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Boston College researcher Damian Bebell explains why studies of education technology must rely on data rather than assumptions.
Never let assumptions get in the way of data-driven facts.
Dr. Damian Bebell hands out yellow cards to keep clients on the right pathHear more from Dr. Damian Bebell and other innovative analysts, thought leaders, and educators at the 2018 Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC), January 23-26 in Orlando, Florida. Learn more here.
Dr. Damian Bebell, who is currently the assistant research professor at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College, spends a great deal of time examining the effects of technology on administrators, teachers, and students. Like any good researcher, he is mindful never to let assumptions get in the way of data-driven facts.
As the industry pivots away from refresh and lease cycles into more cloud-based device technology, Damian sees his role in the industry shifting. He sees an emphasis on making the schools and institutions he works with more self-sufficient when it comes to technology purchases and decisions.
As he puts it, his transition is taking him from someone who completely designs and conducts studies to more of a soccer referee on the sideline with red and yellow cards. If he’s working with a school and they say “It seems like class size is just as important as a device. Maybe let’s get rid of our one-to-one program and focus on class size,” He can serve them a yellow card and say, “You know, that’s an assumption; let’s test that by looking at the data source.”
This interview was first published in The Huffington Post
Dr. Damian Bebell will be presenting at the 2018 FETC conference
- The Spark – Amplify Your School’s Brand to Strengthen Community
- EdSurge – How to Build Your Teacher Brand
- TeachThought – 22 Apps To Make Videos In The Classroom
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