By Steve Halliwell and Cheryl Miller
What’s trending in education technology right now? A better question may be: what should schools be adopting in EdTech this year? The market is expanding rapidly, with billions in investment fueling an influx of classroom tools, platforms, and devices. For school leaders, IT teams, principals and teachers, the challenge is choosing solutions that genuinely support instruction rather than chasing every shiny new product.
Stick to your vision
Conferences and vendor booths constantly promote the latest “must-have” devices and platforms. It’s easy to leave inspired and convinced that your district needs the newest gadget. Before making any decision, ask the fundamental questions: What are we trying to achieve? How does this tool support our district’s mission, curriculum goals and instructional priorities? Does it improve learning outcomes or simply create excitement?
Trends can be useful signals, but they should not replace a clear strategy. For example, if robots and drones are the headline items this year, consider whether they match your existing infrastructure and instructional needs. If classrooms already have interactive displays and one-to-one laptops, adding expensive hardware may not provide the best return on investment. A more strategic move might be to adopt software, apps or lesson integrations that bring robotics concepts into existing workflows—aligning new learning opportunities with what teachers already use and understand.
Ultimately, purchasing decisions that align with your school’s guiding principles will most likely yield better outcomes and more efficient use of limited budgets. New devices won’t automatically make teachers more effective; professional practice, curriculum alignment and meaningful integration matter far more than novelty.
Consider timing and readiness
Timing is as important as the choice itself. Even the most promising EdTech can fail if introduced before a school is ready—whether that readiness is instructional, technical or cultural. History offers cautionary examples: large-scale rollouts of devices or digital curricula have sometimes faltered due to incomplete content, unreliable connectivity, insufficient teacher training and poor technical support.
When evaluating a new product, assess whether your network infrastructure, scheduling, classroom management and staff experience can support it. Is professional development in place? Are teachers comfortable experimenting with new workflows? If the average educator finds a solution unapproachable, it’s probably not the right time to roll it out district-wide. Successful adoption depends on aligning the innovation with the operational realities of schools.
Plan for change and remove barriers
Before adopting technology, identify the practical barriers to effective use and develop plans to overcome them. Common obstacles include limited funding, collective bargaining agreements, state regulations, classroom overcrowding and uneven internet access. Thinking through these challenges ahead of time helps ensure a smoother implementation.
Choose vendors that offer robust professional development, classroom-ready lesson plans and targeted coaching. If your student population includes English language learners, students with special needs or those needing stronger STEM supports, factor these needs into both technology selection and training. When teachers receive hands-on training tailored to their classrooms and curricula, they are far more likely to integrate tools confidently and effectively.
Surveys repeatedly show that lack of training is a major barrier: many teachers have access to EdTech but do not receive the professional development required to use it well. Investing in training and clear usage guidelines often yields more classroom impact than purchasing additional devices alone.
Don’t lose sight of the basics
It’s tempting to chase every emerging trend, but the best approach is measured and mission-driven. Stay curious and keep evaluating what’s available, affordable and pedagogically sound. Prioritize solutions that align with your district’s goals, introduce changes when the timing is right, and address the blockers that would prevent meaningful classroom use.
When selecting partners, look for companies that understand your vision and offer ongoing support rather than one-off sales. A prudent strategy is often better than a rush to adopt the “hottest” item at a trade show that may sit unused in storage.
About the authors
Steve Halliwell is Chief Product Officer, Executive Vice President at Promethean. Before joining Promethean, he held executive leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, where he helped build the Education and Healthcare/Life Sciences verticals and led the West Area commercial business. His background also includes leadership roles at Hewlett Packard and Microsoft.
Cheryl Miller is Chief Marketing Officer at Promethean. With more than 20 years in the technology industry, she joined Promethean after serving as General Manager of the One Commercial Partner Team at Microsoft. Her prior experience includes roles at F5 Networks and Symantec.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media organization focused on the transition to digital curriculum and the evolving role of technology in education.