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: Data for Decisions, Digital Personalised Learning (DPL), Girls’ Education & Technology, Participation & Messaging and Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD).
We started with these topics because they are timely, have clear application in our six 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.
Click a topic
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 (DPL)
What is DPL? 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?
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?
Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD)
What is TCPD? 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?
