EdTech: Promise and Evidence

What research shows about when educational technology improves learning, and what India's edtech boom and bust teaches.

Educational technology, or edtech, promises to transform learning through apps, online classes and adaptive software. During the pandemic, edtech usage surged as schools closed. But does it actually improve learning?

What the evidence shows

Research, including a major review by J-PAL, suggests:

Simply providing devices such as laptops or tablets often has little effect on learning by itself.
Adaptive software that adjusts to each student’s level can be highly effective.
Technology to support teachers, such as lesson plans and structured content, can help.
Online-only learning tends to work less well than in-person teaching, especially for struggling students.

Mindspark in Delhi

A study by Karthik Muralidharan, Abhijeet Singh and Alejandro Ganimian evaluated Mindspark, a personalised adaptive learning program, in after-school centres in Delhi. Students who used it for about 90 days showed large gains in maths and Hindi, particularly those who had been furthest behind. The software adjusted to each student’s actual level, even when it was far below their grade.

India’s edtech boom and bust

India’s edtech industry boomed during the pandemic, attracting billions of dollars in investment. Byju’s, once valued at over 20 billion dollars, became India’s most valuable start-up. After schools reopened, demand fell, and the company faced heavy losses, delayed financial reports, investor disputes and insolvency proceedings from 2024. Aggressive sales practices were also criticised. Its decline became a cautionary tale about growth driven by funding rather than proven learning outcomes.

The laptop that sat unused

Several programmes around the world gave every child a laptop, expecting learning to improve. Evaluations, including a large study in Peru, found little effect on test scores. Without software designed for learning, teacher training and support, devices alone did not change how children learned.

Access and accessibility

Edtech can widen gaps if poorer students lack devices or internet. For blind students, well-designed digital materials with screen reader support and audio can greatly improve access, but many apps are not accessible.

Thinking technology automatically improves education

Technology is a tool. It helps when it adapts to students' levels, supports teachers and is used well. Devices and flashy apps without good pedagogy often do little.

Key takeaways

Providing devices alone rarely improves learning.
Adaptive software like Mindspark produced large gains, especially for students far behind.
India's edtech boom and Byju's collapse show the risks of growth without proven outcomes.
Edtech must be affordable and accessible to avoid widening gaps.