This research-backed rubric helps educators evaluate technology based on the eight most important factors.

1. The LearnTrials protocol is research-based, designed to uncover what educators want to know when they try, buy and use
classroom technology products. Please use the high-level rubric below to assist when grading products at LearnTrials.com.
Product Questions
Grade the
Ease of Use &
Navigation
(PD=Professional Development)
Difficult to start
Difficult to use
Significant PD required
Difficult to start
Slightly confusing to use
Some PD required
Somewhat confusing
to start or to use.
Light PD is helpful
Moderately easy to start
Easy to Use
No PD needed
Easy to Start
Easy to Use
No PD needed
Grade the
Comprehensiveness &
Effectiveness of the
Product’s Features
Features do not
address intended
needs
Feature set often does not
meet intended needs and
hinders utility of product.
Somewhat
overwhelming or
somewhat insufficient
feature set.
Somewhat cohesive
feature set meeting
most needs
Cohesive, powerful and
useful feature set
Amongst the Top 10% of
Products I’ve used
Grade the
Comprehensiveness
and Accuracy of the
Content
Inaccurate,
inappropriate and/or
insufficient content
Questionable accuracy.
Inappropriate amount of
content
Does not allow for
differentiation
Mostly accurate content
Too much or too little
content. Differentiation
possible but may be
time consuming
Accurate Content
Content is
comprehensive enough
for basic differentiation
Accurate and useful
content
Content is
comprehensive
Allows for unlimited and
easy differentiation
Grade the
Technical Merit of the
Product
(ie, absence of bugs/glitches)
Non-functioning,
completely unusable,
or
terminates productivity
Significant debilitating
technical issue(s)
Requires assistance &
disrupts workflow
Occasional debilitating
technical issue(s)
Requires assistance
Occasional, minimal
technical issue(s)
No assistance needed
No technical issue(s)
No technical assistance
required
Grade the Product’s
Alignment with
Learning Objectives &
Standards
No alignment with
intended learning
objectives.
Revisions impossible
Unclear alignment with
intended learning
objectives.
Many revisions required.
Aligns occasionally with
intended learning
objectives.
Some revisions required
Generally aligns with
intended learning
objectives.
Revisions unnecessary
Clearly and accurately
aligns with intended
learning objectives.
Revisions unnecessary
Grade the Product’s
Impact on Student
Learning &
Engagement
No impact or negative
impact on learning
Students dislike the
tool.
Slight impact for some
students.
Redirection required.
Moderate impact on
some target students,
slight on others
Students engaged when
monitored.
Significant positive
impact on some target
students, moderate for
others.
Most students
engaged.
Strong positive impact on
learning outcomes for all
target students.
Students constantly self-
directed & engaged.
Grade the Product’s
Impact on Teaching
Efficiency &
Effectiveness
Significant negative
impact on teaching
efficiency &
effectiveness
No improvement on
efficiency or effectiveness.
Some positive impact on
teaching efficiency &
effectiveness
Significant positive
impact on teaching
efficiency &
effectiveness
Top 10% of products
providing positive impact
on teaching efficiency &
effectiveness
Would you recommend
this product to a
colleague?
No. I do not
recommend.
Probably not. Possibly, depending on
multiple factors
Yes, to some educators Yes, to all educators
AD C BF
Lea(R)n, Inc. © 2014 – All Rights Reserved