I) Understand the various factors and information sources that influence decisions about educational technology acquisition and use in higher education. II) Provide transparency regarding the steps and stakeholders involved in the EdTech decision-making process in higher education. III) Identify and showcase best practices in EdTech decision-making processes to share with other higher education leaders and EdTech providers. IV) Identify ways in which education researchers, higher education

more »

... ion-makers, EdTech providers and funders can collaborate to serve the best interests of learners. Research questions Research questions for "EdTech Decision-making in Higher Education" 1) What sources of information are higher education leaders and faculty currently using to make education technology acquisition decisions? 2) How is research used in their decision-making processes? 3) Do institutions of higher education (IHEs) conduct their own investigations or research into how well EdTech products currently being used work? Methodology & Participants We interviewed 52 EdTech decision-makers (Presidents, CIOs, Directors of IT or eLearning, Deans, Faculty etc.) from 43 IHEs between September 2016 and April 2017. Participation was solicited from both 2-year and 4-year IHEs, for-profits and non-profits, and public and private IHEs. The interviews elicited information on who participates in decision-making about EdTech to facilitate and support teaching and learning; where these decision-makers obtain information on EdTech products and trends; and what individuals or organizations they perceive to be opinion leaders, change makers, or innovation leaders in EdTech. Interviewees were asked to identify an EdTech decision in which they had recently participated, and to answer a series of questions about the goals of the decision, the stakeholders affected, and the decision-making process itself. Questions also addressed the role of research in EdTech decision-making and whether the IHEs conduct any of their own investigations into how well EdTech products work.