I’ve been reflecting on two recent critiques—Jared Horvath’s argument that EdTech hasn’t delivered on its promises, and Laurence Holt’s challenge that it often only works for a small minority of students. Both raise important points, but from a methodological perspective, I think there’s more to the story. In this post, I’ll share my take on these critiques and why I believe it’s time for the field to level up its approach to impact evaluation. Let’s start the conversation.

Has EdTech Failed or Are We Just Missing Its Potential?

The education technology boom promised to revolutionize learning. Smart classrooms, AI tutors, and personalized learning platforms were supposed to democratize education and improve outcomes for all students. Yet today, many educators and parents feel a sense of disappointment. Has EdTech failed us, or have we failed to unlock its true potential?

The Promise vs. Reality Gap

EdTech entered our schools with grand promises: increased engagement, personalized learning experiences, and improved outcomes across diverse student populations. But walk into many classrooms today and you’ll find expensive tablets gathering dust, learning management systems used primarily as digital file cabinets, and students distracted rather than engaged.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced education systems worldwide to embrace digital tools overnight. While this accelerated adoption, it also revealed profound limitations: the digital divide widened achievement gaps, screen fatigue diminished learning experiences, and many platforms proved inadequate for meaningful engagement.

Where We’ve Missed the Mark

The failure isn’t in the technology itself but in our implementation approach. We’ve often prioritized the tools over teaching methodology, creating a “tech for tech’s sake” mindset. Many EdTech solutions were developed without sufficient educator input, resulting in products that address hypothetical rather than actual classroom needs. Furthermore, we’ve underinvested in teacher training. Dropping technology into classrooms without comprehensive professional development is like giving someone the keys to a spaceship without flying lessons.

Reimagining EdTech’s Potential

To realize EdTech’s promise, we need to shift our perspective. Technology should enhance rather than replace human connection in education. The most successful implementations blend technology with strong pedagogical frameworks and skilled facilitation.

Countries like Estonia and Singapore demonstrate what’s possible when EdTech is implemented thoughtfully - with clear learning objectives, robust teacher training, and technology serving as a means rather than an end.

The Path Forward

The question isn’t whether EdTech has failed, but how we can better harness its potential. This requires:

• Designing with educators and students as active participants
• Focusing on evidence-based implementations rather than shiny features
• Ensuring equitable access and addressing the digital divide
• Valuing human connection as central to the learning experience

EdTech hasn’t failed - we’ve simply been in the experimentation phase. The true revolution will come when we stop seeing technology as education’s savior and start viewing it as one important tool in a comprehensive approach to learning.

The future of EdTech lies not in replacing traditional education but in thoughtfully enhancing it. Are we ready to reimagine the possibilities?