Our Topic Areas for Evidence
EdTech is a vast and varying landscape. It’s one of the reasons decision makers struggle with evidence gaps in EdTech. In order to tackle these gaps in a meaningful and measurable way, EdTech Hub identified five topic areas for our initial research focus.
Our topic areas are: AI, Data for Decisions, Digital Personalised Learning (DPL), EdTech for Climate Resilience, EdTech for Emergencies, Girls’ Education & Technology, Participation & Messaging, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD). Although it is not a focus area, we also look at cost-effectiveness for EdTech.
We started with these topics because they are timely, have clear application in our seven focus countries, and have the greatest potential to bring about significant change.
Learn how these topic areas apply to EdTech and our work in each field.
AI for Education
What is AI for education? Technology to enhance teaching and learning.
The challenge facing the education sector: AI in education will widen the learning divide unless we design for the alternative now. Many education ministries struggle to easily assess the effectiveness and safety of AI interventions, nor do they have comprehensive regulations and policies to meet this moment.
And so we ask: How do we narrow the learning
divide in the Age of AI?
Cost-Effectiveness
What is cost-effectiveness for EdTech? Cost-effectiveness involves balancing the quality and impact of EdTech solutions with their total costs to ensure good value for money.
The challenge facing the education sector: Enthusiasm for using technology in education, plus an associated lack of accountability for spending on technology, means that for a long time, resources have been invested without addressing the inconsistency of measurement of both cost and effectiveness. There remains a big gap between investments in technology and a demonstration of what effects that spending has on learning outcomes.
And so we ask: How can we assess cost-effectiveness for EdTech in a way that reflects the complexity of different contexts?
Data for Decisions
What is data for decisions? Technology to advance data use and decision-making
The challenge facing the education sector: Education systems often lack data, or struggle to apply what it tells them, when making choices about how to allocate resources or developing policy. This contributes to inefficiencies which tend to affect the most marginalised students and their learning disproportionately.
And so we ask: How can technology be used to improve data collection, analysis and planning to improve learning outcomes?
Digital Personalised Learning
What is digital personalised learning? Technology to support personalised learning and teaching at the level of the student.
The challenge facing the education sector: Teaching is often not targeted at the level of the student. Classes have wide-ranging learning levels. Many students do not learn effectively, becoming disengaged.
And so we ask: How can technology be used to maximise the effectiveness of personalised learning and teaching at the level of the student?
EdTech for Climate Resilience
What is EdTech for climate resilience? EdTech for climate resilience is the use of educational technology to help learners, schools, and communities prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of climate change.
The challenge facing the education sector: The education sector faces a growing challenge: climate emergencies like heatwaves, cyclones, floods, and droughts are worsening the global learning crisis. In 2024, over 242 million students experienced school disruptions due to climate-related events. Education systems must become more resilient and inclusive to sustain learning during these shocks. Yet, the role of technology in supporting education through such disruptions remains underexplored, highlighting the need for more evidence.
And so we ask: How can EdTech support learning continuity and climate resilience in communities affected by climate emergencies?
EdTech for Education in Emergencies
What is EdTech for education in emergencies? Education for emergencies refers to the efforts and systems put in place to ensure that children and young people continue learning during crises like natural disasters, conflicts, or pandemics.
The challenge facing the education sector: Sustaining learning in complex, often protracted, emergencies is not simple. Despite critical investment, much remains to be learned about what, when, why, and how to use EdTech effectively when “conventional” schooling is no longer available. The urgency to build better guidance and insight regarding how technology can best help education in these contexts continues to grow.
And so we ask: How can technology help sustain learning for school-age children whose education is disrupted by conflicts, natural disasters, and other emergencies?
Girls’ Education & Technology
What is girls’ education & technology? Technology that tackles the barriers girls face in the pursuit of education.
The challenge facing the education sector: Girls are educationally marginalized in most countries. Yet, the evidence is that educating girls is among the most effective ways to end poverty at community level.
And so we ask: How can technology be used to maximise learning outcomes for girls? And how can DPL, TCPD, Data for Decisions, and Participation & Messaging be viewed through a lens of educating girls.
Participation & Messaging
What is participation & messaging? Technology to promote participation in school
The challenge facing the education sector: A significant number of children are out of school worldwide and this situation has been exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19. Many of the most marginalized who were previously enrolled in schools are at risk of never returning.
And so we ask: How can nudge technologies and messaging apps be used to re-engage students, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and improve learning outcomes?
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
What is EdTech for special educational needs and disabilities? EdTech for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) refers to technology tools and resources designed to support and enhance learning for students with diverse abilities.
The challenge facing the education sector: For nearly 240 million children living with disabilities globally, technology has the potential to revolutionise access to education, fostering independence, agency, and social inclusion. Yet, despite its promise, EdTech remains underutilised for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
And so we ask: How can EdTech be researched and designed to better support teacher training, curriculum development, and improved learning outcomes for learners with special educational needs and disabilities?
Teacher Continuous Professional Development
What is teacher continuous professional development? Ongoing, in-service teacher professional development, structured pedagogy, and technology.
The challenge facing the education sector: Teacher quality is the most important determinant of learning outcomes at school level. Teachers are often either unqualified, or unsupported by good quality professional development.
And so we ask: How can technology be used to enhance teacher effectiveness through in-service TCPD and structured pedagogy?
