{"id":1059,"date":"2016-07-14T14:55:13","date_gmt":"2016-07-14T14:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ezekiels.co.uk\/eylan\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2018-08-01T07:02:00","modified_gmt":"2018-08-01T07:02:00","slug":"5xwhys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ezekiels.co.uk\/eylan\/5xwhys\/","title":{"rendered":"What I know about Edtech. #1 – The 5xWhys"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 15 years of experience in the edtech sector, I’ve seen great examples and things go wrong. This post is the first in a series, giving tips for your next edtech endeavour.<\/span><\/p>\n

What I know about Edtech. #1 – The 5xWhys<\/b><\/p>\n

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I know that most edtech does not align the needs of learners with the purpose of those who make it. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The 5xWhys<\/a> are one of the most valuable and well honed tools in my edtech toolbox. I use them at for researching, commissioning, building, and evaluating edtech projects and programmes. But they are most useful at the very beginning of thinking about edtech programmes \/ projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Image from blog.impactignition.com\/<\/p><\/div>\n

Why are you creating an edtech solution? To help raise standards and help teachers? That\u2019s what you tell the world. But what are the real reasons?<\/span><\/p>\n

There are far too many unsuccessful projects out there (including some of mine) where enthusiasm, bells & whistles, great content, etc, were not enough to see them over the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

All too often, I think it is because those driving it fail to be honest, be clear and be open about why they are doing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why does this matter? Because education is contested and challenging enough without more poorly built edtech filling the market. Children and teachers deserve better. It will also stop you wasting money and enable you to spend it on more of what matters!<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on the purpose of your organisation, (charity, awarding body, for-profit, or cultural institution) there are always strategic goals that edtech work can appear to be the answer to. I\u2019ve read many briefs, specifications and project documents that read well, seem comprehensive, and get the \u2018green light\u2019 – but skirt around the most important question. <\/span>Why do this?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Too often, organisations tell their development partners (those who are helping make this edtech a reality) that they want something that is going to be innovative; is going to change the education paradigm; to transform the perception of a subject; or to save teachers time. Though these goals are lofty and make for compelling copy, they are rarely the whole story.<\/span><\/p>\n

What they really want is to drive more traffic to their website – or raise brand awareness – or stop their competition getting somewhere first. Or, most commonly, they have not really thought hard enough about it. It seemed like a good idea – and the logic of why to do it was added later. Without this key information driving the decision making, the design of edtech (and many aspects of work) can be flabby and lack clear focus.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An example of the 5 Whys relating to healthy eating<\/p><\/div>\n

In the creation of user stories and making hard development decisions a lack of honesty about what\u2019s in it for the organisation making the edtech can fatally undermine all the hard work of the rest of the team.<\/span><\/p>\n

I now use the 5xWhys to drill down past the fluff, and to get to the nitty gritty. If you haven\u2019t see this approach in action, the simple example in the picture often helps clients \u2018get it\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, it is about framing and reframing the questions in a way to provoke deeper thinking, and not just asking \u2018Why?\u2019 repeatedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here is an example from a recent client, who are a national arts organisation:<\/span><\/p>\n

Why enter into education work?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

To broaden reach.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Why broad reach (not narrow, local)? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Because we are a national organisation.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Why be national (instead of local)? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It is in our remit which we set ourselves.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Why did you make that remit? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Because that\u2019s how the funding works.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Why go after the funding?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Because funding equals clout and respect which <\/i><\/b>enables us to put (insert arts focus here) into the national conversation.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

This conversation meant we could look at options that might increase the respect that they sought – rather than try to transform classroom practice or inform curriculum design. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, how else might this work?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If you are commercial<\/strong> – you might see a funding opportunity or a failing in the competition to deliver an effective solution, where you can steal market share. <\/span><\/p>\n