The digital landscape is a busy place. Tools are constantly coming and going, promising to be the next best thing. Choosing the right EdTech tools shouldn’t be about the latest and greatest gadgets or the one with the biggest promises. It should be about choosing the tools that lead to sustainable, equitable, and engaging digital experiences. They should be chosen to improve teaching and learning.
This guide explores the practices that technology directors should be considering when it comes time to consider tech tools. Everything from classroom considerations to implementation advice. Whether you are supporting a single school or an entire district, these insights will help you build a strong, future-ready network of educators and learners.
Keep the Focus on Learning
With the busyness of the EdTech landscape, it can be easy to lose the real focus of technology in classrooms, which is to enhance learning. Technology should amplify learning, not simply digitize classroom activities. Invest in platforms that are easy for students and teachers to use. Intuitive designs help classrooms feel more comfortable with technology and increase their likelihood of successful implementation.
- Choose tools that are intuitive for students and teachers—ease of use drives adoption and ongoing usage.
- Involve educators in the decision-making process, even through quick surveys or pilot groups. Teacher buy-in is your fastest path to impact.
- Prioritize tools that align with Tier 1 instruction. Platforms that support grading, formative assessments, and documentation without adding more work.
- Be skeptical of “time-saving” tools that aren’t aligned with core instruction or curriculum. Tech that feels more like a toy than a teaching aid won’t drive instructional outcomes.
Consider Your Community
Every school community is unique and your technology strategy should reflect that.
- Look for tools that support equity in access: cross-device compatibility, offline functionality, and accessibility features should be table stakes.
- Invest in platforms with multilingual communication capabilities. Reaching every family matters more than ever.
- Match communication strategies to family routines and needs. The best tool in the world won’t matter if families receive messages when they’re unavailable to engage.
- Remember: when families feel included, students thrive. Choose tech that helps build bridges between home and school.
Tools that bring your community together can make a large difference in student growth and achievement. Stronger community events, clear communication of growth and achievement, and less access barriers are the path to success.
Don’t Overlook Essentials
The classroom experience is important, but these tools need a foundation to sit on. Ensuring your back end tools are chosen in combination with classroom tools will make your life a whole lot easier, trust me! In addition, not choosing some of these tools can lead to little usage and tool frustration.
- Single sign-on (SSO) and automated rostering can save hours of classroom time and IT support headaches.
- Use device management systems to ensure devices stay secure, charged, and classroom-ready.
- Don’t ignore content filtering and cybersecurity standards. These aren’t just compliance checkboxes—they protect learning time and community trust.
- Review your backend systems annually. Essentials like these often fall into “set it and forget it” mode, but they directly impact user experience.
What to Say “No” To
Let’s be clear, saying no is just as important as saying yes. Here’s what to remove from consideration and leave off your EdTech tool list:
✘ Tools that duplicate what’s already in your ecosystem (“Do we really need three quiz apps?”).
✘ Tools with poor or vague support models—especially if your teachers will be the ones troubleshooting.
✘ Any tool without a roadmap for AI, accessibility, and data privacy. If they can’t explain it, don’t implement it.
✘ One-size-fits-all EdTech that doesn’t allow you to scaffold by grade level, subject, or student need.
✘ Tools that don’t reflect the kind of teaching you want to see. “Are students spending a large amount of time on the screen?”
✘ Tools that don’t involve families in the learning process.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right EdTech tools is one of the most high-leverage decisions a tech director can make. It’s about more than purchasing software or devices—it’s about shaping how learning feels in your schools.
When tools are thoughtfully selected, they help teachers teach better, students learn deeper, and communities feel connected. Keep your focus on learning, know your community, build a solid foundation, and don’t be afraid to say no. A positive digital learning ecosystem doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built, decision by decision, by leaders like you.
