Case Studies from Our Research Portfolio

Marginalised Learners

3Mpower: Mobile Learning for Empowerments of Marginalised Mathematics Educators

The aim of 3MPower was to address the global evidence gap on the use of EdTech for teacher professional development (TPD), specifically in relation to the needs and experiences of…
A stack of tablets in a classroom
Cost-Effectiveness

Building Foundational Learning through Technology in Sierra Leone — Evaluating the Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of Two EdTech Models

This study evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three implementation modalities for One Billion’s onecourse: standard (one-tablet-per-learner), tablet-sharing (one tablet shared by two learners), and projector (whole class). This intervention…
Digital Personalised LearningResearch

Designing for Scale: Understanding Design Principles and Learning Process for a Technology-supported Personalised Learning Platform in Kenya

This study, conducted in partnership with Oppia and Nairo Bits, explores how children learn on an offline technology-supported personalised learning (TSPL) platform in Kenya, generating evidence on the role of…
A teacher in Kenya wearing a pink blouse interacts with her students while using the EIDU app in the classroom.
Digital Personalised LearningResearch

Digital Personalised Learning to Improve Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes in Kenyan Classrooms

This study investigates how a classroom-integrated digital personalised learning (DPL) tool can most effectively support early-grade numeracy and literacy outcomes in Kenya.
Two girls walk down a street in Puthia,,Bangladesh
Data for Decisions

How Do EdTech Solutions Spread?

This study provides an important first step in understanding the EdTech ecosystem in Bangladesh and identifying key levers for change. The central role of government and the engagement of a2i…
Digital Personalised LearningGirls’ Education

Improving Girls’ Education in Kenya — Studying the Effectiveness of Low-tech Personalised Learning

The use of low-tech SMS messaging for education has grown in recent years, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. SMS can be cost-effective, while personalised learning can be…
Community of people sitting around a laptop learning
Participation and Messaging

Optimising Messaging to Promote Returns to School in Ghana for Marginalised Learners

The study in Ghana tested and compared different types of nudge messages, and different messaging implementation models to support caregivers in their efforts to encourage their children’s attendance at school,…
Participation and MessagingResearch

Raising Readers — Testing Methods for Enhancing Reading through Technology in Kenya

This research explores how technology can best be used to strengthen parental and caregiver engagement in children’s reading. Through this work on testing various modalities (training, nudges, feedback loops, incentives,…
Digital Personalised Learning

Technology to Empower Actors Across the Learning Ecosystem

This study in Pakistan, led by Harvard University in partnership with the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), examines how tech-enabled guidance for parents and teachers influences children’s learning,…
TCPD

Technology-Supported Teacher Professional Development in Tanzania

This study set out to understand the impact of a government-led Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme on teaching and learning in Tanzania, and how well it supports equitable participation by…
Learner working with app and schoolbook
Digital Personalised Learning

Testing Optimisations to Phone-Based Education Delivery in Kenya and Sierra Leone

This randomised control trial (RCT), led by Youth Impact, builds on previous work testing low-tech learning interventions such as nudges, phone-based tutorials, and radio programmes. The study is ongoing and…
Data for DecisionsResearch

The Impact of GIS-Supported Teacher Allocation in Sierra Leone

This mixed-methods study explores how the Government of Sierra Leone used a Geographic Information System (GIS)-supported preference matching algorithm to improve teacher allocation, aiming to address stark urban–rural disparities in…
Participation and Messaging

Understanding the Impact of Edutainment on Gender Norms, Socio-emotional & Learning Outcomes for Girls

Our research aimed to increase evidence on how Ubongo edutainment content can impact gender norms, social norms, growth-mindset, confidence and self-efficacy as well as learning outcomes, with and without incentivisation.…
Girls’ Education

Using Cost-effective Technology to Improve Education for Marginalised Girls

This desk review and qualitative study provides an overview of the implementation ecosystems of six of the Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) projects, highlighting influential factors in the enabling environments that…
Data for Decisions

EdTech Hub Supported the Government of Ghana’s Effective Use of Data for Decision-Making

This case study documents the Ministry of Education’s journey in Ghana towards making better use of data to guide policy and practice, and highlights how EdTech Hub has supported them…

Evidence for Decision-Making

We draw on evidence and publications from around the world to help guide decision making in EdTech.

