Instructional Technology Evaluation Guide
This guide is designed to help K-12 leaders make informed decisions about instructional technology investments.
Research shows the positive impact technology can have on elevating student learning. As a technology leader in your school or district, one of your top priorities is likely to provide tools that enhance classroom instruction, engage and motivate students, and give families visibility to their child’s learning.
However, teachers are often faced with an overwhelming number of tools, apps, and platforms, which leads “app overload” – and tech stress. Your schools and teachers may be facing the challenge, juggling numerous tools to support different learning styles for engagement and assessment, IEP and 504 accommodations, Multilingual Learners, and special education students. Use this guide to make intentional, informed decisions about new technology investments and to evaluate your current edtech ecosystem.
Does
students learn, engage, express, imagine, and/or explore? 1 YES NO
the tool give families insight into student progress and the ability to engage with students and teachers around student learning? YES NO Communication Does the tool translate classroom and school messages into the family’s home language? YES NO Standards and Alignments Does the tool support district instructional goals, curriculum, and academic standards? YES NO Does the tool provide age-appropriate content that addresses a range of subjects, including 21st century learning skills? YES NO Assessment Does the tool give teachers the ability to assess student progress towards standards? YES NO Does the tool give teachers the ability to track and showcase student growth over the course of a school year (or multiple school years)? YES NO Differentiation Does the tool provide accessibility features for students with special needs and multi-modal tools supporting differentiation and language translation? YES NO Customization Can teachers customize content and tools to meet the needs of students in their classroom? YES NO Ease of Use Is the tool easy to use for all intended audiences (students, teachers, admin, families)? A YES NO Privacy and Safety Is the company privacy policy clear about what student data is collected and how it is securely managed and does it feature in-product privacy controls? B YES NO
the tool help
Family Engagement Does
Student Engagement
Platform Flexibility
Does the tool work on all devices supported by the school/district? YES NO Integrations
Does the tool offer LMS, SIS, and other integrations with technology that’s already used in the district? YES NO Implementation and Professional Development
Does the company provide services to support new and existing customers (e.g. PD, professional learning communities, LMS/SIS integration setup, rostering, technical support)?
NO Evidence, Validation, and Customer Experience
Has the tool been validated or recognized by 3rd party organizations in a way that supports effective teaching and/or student achievement? C
Has the tool been used successfully by other schools and districts? D YES NO
How Does This Tool Align to District Priorities
Does this tool help you address priorities that would otherwise require multiple apps? YES NO
Seesaw Value Add + Validation
Seesaw is helping elementary school partners simplify these technology challenges by providing the only all-in-one instructional platform PreK-6 with:
• Streamlined functionality, compared to multiple app usage
• Alignment with current curriculum standards
• Enhanced family visibility to student learning, year over year
• Cost-savings of one platform, and reduction of IT overhead
• Ease of use by teachers, students, and families
Additional Resources
I believe Seesaw is the “All-In-One” tool for elementary. It’s a Swiss army knife; connecting families, engaging students, and giving teachers creative ways to instruct and assess.
-Josh Ehret, Instructional Technology Specialist
1. US Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2023) Guiding Principles for Use of Technology with Early Learners. Retrieved from https://tech.ed.gov/earlylearning/principles/
2. EdTech Center at World Education. (2020) EdTech Center Online Tool/Resource Evaluation Rubric. Retrieved from https://edtech. worlded.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TTALE-Rubric-2.26.pdf.
3. International Society for Technology in Education. (2023) Teacher Ready Edtech Product Evaluation Guide. Retrieved from https://cdn.iste.org/www-root/2023-06/ISTE_Edtech_Product_Evaluation_Guide-2023_06.pdf.
Tips
A. Survey technology coaches or teachers who have used a trial or free version of the tool. Look for unbiased reviews from current users on 3rd party websites.
B. Look for straightforward language in a Privacy Center or Privacy Policy around what data is collected, how it’s stored, and who has access to it. Common Sense Privacy Program has unbiased assessments for edtech tools.
C. Look for ESSA validation studies, academic research, or recognition from reputable 3rd party organizations like ISTE Seal of Alignment or Common Sense Selections for Learning.
D. Check the vendor website for case studies or ask the vendor for an introduction to reference customer(s).
If you’re looking to simplify your edtech ecosystem, Seesaw can help. www.seesaw.com | hello@seesaw.com
YES
YES
NO
District Priority
How does the tool support this priority?
