The 4th edition of the Learning Bytes Festival took place on 28 March in Kortrijk, Belgium, bringing together around 300 participants under the theme “Factcheck: Does Your EdTech Work?” The event featured two keynote presentations, six interactive breakout sessions, and the Smart Education @ Schools Awards Ceremony. There was also an exhibition where industry partners, researchers, and teaching staff showcased their work.
The event opened with a keynote by Alison Clark-Wilson from the UCL Institute of Education, tackling the challenging question as to how we know whether EdTech works or not. She emphasised that while EdTech will continue to improve, it will never reach a static state of being “the best,” underscoring the need for continuous innovation and adaptation. Alison posed an essential question about why we should care about proving EdTech’s effectiveness and outlined several compelling reasons, including a growing trend towards outcomes-based procurement, increased market credibility and trust, evidence-driven iteration in product design, and the value of certifications and badges to assure users of EdTech reliability. She also stressed the importance of community and collaboration, urging stakeholders to connect, share insights, and involve educators at different stages of development. Another crucial point was that teachers require ongoing training in EdTech, as technology evolves rapidly. Finally, she highlighted the challenge of measuring learning itself, stating that while we can make informed estimates, there is no definitive way to quantify it.
In a breakout session, Stefanie Vanbecelaere from Itec emphasised that assessing EdTech requires different kinds of evidence, but the form/method of evidence alone does not necessarily determine its quality. She raised the critical question of what qualifies as appropriate evidence, highlighting that in the fast-evolving world of educational technology, evidence is often regarded as the foundation for informed decision-making and meaningful innovation.
The afternoon panel discussion featured four experts: Hannes Vanhee (Agristo), Roman Bruegger (Swiss EdTech Collider), Fien Depaepe (KU LEUVEN & imec) and Ellen Cardon (Vlaio). Roman pointed out that while hype can sell fast, trust takes time to build, and that trust is the ultimate goal. Fien highlighted the importance of focusing not just on developing EdTech tools, but also on understanding how teachers and students are actually using them. Ellen stressed the need for transparency in data collection and security, reinforcing that trust is only possible when users know how their data is handled. Hannes reminded the audience that while EdTech is a valuable tool, it is not a standalone solution to educational challenges.
Tom Wambeke, Chief of Learning Innovation at ITCILO, the International Training Centre of the ILO, part of the United Nations, delivered an inspiring closing keynote. He highlighted that progress is not about speed as much as it is about direction. He also emphasised that context is king and content is queen, reminding the audience that technology must align with the needs of its users to be truly effective.
These are just some of the highlights, as it is not possible to cover the event fully. Several key themes emerged throughout the festival. The importance of building trust was repeatedly highlighted, particularly through transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and responsible data usage. Continuous improvement was another major focus, as EdTech is never truly finished but must constantly evolve to meet the needs of educators and learners. Stakeholder involvement proved to be essential, with success in EdTech requiring collaboration between developers, educators, and policymakers. Practical implementation was another recurring theme, stressing that tools alone are not enough and that effective training and clear guidance are essential for impactful EdTech use. Finally, the complexity of measuring learning outcomes was acknowledged, with many speakers emphasising the need for nuanced approaches to evaluation.
Thank you for the inspiring event and we look forward to attending the 5th edition!
