2024 Engagement and Impact of EdTech Strategy Lab
One of the primary purposes of this project was to intentionally design and co-create engagement formats that are outcome-focused, fostering new connections and collaboration across the EdTech ecosystem. By prioritizing knowledge exchange and inclusivity, we successfully brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to reflect, experiment, and iterate on engagement strategies and inform on the topic of evidence.
Over the course of the project, we delivered 16 workshops—both in-person and online—including listening sessions and dynamic feedback loops such as surveys. This comprehensive approach resulted in a community reach of over 10,000 participants, highlighting significant support and sustained interest in this initiative. Engagement extended to high-level actors, with 48 ministries of education participating, underscoring the project's importance at a global level. Key milestones included engagements during Belgium’s EU presidency in early 2024 and contributions to the Council of Europe (COE) AI working conference.
Our culminating event welcomed 135 attendees from 32 countries, featuring over 30 speakers. The iterative and intentional design of these events has been central to their success. Through ongoing cycles of building, refining, experimenting, and reflecting, we engaged with an exceptionally wide range of stakeholders—from elementary school students to senior policymakers.
The project began in March 2024 at UNESCO, focusing on critical themes such as trust, evidence, and partnerships. Throughout the year, innovative formats emerged, such as the use of Miro boards in summer workshop series and pre-conference workshops for the COE. We explored and refined engagement strategies across diverse cultural contexts, with workshops hosted in local languages in Austria and Switzerland, ensuring accessibility and relevance.
Several standout formats emerged as particularly impactful:
Networking Bingo at Cocktail Events: Designed to accelerate meaningful connections and facilitate collaboration in a relaxed setting.
Networking Breakfast at SETT: A tailored session engaging municipalities and
stakeholders across the Nordic region, creating bridges between different groups.
Convergence & Divergence Online Workshops: Themed conversations allowed for deep dives into key topics, promoting a plurality of perspectives and stakeholder considerations.
Educator and School Leader Workshops in Portugal: Focused on dynamic cultural motivations, these sessions revealed evolving needs and actionable insights.
The project also focused on refining classic formats such as Clarifying Challenges, traditionally centered on stakeholder needs, by introducing a wider variety of topics and participants. This was expanded into Needs and Actions, encouraging both problem identification and actionable solutions.
The success of these formats highlights not only the value of collaboration but also the importance of dynamic, inclusive engagement. Moving beyond static approaches, we emphasized continual learning and adaptation through dialogue and reflection.