3 Things to Look For in an EdTech Vendor
Whether you are looking for a new education technology to implement into your hybrid elementary, middle school, or your college classroom, there are a couple of things you should look out for.
The first thing you have to ask yourself, as an admin or an instructor, when vetting EdTech vendors is:
“What does this new education tool help me achieve?”.
The potential answers to this question are limitless. You could be attempting to make your math teachers’ lives easier when it comes to teaching online math classes or looking for a convenient resource to deploy standardized assessments.
After you answer this question for yourself and your peers, there are three main features you’ll want to pinpoint and ask about before signing a contact:
1. Product updates/ development
How and when are product updates performed? Do these updates cause a lot of downtime or create a need for additional training? These are important questions that can affect your main user group, whether it be your students or faculty members.
As you think about how product updates affect your staff’s and students’ ability to teach and learn, it's worthwhile to also think about why these updates are necessary. Ask your vendor; “What feedback or research lead to these product updates and improvements?”. This question can be helpful in determining if your EdTech vendor’s company values and learning missions match your school’s.
2. Product support
Utilizing a new technology or tool creates a learning curve for instructors and students. It helps to know that there is a full human staff made up of product experts on standby to support you and users. With this personalized support, you get the answers you need quickly to prepare you for a better tomorrow.
Online resources like; guides, YouTube videos, webinars, and FAQ’s are also essential in assisting your instructors and students to get the information they need quickly and efficiently. With these resources readily available, administrators can focus on their other duties instead of answering questions or quelling concerns about a newly implemented technology.
3. Product demo or Pilot Phase
Does this EdTech vendor offer a personalized live demo experience? Do they allow for a customized Pilot Phase?
Without a live demo or a testing phase, it is hard to imagine the new technology in action. You can’t be 100% sure that the given technology can perform everything it promises the way it should. I mean, you wouldn’t buy a brand new car without a test drive or hire a wedding caterer without a taste test, right?
Check out our post on how to make the most out of your EdTech Pilot Phase.
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At the end of the day, education technology should have a comprehensive and simple user experience and onboarding process. The best way to ensure that your new education tool has both of these components is to look out for these top three features.
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