Digital tools are now woven into daily teaching, from phonics apps to interactive reading platforms to adaptive maths and science programmes. Yet a new Stanford meta-analysis of K–5 digital interventions conducted over the past two decades, led by Professor Rebecca Silverman, shows that not all EdTech delivers equal benefits. Understanding what drives impact can help schools invest time and resources wisely.
Key Takeaways:
- Skill Focus Makes a Difference: Digital tools designed to strengthen decoding skills — such as connecting letters to sounds — tended to produce the most consistent benefits for early literacy, while interventions targeting comprehension or writing showed more variable results.
- Design Features Require Careful Matching: Characteristics like personalisation, interactive feedback, or gamification were commonly present in many products, but by themselves did not guarantee stronger effects. For interventions focused on higher-order skills, programs that included explicit strategies and tasks engaging active processing were generally more effective than simple drill-and-recall designs.
- Context and Subgroup Impacts: The effectiveness of edtech interventions varied by student background. In some studies, students from less advantaged households made notable gains in decoding, but effects for English Learners and students with disabilities remain less well-documented, pointing to gaps in current research.
- Sustained and Integrated Implementation Matters: Using EdTech products briefly or without thoughtful integration into curriculum led to little additional benefit. Sustained, classroom-aligned implementation produced the most robust learning gains.
These findings emphasise that maximising the value of EdTech for literacy means choosing tools that match specific instructional goals, monitoring engagement, and integrating interventions into broader classroom practice.
For detailed findings, see the full paper in Review of Educational Research (RER): The Effects of Educational Technology Interventions on Literacy in Elementary School: A Meta-Analysis.
Education Technology That May Be Of Interest:
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Book Creator
Book Creator was established in 2011 and is based in the UK. Book Creator is a versatile digital tool that allows users of all ages and abilities to create interactive multimedia books. It fosters creativity, collaboration, and digital literacy, supporting various learning styles. With over 2 million books created monthly, it enhances student engagement and learning.
BOOX – E ink tablet Series
BOOX has more than 10 years of experience in developing eye-protection e-books to help you learn more about different types of e-book products. BOOX – E ink tablet Series ; Go Color 7″ (Black) (HKD1,998 with case) Original: HKD2,498 ; Go 10.3 ($2998 with case) Original: HKD3,498 ; 10.3” Tab Ultra C Pro ($4,998 with case) Original: HKD5,498
Cathoven – Language Hub
Founded in 2022, Cathoven is a smart assistant tailored for language educators, helping them create level-appropriate lessons and exams, assess and score student work, identify weaknesses, and provide actionable feedback. Used by top institutions like Columbia Uni, Cathoven was ranked the second-best AI in Education project by QS after Duolingo.
Earth Cubs Environmental Content
Earth Cubs offers free, award-winning content on sustainability, climate change, and the environment. Through positive storytelling, it inspires young children on topics like renewable energy and equality, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and is supported by mission-aligned organizations.
eLimu - Learning Games
eLimu World is an interactive learning platform designed for kids aged 4-8, offering a range of fun, inquiry-based learning (IBL) games that help children learn better and faster. Our solutions cover key subjects like math and science, using a gamified approach that keeps kids engaged while building essential skills.
KAZ – Specialised and Accessible Touch-Typing Software
KAZ‘s inclusive touch-typing course for home and schools supports mainstream, neurodivergent, hearing-impaired, and visually impaired learners. It’s an online tutorial with minimal teacher intervention, and structured lesson plans are available. Learners can access it from school or home on Macs, PCs, Chromebooks, and iPads.
Nova AI Mentor: Redefining Personalised Learning
Novalearn Limited is an EdTech company transforming education by seamlessly integrating machine learning, studio-produced edutainment, and quality STEAM education aligned with international K-12 curricula. Enhance school-wide performance with advanced analytics and intelligent recommendations for students. Customisable to your school’s needs and rubrics. Supportive adaptive learning system. Automatic generated reports for teachers and principals.
School365 - SaaS platform
School365 is a SaaS platform designed for K12 international schools in China, offering seamless integration of data and processes. It provides administrators with powerful insights and efficient management tools, while its customizable design ensures scalability to meet the unique needs of schools.
