In the ever-expanding world of educational technology, assessing the quality of edtech tools is crucial for educators looking to enhance their teaching practices and ensure student success. The EdTech Index provides a comprehensive way to identify high-quality edtech products through various validation badges from trusted partner organizations. These badges cover key areas such as interoperability, privacy, accessibility, research and evidence, and usability. This guide will help you navigate these validations to make informed decisions about the best tools for your educational needs.

1. Find a Product's Badges

When exploring edtech products on the EdTech Index, each product page features a section that indicates the quality indicators for which a product may have earned a badge. You can click on areas highlighted in green to see more information and potential badges for that indicator.

               ● Product Page Location: On each product’s page, look for the section labeled                                   "Validations." This is located on the right side of the page. Click on the quality                                   indicator to see more information. 

               ● Badge Categories: Certifications and badges are organized by quality indicator:                             Safe, Evidence-Based, Inclusive, Usable, and Interoperable. Each badge represents a                     validation from a trusted partner organization.

               ● Viewing Details: Click under a badge to view more information about the validation,                     including the criteria met and the organization that awarded the badge. This can                           provide deeper insights into the product’s compliance with industry standards.

2. Filter Badges by Category

To streamline your search for edtech products with specific validations, the EdTech Index allows you to filter products directly by validation categories on the homepage. This feature helps you quickly find tools that meet your particular requirements.

               ● Safe: Includes badges from Common Sense Media, 1EdTech, FPF Student Data                                Privacy Pledge, and iKeepSafe. These badges ensure that the product meets                                    stringent data privacy standards.

               ● Evidence-Based: Filter for badges from Digital Promise, Leanlab Education,                                    Instructure and the ISTE Seal to find products backed by research and evidence of                          effectiveness.

               ● Inclusive: Filter for badges from CAST, Digital Promise, and the ISTE Seal to find                              products designed to be accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.

               ● Usable: Use filters to find products validated for usability by Digital Promise, CAST,                        and the ISTE Seal, ensuring that the tools are user-friendly and accessible.

               ● Interoperable: Filter for interoperability badges awarded by Project Unicorn, Ed-fi,                        and 1EdTech to find products that integrate seamlessly with existing systems.

By using these filters, you can efficiently locate edtech tools that meet your specific validation criteria, ensuring they align with your educational goals and standards.

3. Learn More

For educators seeking a deeper understanding of the various validation badges and the organizations behind them, the EdTech Index offers a main Validations page. This resource provides comprehensive information about each badge, including the criteria for earning it and the trusted partners who award them.

               ● Access the Validations Page: Navigate to the main Validations page at the top of                           the page under the "Learn" section.

               ● Trusted Partners: Learn about the organizations that award the badges, such as                             Project Unicorn, Common Sense Media, ISTE, Digital Promise, Leanlab, Instructure,                         and CAST. Understanding these organizations can provide context about the rigor                         and reliability of the validations.

               ● Explore Further: Click on links provided for each validator to explore their official                             websites. Here, you can find additional resources, research, and information on how                       they support and validate edtech products.

Validation badges and certifications on the EdTech Index are valuable tools for educators looking to ensure the quality and reliability of edtech products. These badges, awarded by trusted partner organizations, offer an initial layer of assurance regarding interoperability, privacy, inclusivity, research and evidence, and usability. However, while these validations are a significant indicator of quality, it is essential to use additional resources and consider your specific needs and context to make the best decisions for your educational environment. Combining these validations with your own research and professional judgment will help you select the most effective and appropriate edtech tools for your classroom. Happy validating!

For more EdTech Index features, see our complete guide.