The EdSurge Product Index will support educators' discovery and selection of learning technology tools 

Washington, D.C. – The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), an education nonprofit that supports the use of technology to accelerate innovation in education, today announced the launch of the redesigned EdSurge Product Index. The Index, launched in partnership with Digital Promise, Project Unicorn, and Common Sense Media, is a free platform designed to support educators’ discovery and selection of high-quality products. 

“Finding all the right information about edtech products in one place is nearly impossible. With bits of information here and there, it can almost feel like you need detective skills to figure out if a product is a good fit.,” said Mindy Frisbee, chief research and development officer at ISTE. “To address this challenge, we created the new product index to be a one-stop where educators can find the most reliable, up-to-date and useful information about products in order to help them in their discovery and decision-making. We are bringing together critical information about products into one place  and helping to make it easier for educators to make informed decisions.”

The index provides critical product information sourced from both edtech companies themselves as well as from  independent validators. Educators can easily sort, filter and compare edtech solutions against the learning, privacy and interoperability standards that matter the most to them. This helps them choose solutions they can trust to best match their specific needs. Powered by ISTE’s Learning Technology Directory, the index is curated by edtech experts and continuously refreshed with the most up-to-date information on learning products.

The redesigned index highlights the most essential information needed to determine if an edtech product is the right fit to support learners. Not only will the EdSurge Product Index provide product information such as grade level, subject area and technical requirements of the user, but it will also allow educators to see how products measure up against things they care most about. The index will feature Project Unicorn’s interoperability certification, Common Sense Media’s privacy review ratings, ISTE’s Seal of Alignment, and Digital Promise’s Learner Variability and Research-Based certifications, with more to be added in the future.

“We are so excited to work with ISTE, Project Unicorn and Digital Promise to launch the redesigned EdSurge Product Index,” said Girard Kelly, senior counsel and director of the privacy program at Common Sense Media. “Knowing more about the privacy policies behind products and what to look for is critical. Now, index users will be able to easily see how a product’s privacy policy measures up and be able to make a more informed decision across the board.”

“Interoperability is a key piece of the puzzle when selecting new products. By partnering with Common Sense Media, ISTE and Digital Promise on the EdSurge Product Index, we are creating a place where educators have access to the most reliable information on the current, high-quality edtech tools, which in turn will help increase the transparency that is badly needed to create clear market signals for informed decision making.” said Erin Mote, executive director of InnovateEDU.

Funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the collaborative will work together to ensure educators and state and district leaders have the information needed to select high-quality edtech tools that are essential for their learners.

About ISTE

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that works with the global education community to accelerate innovation in education through the smart use of technology. ISTE sets a bold vision for education transformation through the ISTE Standards, a framework for students, educators, administrators, coaches and computer science educators to rethink education and create innovative learning environments. 

ISTE hosts ISTELive, one of the world’s most influential edtech events. The organization’s professional learning offerings include online courses, professional networks, year-round academies, peer-reviewed journals and other publications. ISTE is also the leading publisher of books focused on technology in education. For more information or to become an ISTE member, visit iste.org.

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization that builds powerful networks and takes on grand challenges by working at the intersection of researchers, entrepreneurs and educators. Its vision is that all people, at every stage of their lives, have access to learning experiences that help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and continuously learn in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website. 

About Project Unicorn

Project Unicorn is a national initiative coordinated by InnovateEDU and powered by a coalition of organizations representing stakeholders across the education sector focused on the goal to optimize and radicalize education data with interoperability. Project Unicorn leads the development of events, tools, and resources to educate K-12 buyers of edtech products, bring clarity to interoperability standards, help edtech vendors meet the demand for interoperability, raise awareness of the importance of interoperability for understanding all students’ paths to graduation regardless of income or zip code, and ultimately see how interoperability can create data magic for schools and students. Project Unicorn does not endorse a specific product or data standard but instead is an educational advocacy initiative dedicated to the secure, controlled interchange of data.

About Common Sense Media

Since 2003, Common Sense has been the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families and schools. Every day, millions of parents and educators trust Common Sense reviews and advice to help them navigate the digital world with their kids.Together with policymakers, industry leaders, and global media partners, we're building a digital world that works better for all kids, their families, and their communities. Its mission to ensure digital well-being for kids everywhere has never been more vital than it is today. See our story, and read about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.