Why an evidence-driven approach is important in EdTech

In a society characterised by high youth unemployment, a massive digital skills gap, and low levels of numeracy and literacy among learners, technology continues to be a critical part of the solution to improve education outcomes, specifically foundational numeracy and literacy (FLN) at scale.

The exponential growth of EdTech in the region has been instrumental in bridging the gaps that traditional education bodies cannot. Although there are many innovative EdTech companies working towards improving educational outcomes, there is still a significant gap in the evidence on how to use technology in education in ways that are sustainable at scale.

In order to receive the relevant support and funding required to build sustainable EdTech ventures, innovators need to demonstrate contextually relevant evidence about the effectiveness and efficacy of their technology-enabled solutions in improving teaching and learning outcomes. Here are the top five reasons why an evidence-based approach is needed when designing and developing EdTech tools:

1. Evidence-based EdTech solutions prioritise the use of strategies and resources that have been proven effective, leading to improved learning outcomes for students.
2. Evidence-based EdTech solutions rely on data collection and analysis to inform decision-making processes, resulting in more personalised and targeted interventions.
3. Investing in evidence-based EdTech solutions maximises the efficient use of resources by identifying and implementing technologies and practices that have a higher likelihood of achieving desired educational outcomes, leading to cost savings and improved resource allocation.
4. Evidence-based EdTech solutions promote equity and accessibility in education by tailoring interventions to meet the diverse needs of students, ensuring all students have equitable access to quality education.
5. An evidence-based approach in EdTech promotes a culture of continuous improvement by evaluating the impact of different interventions, refining practices, and implementing evidence-based solutions that align with the evolving needs of students, leading to more effective educational practices over time.

We are excited to work in partnership with the EdTech Hub on The EdTech Evidence for Entrepreneurs Course, a free, selective, cohort-based course focused on EdTech innovators and entrepreneurs who want to ensure their EdTech products use the best available evidence for how to improve teaching and learning outcomes. Through our collaboration with the EdTech Hub, a leading global EdTech research organisation, we will provide enhanced support and resources to EdTech entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

If you are an EdTech innovator developing or have developed a Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) focused EdTech product or service for pre-primary and/or primary-level teachers and learners in a Sub-Saharan Africa country, we invite and encourage you to apply for cohort 3 of the EdTech Evidence for Entrepreneurs course. This course has been uniquely designed to support and up-skill EdTech entrepreneurs. Furthermore, this course will help entrepreneurs bring evidence to the development of EdTech products and apply research on how children learn, what good teaching looks like, and how products should be designed with users in mind. Learn more information about the course content, how to apply, and eligibility criteria can be found here.  

Applications close on 23 June 2023 and classes begin on 3 July 2023 and will run for a six week period.

‍