This panel discussion will explore the critical intersection of education technology, school district practice, and applied research, focusing on student motivation and engagement—a top concern for K-12 educators. We will discuss designing research-validated tools aligned to real needs, leveraging diverse research methods (e.g., rapid cycle testing, RCTs, LLMs, co-design) to generate evidence. The discussion will highlight the current lack of systems incentivizing evidence-based edtech products and data sharing, proposing pathways to better engage students at scale and inform the field through collaborative innovation and rigorous research.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will better understand various research methods (e.g., rapid cycle testing, RCTs, LLMs, co-design) applicable to education technology for generating evidence.
• Attendees will explore pathways and collaborative approaches for designing research-validated edtech tools and informing the field.
• Attendees will contribute to discussions on creating a more evidence-based education ecosystem to better engage students at scale.