Invest in technological infrastructure for evidence generation, including synthetic data, shared platforms, and privacy-enhancing technologies¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article argues that 'infrastructure-less evaluations are becoming less tenable' as funding shrinks, and identifies growing infrastructure opportunities: synthetic data sets for early-stage innovation testing, platform data made research-accessible (e.g., AIMS EduData making data from Curriculum Associates and Khan Academy available), generalized rapid-cycle evaluation toolkits, a potential registry of district rapid-cycle evaluations, and privacy-enhancing technologies that permit research on detailed learning data without revealing personally identifying information.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Any new evidence ladder should be steeped in evolving capabilities of infrastructure for data gathering, research methods, and rapid-cycle evidence gathering

Constraints¶

• Participants offered the strong caveat that synthetic data are unlikely to convince a district decision maker

Target Learners¶

• Researchers
• edtech developers
• district leaders

Target Learning Goals¶

• Lower-cost, faster evaluation and evidence building for emerging technologies

Related Strategies¶

• Use process and usage data alongside impact data in edtech evaluations
• Pair technology access with targeted investments in infrastructure, staffing, and support, and pilot initiatives with dedicated budgets

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Roschelle, J., Ruiz, P., Means, B., Griffiths, R., Lee, K. (2026 April). Towards an Evidence Framework for Emerging Educational Technologies. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/289