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More Case Studies From EdTech Hub

Capacity Building

Building EdTech Research Coordination Capacity in African Ministries of Education

About The IDRC Africa EdTech Initiative is a three-year programme designed to strengthen the capacity of Ministries of Education in select African countries to coordinate and collaborate with national education…

A researcher explains the next steps in a participatory activity to a group of teachers during a focus group discussion. Session is in a yellow schoolroom with chalkboard, desks, and manilla charts on the wall. Participants are seated at desks in a semi-circle around the researcher Photo credit: EdTech Hub Research team.
Marginalised LearnersTCPD

Contributing Expertise to IDRC’s Empowering Teachers Initiative

The Empowering Teachers Initiative (ETI) is a research-for-development programme working to improve teaching and learning practices in low- and middle-income countries by strengthening the equity, quality, and efficiency of teacher…

Marginalised Learners

How Do We Reach Marginalised Learners Using EdTech: Lessons from COVID-19

The evidence-backed advice below is one in a series of topics from the EdTech Hub Helpdesk. Here we summarise recommendations from our work with governments, World Bank, FCDO, UNICEF and…

Two girls walk down a street in Puthia,,Bangladesh
Data for Decisions

How Do EdTech Solutions Spread?

This study provides an important first step in understanding the EdTech ecosystem in Bangladesh and identifying key levers for change. The central role of government and the engagement of a2i…

Thought Leadership

How Do We Roll Out a National Distance Learning Platform?

The evidence-backed advice below is one in a series of topics from the EdTech Hub Helpdesk. Here we summarise recommendations from our work with governments, World Bank, FCDO, UNICEF and…

Two children use sign language in a classroom
Thought Leadership

Insights from Our Sandbox Portfolio

This is a high-level summary of the most important findings from our sandboxes to date. For the full story, read Insights from Our Sandbox Portfolio, particularly the What We Learnt…

Supporting Learning Continuity Following the 2022 Pakistan Floods

In June 2022, Pakistan’s monsoon season, exacerbated by climate change, triggered the worst flooding in recent history, which has killed more than 1,700 people. As the waters receded, the broader…

Participation and MessagingTCPD

What Are Some Good Practices to Support Teachers to Carry Out Remote Learning?

The evidence-backed advice below is one in a series of topics from the EdTech Hub Helpdesk. Here we summarise recommendations from our work with governments, World Bank, FCDO, UNICEF and…

Low-TechMarginalised Learners

What Do We Know About the Use of Low-Tech Options for Education?

The evidence-backed advice below is one in a series of topics from the EdTech Hub Helpdesk. Here we summarise recommendations from our work with governments, World Bank, FCDO, UNICEF and…

Global Initiatives

We partner with experts around the world to advance knowledge and understanding of how EdTech can improve learning for all.

ASEAN–UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme

EdTech Hub supports the ASEAN–UK SAGE programme with research, innovation, and policy guidance to advance inclusive, tech-enabled education in Southeast Asia.

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International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

IDRC and EdTech Hub are partnering to explore how artificial intelligence and global crises may shape education in low- and middle-income countries over the next decade — and to build the capacity of African Ministries of Education to coordinate EdTech research and strengthen evidence-informed policy and practice in response.

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Unlocking Data

EdTech Hub, with Zizi Afrique, ESSA, eBASE and CERT, is helping strengthen education data use in Kenya, Malawi and Cameroon through the Unlocking Data initiative supported by GPE KIX and IDRC.

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Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa (RTIA)

Through the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa, EdTech Hub supports government partners in Tanzania to test and scale digital solutions for teacher professional development, expand offline access, and build evidence for effective, technology-enabled training.

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Stories of Change

Alongside our research, we listen to communities, partners, and ministries to understand how evidence from EdTech Hub is being used to support learning.

Read stories from our community 

Parents in Ghana, story of change, nudge messaging for empowering education