveness.
Tier 3: Promising Evidence: Shows some potential for effectiveness, though further validation is needed.
Tier 4: Demonstrating a Rationale: Suggests a rationale for an intervention but lacks empirical evidence.
Each tier above links to a one-pager offering background information, introduces, terms, and a case study that incrementally builds an evidence base for EdTech adoptions from Tier 4 to Tier 1. Here’s OET’s guide on, Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments.
Coming in with the assumption that the case study has little to no evidence for the proposed EdTech solution, evidence needs to be built from scratch; using the below items:
Identify the educational need
Determine what evidence exists
Develop an evidence-building strategy
The chart below illustrates this process.
Building evidence doesn’t always follow a linear path, and negative or inconclusive results may necessitate revisions. The process can be adapted to the unique circumstances of each K-12 institution who may need to consider procurement, personnel resources, and funding. The key is to continuously refine and re-evaluate EdTech products and services.
Incorporating evidence-based decision making into EdTech adoption is paramount for enhancing educational practices. The EdTech Evidence Toolkit equips educational leaders with the resources and guidance they need to navigate the complex world of EdTech. By leveraging these resources and making decisions backed with evidence, schools can maximize the impact of their EdTech investments and empower students for a brighter future.
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