Featured on the Teach Smarter Podcast: A conversation about individualization myths, research access, and cutting through EdTech claims
How do you separate genuine educational impact from clever marketing? It’s a question that keeps many educators and administrators up at night, especially as budgets tighten and the pressure to show measurable results intensifies. During a recent conversation on the Teach Smarter Podcast, our founder, Dr. Rachel Schechter, spoke with hosts Stephanie Dinnen and Peter Siner to explore this challenge and discovered some surprising insights about what evidence-based decision-making actually looks like in practice.
The Individualization Myth
Our conversation began with an unexpected connection: what Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer can teach us about educational technology. These shows weren’t successful because they created different content for every child—they succeeded because they understood universal patterns of how children learn and engage. The same principle applies to effective EdTech design.
Too often, we’ve been sold on the idea that good educational technology means endless customization and branching pathways. But research tells a different story. The most effective educational tools are those grounded in solid learning science principles that work for most learners most of the time, rather than trying to create infinite variations for every possible learning preference.
This realization shifts how we evaluate educational products. Instead of asking “Can this tool adapt to every student?” we might ask “Is this tool designed around evidence-based principles of how learning actually works?”
Democratizing Access to Research
One of the most promising developments in education is how artificial intelligence can help democratize access to evidence-based teaching and learning practices. For years, the gap between educational research and classroom practice has been a persistent challenge. AI tools are beginning to change this dynamic by making it easier for educators to access, understand, and apply research findings to their specific contexts. This doesn’t mean AI replaces human judgment—rather, it provides a way to quickly surface relevant evidence that can inform decision-making.
During our podcast conversation, we explored practical ways educators can leverage these tools to cut through marketing claims and get to the substance of what actually works. The goal isn’t to become research experts overnight, but to develop the skills and resources needed to ask better questions and make more informed choices.
Looking Beyond Surface-Level Promises
Every educator has experienced the frustration of investing time and resources in a program or tool that promised transformative results but delivered disappointment. The antidote isn’t cynicism—it’s developing a more sophisticated approach to evaluating educational solutions.
This means looking beyond testimonials and case studies to understand the quality and scope of research behind a product. It means asking questions about implementation requirements, understanding what conditions need to be in place for success, and recognizing that no single tool or program is like a magic wand. The conversation revealed practical strategies for this kind of evaluation, from understanding different levels of research evidence to knowing what questions to ask vendors during the selection process. These aren’t complicated academic concepts—they’re practical tools that any educator or administrator can learn to use.
Why This Matters Now
The stakes for getting this right have never been higher. Schools are facing budget pressures, accountability demands, and the ongoing challenge of supporting diverse student needs. At the same time, the educational technology market continues to grow, with new products and promises emerging constantly.
In this environment, the ability to make evidence-based decisions becomes not just helpful but essential. Students deserve educational experiences grounded in what we know works, not what sounds appealing in a sales presentation.
The Path Forward
Making evidence-based decisions in education isn’t about achieving perfection or waiting for absolute certainty. It’s about developing the skills and habits needed to approach educational choices with appropriate rigor and healthy skepticism. It’s about creating systems and processes that help schools invest wisely in tools and programs that genuinely support student learning.
The podcast conversation explored these themes with both practical specificity and broader vision. For educators navigating the complex landscape of educational choices, it offers concrete strategies alongside encouragement to trust in the power of evidence-informed decision-making.
Listen and Learn
Whether you’re a classroom teacher evaluating supplemental resources, an administrator considering district-wide adoption of new tools, or an instructional leader supporting colleagues in making program decisions, this conversation offers insights that can inform your approach.
The discussion moves beyond abstract principles to practical application, exploring how busy educators can access and use research evidence without becoming full-time researchers themselves. It’s a conversation about empowerment—giving educators the tools they need to make choices they can stand behind with confidence.
Ready to dive deeper into evidence-based decision-making? Listen to the full Teach Smarter Podcast episode to explore these ideas and discover practical strategies you can implement in your educational context.