What Would Edtech Look Like If Students Designed It?
That’s the vision behind our partnership with ISTE and the Student Usability Project, a pioneering initiative that puts young people’s lived experience at the heart of product development. Together, we’re working to redefine how learning tools are built by treating students not as end users, but as essential co-creators.
When young people shape the tools designed for their growth, those tools become more than usable - they become meaningful, relevant, and built to help youth thrive.
Organization Spotlight: ISTE & the Student Usability Project
ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating innovation in education through technology. Their work supports educators, researchers, and product developers in designing learning tools that meet the evolving needs of students and schools.
The ISTE Student Usability Project focuses on incorporating youth perspectives into the development of edtech tools. By involving students in ideation around edtech design through activities like focus groups and surveys, the project uncovers critical usability gaps and generates innovative ideas to improve digital learning experiences.
Supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the final output will include a published framework and resources to help educators and edtech providers create more effective learning tools.
Why In Tandem?
Edtech works best when it’s built with students, not just for them. At In Tandem, we’re working side by side with ISTE to bring student perspectives into the heart of product design - from initial input through real-world testing. Their insights are informing sharper research questions, smarter design choices, and a new standard for what youth-centered development should look like.
Together, we’re not just amplifying student voices - we’re turning them into meaningful, measurable impact.
Learn more about ISTE
▶️ SUBSCRIBE to ISTE on YouTube.