Using Research in Ed-Tech: What Does Research-based Product Development Mean?

This guide supports educational technology developers in using learning science and education research to create stronger products. Building on the resources in the 2015 Ed-Tech Developer’s Guide from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Education Technology (OET), we offer recommendations for using research in three phases of the product development cycle: product design, user testing, and evaluation of products in the market.

Real examples from companies participating in our 2015 crowdsource campaign of research-based ed-tech products help illuminate the different ways research can be used to build products that have a higher likelihood of improving student outcomes.