Module 1.2 - Ed Tech Rapid Cycle Evaluation (RCE)

Ed Tech Rapid Cycle Evaluation (RCE)

Educators can stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences (ISTE Standards for Educators 1c).

In Canyons School District we believe in implementing "scientifically research-based programs" (CSD Academic Framework Links to an external site.). We choose the tools and strategies we use carefully to ensure we are using the limited time we have with students as effectively as we can. When it comes to educational technology, it can be difficult to balance research with innovation. Research takes time, but technology is constantly evolving. How can educators find the right balance between being innovative and implementing research-based strategies? Enter Educational Technology Rapid Cycle Evaluations...

U.S. Office of Ed Tech & RCE

Did you know that the U.S. has an Office of Education Technology?

"The Office of Education Technology strives to be on the nexus of transformative research and the curators innovative events to serve as an impactful resource to the evolving American education system" (https://tech.ed.gov/research-and-innovation/ Links to an external site.).

As part of their efforts to provide research and resources surrounding digital teaching and learning, the U.S. Office of Ed Tech has generated a comprehensive report about current ed tech research. Feel free to browse the report by clicking on the first image below.

In order to quickly and effectively use research to guide digital teaching and learning, school and district leaders can use a process called Rapid Cycle Evaluation (RCE). The U.S. Office of Ed Tech has developed tools to help schools and districts use RCE to guide technology pilots, initiatives, and implementation. Even though teachers may not be in charge of large-scale technology pilots and implementations, it is helpful to understand this process as we, too, evaluate best ed tech tools and pedagogy in our own schools and classrooms. Click on the second image below to read a brief definition of RCE.

Tech Evaluation & Common Sense Media

What does all of this mean for you, the classroom teacher or school-based educator? While educators may not be involved in pilots or research projects, they do make decisions about digital activities, online resources, and apps on a regular basis. A key to evaluating tools and techniques is having a clear understanding of what your success criteria are and whether or not tools and techniques truly meet your needs and help increase student achievement. Medium Links to an external site. magazine published an article about the need for educators to be thoughtful about their ed tech choices:

"As increasingly more apps and digital tools for education become available, families and teachers are rightly asking how they can know if an app actually lives up to the claims made by its creators. The field of educational technology changes rapidly with apps launched daily; app creators often claim that their technologies are effective when there is no high-quality evidence to support these claims. Every app sounds world-changing in its app store description, but how do we know if an app really makes a difference for teaching and learning?"

Click on the first image below to read the entire article and learn more about how RCE can help us sort through the plethora of apps and tools available for educators and families.

Educators should be thoughtful about the tools, techniques, and resources used in the classroom. Determining protocol that helps you answer the following questions is helpful in making the most of your instructional time and providing students with effective, research-based, and innovative learning experiences:

What is my ultimate goal?
What are my success criteria?
How will this tool/activity/resource increase student achievement?

Common Sense Media can help teachers as they determine which tech resources are best for meeting student learning goals. You can search Common Sense Media for digital tools to read brief descriptions about them and find out whether or not they are recommended for educators and students. Click on the second image below, and try searching for an ed tech tool.