The Swiss National EdTech Testbed Program

The Swiss National EdTech Testbed Program is an initiative designed to support the digital transformation in education with appropriate technological solutions.

Launched by the Swiss EdTech Collider in partnership with the Jacobs Foundation and the Gebert Rüf Stiftung, this program provides schools with the opportunity to trial innovative digital tools and provide feedback to the startups that develop them.

The aim is twofold: support teachers in identifying and implementing technology to improve pedagogy while helping startups improving their tools with feedback stemming directly from practice.

Interested teachers and schools can register directly through the program’s website.

Methodology

The Swiss National EdTech Testbed Program operates on the “Test and Learn” methodology, also known as Rapid Evaluation Cycles.

This approach emphasizes quick evaluations and iterative testing, with a focus on determining what works, for whom, and under what conditions.

The testing process for each digital tool is unique, and teachers play an active role in the evaluation. This includes an introduction to the tool, hands-on testing (which can last from 1 week to 6 weeks), and a questionnaire with both open-ended and closed-ended questions.

The program analyzes the teachers’ answers and provides startups with reports to help them understand how to improve their product. Further development of the program plans to include the creation of good practice papers for teachers.