Smart Series Guide To EdTech Procurement

Smart Series Guide to EdTech Procurement
Originally published January 2014, updated and re-released Summer 2015
Authored by: John Bailey, Daniel Owens, Carri Schneider, Tom Vander Ark, Rob Waldron
Download the full paper
In partnership with: Digital Learning Now, Foundation for Excellence in Education

This paper is one of nine in the DLN Smart Series – a collection of interactive papers that provides specific guidance regarding the adoption of higher standards and quality assessments focusing on the shift to personal digital learning.

“Smart Series Guide to EdTech Procurement” sets out to help school and district leaders think through the key decisions in planning for the shift to blended learning. The goal is to create a framework for EdTech purchasing by offering practical advice to guide key decisions, sharing lessons learned from districts that have already made the digital shift, discussing the implications for blended learning, and providing examples of best practices in education policy that support smart procurement.

After setting the stage for smart procurement in the context of the national shift to personalized learning, authors describe 12 keys to smart EdTech procurement:

1. Take Inventory
2. Determine the Educational Priorities
3. Exercise Caution on Customization
4. Pursue Collaborative Investigation and Purchases
5. Demand Guarantees & Assurances
6. Make Real Comparisons
7. Conduct A Pilot
8. Prioritize Data Sharing and Interoperability
9. Remember that Service Matters
10. Consider Total Cost of Ownership
11. Close the Deal
12. Implement, Implement, Implement.

Download “Smart Series Guide to EdTech Procurement“