A learning platform should make practice and feedback easier

A long course library can look impressive while leaving learners unsure what to do tomorrow. Choose a specific learning goal and look for a sequence of explanation, practice and feedback. For a writing course, that might mean producing a short draft, receiving useful comments and revising it. Watching a video is an activity; it is not by itself evidence of understanding.

Try the difficult parts before enrolling everyone

Complete one assignment as a learner and review it as a teacher. Check what happens when an answer is wrong or incomplete. Does feedback explain the problem, or simply reveal the correct response? Ask how learners can request help. For institutions, include teachers and support staff in the trial rather than leaving selection entirely to procurement.

Check access in realistic conditions

Test a small screen, keyboard navigation, captions and an ordinary internet connection. Find out which tasks require a continuous connection and whether materials can be used offline. Accessibility should be part of the trial criteria. A tool that works only under ideal conditions may shift extra work onto the learners who already face barriers.

Decide what progress will look like

Select a small number of meaningful indicators: the quality of a revised task, retention after a delay or the ability to apply a skill in a different situation. Completion rates can help explain participation, but they should not stand in for every educational outcome. Review data collection, retention and account permissions before introducing the platform to students.

Research context

UNESCO’s 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report examines technology in education under the question “A tool on whose terms?” It provides a starting point for considering whose needs an education technology purchase serves. Read the UNESCO 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report for the source material.

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