How to ‘woo’ K12 teachers with your EdTech
Many EdTech companies jump the mark and expect teachers to just start using their products in their classrooms as soon as they hear about them. It is hard to understand why teachers don’t just ‘say yes’.
Why teachers don’t just ‘say yes’
Talking to teachers can help you to understand and navigate the barriers to entry I have listed below.
- Teachers have been burned too many times with false promises.
- Bad experiences with faulty EdTech tools.
- Time is precious, and if your Edtech tool is too complicated and time consuming to implement teachers will move on.
- EdTech is a crowded market- you need to stand out and take the time to talk to teachers.
- Teachers have to follow the rules ‘from the top’ when implementing new Technology in their classroom.
Teachers as user testers
Until teachers are confident in your product, they will not expose it to their class. In your early stages, teachers are your best user testers. Teachers can be the voice of students as they have valuable first hand experience of what works. Get teachers on your side and make them a valuable part of your team.
How to stand out and get noticed by teachers
Value teachers opinions from the get go and you will see results. Here are some top tips to ‘woo’ a teacher.
Expose your ideas before you build: Reach out and share your ideas with teachers early and find out about your competitors.
Understand teacher and student needs: Talk to your users- teachers. Teachers will appreciate that you care about their needs and will enjoy supporting your efforts.
Navigating the K-12 system: It is a minefield out there! Who better to steer you in the right direction and learn from than the teachers who battle it everyday.
Gain feedback early: Initial reactions are a powerful tool of inspiration and thought. Share your designs and inspirations early as you progress from idea to product.
Live user testing: Before expecting a teacher to dive in and use your product with their class, get teachers to try and navigate your product via remote online user testing as you watch, listen and learn.
Share the feedback with your own team: It is important to share the good, the bad and they ugly with your development team. What seems simple and obvious to the creators, may not be the case for the users. Let teachers see that you are actively using their advice in your iterations and development.
Share your iterations: Find out what is working and how by gaining feedback often. Continue collaborating with your existing users and find new fresh eyes too.
Build close relationships with teachers: By showing you care and gaining feedback from teachers as you build from the ground up helps to grow your fan base. When good relationships are established, teachers will be able to provide you with great insights as you grow.
Getting your EdTech into the hands of students: After spending time collaborating with teachers and thus after they have dedicated their time to you and getting to know your product, you have a higher chance of them adopting it and using it with their students. They will also enjoy sharing it within their teaching circles.
Take advice from the success of others
Actively Learn “We want to co-develop the right solution with our customers, teachers.” Scott Freschet, Actively Learn
Class Dojo “We have a dedicated support team who ensure regular personal contact with teachers for feedback.” Stuart Reavley, Class Dojo
Remind “After speaking with teachers I realized there were so many things I had not thought of. The only way I could of found these things out was through talking to teachers.” Bret Kopf, Remind
Short, sharp bursts of user testing pack a punch
Include teachers in all aspects of your development through short sharp bursts of user testings as you grow. Teachers want to have their say. Happy teachers are willing teachers and willing teachers are the teachers who share and will fight to implement your product. TinkerEd teachers are working hard to provide expert feedback to help EdTech companies today.
