An initiative that uses research to identify ways to use educational technology successfully soon will launch a professional learning community with resources and collaborative opportunities to help school and district leaders better prepare students for a global economy.

Project RED, which aims to help educators effectively integrate technology into the classroom, consists of the Greaves Group, the Hayes Connection, and the One-to-One Institute.

Two years ago, Project RED released landmark research indicating the key factors in ed-tech success. Now, in its second phase, the project will use its past research to offer educational opportunities for district leaders and school administrators.

“The Project RED research is proof that technology can be a practical, cost-effective way to improve student achievement,” said One-to-One Institute CEO Leslie Wilson and Project RED team member. “The key, however, is effective implementation, and that’s exactly what sets Project RED apart from other studies. After analyzing the research findings, Project RED developed a proven method to productively and efficiently integrate technology into the classroom.”

The group’s previous research, which involved 1,000 schools and showed that proper ed-tech implementation can help boost student achievement, provided a basis for what the group says is a replicable design to help schools use technology in the most effective way possible.

There are four key findings the Project RED research reveals about using technology in schools to improve learning performance and return on investment, the group says: