Important questions to ask before making your next edtech purchase

Published: May 4th, 2021

Education technology is becoming more and more embedded in our classrooms, and we recently explored whether schools’ edtech spend is truly reflective of that. Having established that many educators aren’t happy with their school’s allocation of budget to technology, we believe it’s more important than ever for each and every purchase to deliver real value and improvements.

But, finding solutions which can truly make a difference isn’t always easy – and trying to meet the needs of different departments simultaneously can be challenging. In this blog, we’re going to explore how you can gather effective insights, enrich the decision-making process and ultimately purchase with confidence.

Asking the right questions…

One of the best ways to find out what each department really needs is simply to ask the question. So, we’ve collected a few prompts you can consider asking each department before making edtech investments.

Questions to ask the Senior Management Team (SMT):

  • What proportion of our budget is currently allocated to edtech investments, and is there any scope for adjustment?
  • What are your overall objectives for the next term or school year, and how do you think technology could best support them?
  • Do you have any concerns about allocating more budget to technology?

Questions to ask IT managers:

  • Have you noticed any areas where our current technology is dated or otherwise needs improvement?
  • Are there any infrastructural improvements we should consider before investing in classroom solutions?

Questions to ask the teachers:

  • Which technologies do you most enjoy teaching with?
  • Are there any technologies you currently have access to which are no longer fit for purpose?
  • In your opinion, should we prioritise technologies which support you with teaching or with administrative and routine tasks?
  • Are there any specific technologies you’ve seen elsewhere which we should look into?

By asking these questions, you’ll be able to get a sense of each department’s priorities and where they overlap. It might not be possible to address every area of concern, but taking this approach means you can seek solutions which benefit as many staff as possible. Of course, it’s also important to ensure that any investments are consistent with your overall edtech strategy.

If you’d like to learn more about how edtech can support your school strategy, why not take a look at our strategic mini-series? Find the first instalment by visiting: www.prometheanworld.com/au/resource-hub/blogs/strategic-priorities-mini-series-part-1/