Top ten tips on edtech adoption from Dominic Norrish

The main takeaways from the last Edspace Growth Breakfast of 2018

United Learning’s Group Director of Technology, Dominic Norrish, recently spoke at Edspace to wrap up our 2019 Growth Breakfast series.

Missed the talk, or want to learn more about similar events in 2019 and how you can become part of Europe’s largest community of people changing education for good? Find out more here.

Pragmatic and practical, Dom’s session offered great insights into the barriers to edtech adoption in schools — and some tips on what to do to overcome them. Here are our top ten takeaways:

1. About 10% of an edtech product’s success is down to its quality. Everything else is effective implementation.
2. Ensure your edtech product is solving a genuine problem. This is a much better approach than developing a product first and then trying to map it retrospectively — don’t be a solution in search of a problem.
3. Go for ‘what it says on the tin’ branding. It’s harder to gain traction with an obscure name (and rebranding down the line makes things harder).
4. Appeal to schools’ natural inclinations when thinking through product design. For example, think about how your product could support schools’ need to track and measure outcomes, and what incentives they have to do this.
5. Make sure you’re making your first approach to the right person. Generally this would be the Deputy or Assistant Head, or in some cases the Head themselves.
6. Pitch pricing carefully. Too low and there will be little incentive to see implementation done well, too high and taking the risk may seem too great.
7. Take ownership of the impact vacuum. Continually focus on developing strong case studies which attest to your product’s impact and can grow your credibility.
8. Think carefully about non-digital elements. For example, consider including physical workbooks which could accompany students’ use of a product — this can play a key role in helping to embed theproduct into a school’s culture.
9. Rally the troops in January. Those passionate about edtech should voice their support for it being on Ofsted’s agenda when the new inspection framework is up for consultation early in 2019.
10. And, lastly: Listen out for government announcements on its strategy for edtech in schools — and make sure you take advantage of any positive developments.

Huge thanks again from the entire Edspace community to Dominic for a fantastic morning. We’re looking forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to Edspace for the 2019 Growth Breakfast series, which kicks off on 7 February — sign up here to get updates on upcoming events!