EdTech Evolution 2.0: Enhancing the Framework

Project background

The intent of this project is to address current decision-making and funding challenges that create fragmentation and inefficiencies, while developing an improved strategy to holistically and efficiently manage and support EdTech. 

The current model fosters fragmented decisions that negatively impact the student experience and prohibit a holistic view of informed and efficient decision-making and support. The current model also increases the risk of cybersecurity, privacy and accessibility compliance. At present, EdTech is a combination of technologies that are decided upon and funded:

  1. Centrally through the Provost's enterprise software budget; and
  2. Through the faculty or department for specific programs or use cases; and
  3. Selected and funded by individual instructors; and
  4. Required by instructors for a course and funded by students who purchase it

Project overview

With the support of Deans Council and EdTech Steering, the project team will work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to simplify the model to address duplication and other challenges through:

  1. Consideration of a small, flat-rate student technology fee, if it is deemed to provide benefit without significant overhead, for a pilot period to ensure there is appropriate revenue for the cost of EdTech while the university addresses current duplication issues.
  2. During the pilot of the fee, the project will:
    1. Create a holistic decision-making process for EdTech that considers sustainable funding, appropriate scalability, equity, and inclusion of all stakeholders in decisions.
    2. Establish and design maintenance processes for a core list of safe, institutionally approved EdTech that instructors are required to use.
    3. Create an exception protocol and criteria when instructors want to use EdTech that is not on the approved core list.
    4. Clearly define what technologies are and are not considered EdTech that will be used to decide what is within the scope of a student fee and duplication or exception protocols.

Benefits

  1. Alignment with the Digital Learning Strategy.

  2. More transparent and consistent management of EdTech and a clear, consistent protocol for EdTech decisions and funding.
  3. Improvements to the student experience by addressing duplication and reduced average EdTech cost for students.
  4. Appropriate support frameworks that enable informed decision-making and risk mitigation.

Work plan

  1. 2025
    1. Sep
      1. Consultations

        Held September 2025 to April 2026

  2. 2026
    1. Jan
      1. Analysis and recommendations

        From February to June 2026

    2. Apr
      1. Recommendation endorsement

        From April to June 2026

    3. Jun
      1. Implementation

        From June to December 2026