Evidence-informed Evaluation of EdTech (3E)

EdTech refers to digital tools, platforms, and programs designed to enhance education. While new EdTech tools emerge every day, we often lack clarity on their effectiveness—or whether they are effective at all. Many tools fail to contribute to meaningful learning outcomes and, in some cases, disrupt classroom dynamics instead of improving them.

Need for EdTech evaluation

Educational institutions are increasingly adopting EdTech solutions, while EdTech providers are equally keen to offer their innovations. However, institutions face challenges in selecting tools that are both effective and tailored to their specific needs. Similarly, EdTech companies struggle to provide compelling evidence of their tools' effectiveness.

As a result, institutions often select tools based on marketing, peer recommendations or popularity, rather than solid evidence of their impact on learning and teaching. There is an urgent need for a structured, evidence-based approach to evaluate EdTech tools. While countries like Australia, the US, and the UK have developed different initiatives for this purpose, the Netherlands lacks a comparable approach.

The Dutch 3E Framework

In collaboration with national Npuls program, Senior researcher Manika Garg and Professor Theo Bakker has developed the Dutch 3E framework. The framework was developed as a practical guide to evaluate whether an EdTech tool works, for whom, and under what conditions. The framework uses a tiered structure—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—to reflect the strength of evidence supporting a tool’s effectiveness.

Importantly, this is not about ranking tools but about offering an approachable and actionable pathway to build, use, and improve EdTech with confidence.

Project Timeline and Development

The project started in November 2024, and the framework was launched on 10th April 2025. To explore the framework, you can access the English version here and a Dutch version can be accessed here. 

The project now moves into Phase II, where the framework will be tested through pilots in collaboration with 9 institutions and 3 EdTech companies. 

Possible Outcomes

The framework will not only assess whether the tool works but also what works, for whom, and under what circumstances. This will enable educational institutions to make better-informed decisions and provide EdTech providers with a roadmap to improve their tools based on objective evaluation criteria. It will also enhance transparency about the effectiveness of EdTech products.

More information

For more details or to participate in this research, please contact Dr. Manika Garg at [email protected].