Project description
The digital transformation in education is a topic of high importance for the Swiss, yet also the global, society. To enhance visibility and support the digital transformation in education, the Swiss EdTech Collider, a hub and centre for EdTech startups and innovations based at EPFL Lausanne, has
established so-called «test-bed/test-lab» collaboration framework with a few schools (mostly private and/or professional education schools) in the past, in which the schools addressed their needs and selected EdTech startups were able to test their solutions and innovations with the appropriate targeted group (teachers, students, administrators). This has posed to be an effective and impactful added value, not only for the schools/test lab partners for having the opportunity to ‘field test’ EdTech innovations, but also for the EdTech startups themselves for being able to receive real world feedback for their innovations – a win/win scheme for both sides that also aims to push generally digital transformation in schools and educational institutions.
However, an overall «National Swiss EdTech Testbed Program» – especially addressing public schools – is missing. The Swiss EdTech Collider is creating such a program, which will offer an environment to test and experiment EdTech solutions in a real-world setting.
The goal of this presented project is to establish a «Test and Learn» model and framework in Switzerland, which allows for fast testing and feedback loops by partnering with innovative schools that are open to act as «testbeds». In such testbeds, it is envisaged that schools, will be matched and brought together with EdTech suppliers based on their needs to rapidly test innovations and solutions in a real-world school setting. This will help the schools to address the challenges they face and identify possible/potential gaps in the EdTech market. It will also help startups with product design improvements through an iterative process at the same time.
Status/Results
The project of creating a Swiss National EdTech Testbed Program will start in Spring 2022 with the conceptual design, development, and set-up of the overall framework structure. As a next step, potential ‘testbed’ schools from the public school sector will be selected via a public call for participation (potentially in collaboration with BeLEARN partner organizations), where the respective schools can address their needs and pains in their current school system, on which possible and potential EdTech / digital solutions will be evaluated for the rapid test framework. The test will then be conducted together with the school and the EdTech supplier/startup and be monitored by the EdTech Testbed Implementation Manager, a specific person in charge at the Swiss EdTech Collider, who’s task is to support, monitor and report about the envisaged tests.
Links
Swiss EdTech Collider
Website |
Twitter |
Twitter |
Instagram |
FacebookIt is envisaged to design and launch a specific website/section with the partner schools once the project is up and running.
Persons involved in the project
Roman Bruegger, Managing Director Swiss EdTech Collider, co-project leader
Denis Gillet, President Swiss EdTech Collider, co-project leader
EdTech Testbed Implementation Manager: will be hired in 2Q/3Q of 2022 (info will follow)
Last update to this project presentation 24.02.2022