Does Maths Edtech Really Improve Student Performance? Here’s What Numerous Global Studies Show

All edtech, including maths edtech, claims to be beneficial. While it’s a given that learning apps can support differentiation, personalisation, immediate feedback, data and analytics – there are still questions about whether it makes an in-the-classroom difference.

But there’s good news – it absolutely does.

Here’s what the studies have to say:

Study: The Role of Technology in Mathematics Education: Promoting Student Engagement

Link to study

Hypothesis

The central hypothesis of the paper is that technology significantly enhances student achievement in mathematics education. It argues that integrating digital tools—such as educational apps, interactive simulations, and adaptive platforms—can promote deeper understanding, personalised learning, and engagement, ultimately leading to better student outcomes.

Findings

1. Options to Suit Any Learning Style

Online platforms such as interactive lectures, video tutorials, and simulations (VR and otherwise) have made mathematics more accessible. These platforms give your students the option to learn at their own pace, revisit complex topics, and engage with content in ways that work best with their personal learning styles.

2. Gamification Increases Engagement

Gamified elements, like challenges, points, scores, and leaderboards, give learning a competitive feel. It promotes intrinsic motivation (I want to get better) with extrinsic (I want to earn more points).

It’s important to remember that competition doesn’t mean it’s always student vs student; it can be a student trying to compete against their own last, best effort.

3. Making the Abstract Accessible

Humans like to get hands-on to learn. But as topic sophistication increases, the less likely it is that students will be able to find opportunities to interact with their learning.

However, technologies like graphing calculators, geometry software, and virtual manipulatives bring abstract concepts to life.

These tools allow your students to experiment, manipulate variables, and visualise mathematical relationships, helping them develop deeper conceptual understanding and a stronger sense of mathematical reasoning.

4. Adaptive Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Content Personalisation

Personalisation for students has two elements: the content, and what’s actually personal.

For example – while education-focused AI can provide immediate feedback, analyse data, and find trends, you will know that one of your students gets up early on Thursday mornings, which is why they’re sluggish in their first class.

AI-driven adaptive systems can take on some of the burden of continuous resource development, and tweaking based on ability, meaning your students are consistently facing the right level of challenge.

5. Real-World Relevance

Technology enables the integration of real-world data and scenarios into maths lessons, making content more relatable.

The use of simulations, models, and practical problem-solving tasks helps your students understand the relevance of mathematics beyond the classroom, improving their critical thinking and application skills.

6. Equity and Access to Tech

Technological advancements can deepen existing inequities if access isn’t addressed. A key concern is the digital divide—limited access to devices, internet, or tech support—which can hinder progress.

7. Teacher Training and Curriculum Integration

Effective integration of technology depends heavily on your preparation.

To make sure tech is going to have the most positive impact for both you and your students, it’s vital that there are targeted professional development projects.

It’s also important to remember there can be – and should be – collaboration between you and developers to ensure that digital tools align with curriculum goals and classroom realities.

8. Assessment Reforms

Thanks to tech, performance-based and formative assessments can now be used to track student progress in real-time. These approaches provide more accurate insights into student understanding and better support differentiated instruction and strategy.

Conclusions

• Positive Impact: Technology enhances student motivation, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving skills.
• Personalised Learning: Adaptive platforms and educational apps tailor instruction to individual student needs.
• Real-World Connections: Interactive tools bridge the gap between abstract concepts and practical applications.
• Challenges Remain: The digital divide and insufficient training can hinder effective integration.
• Recommendations:
  • Invest in equitable access to technology.
  • Pursue professional development.
  • Use performance-based assessments to better measure understanding in tech-rich environments.

Ultimately, the paper concludes that when thoughtfully implemented, technology can transform math education, making it more engaging, accessible, and effective for diverse learners.

Study: Through growth to achievement: Examining edtech as a solution to Australia’s declining educational achievement

Link to study

Hypothesis

The article engages with the idea that educational technologies have the potential to address declining academic performance in Australia, especially when applied through structured policies emphasising continuous improvement, personalised learning, and growth mindset development. The hypothesis suggests that these innovations, if implemented thoughtfully, could contribute to a more adaptive, data-informed, and student-centred educational system.

Methods and Research (Positive Framing)

Buchanan conducts a critical policy analysis informed by education sociology and digital studies. Her research methodically examines the 2018 Through Growth to Achievement report and identifies the policy vision for leveraging technology in education. The three core opportunities she draws out are:

1. Continuous Assessment for Continuous Improvement

• Promotes the real-time tracking of student learning, allowing for formative feedback that can guide instruction immediately.
• Supports the idea of each student achieving at least one year of progress per school year, using data to ensure no learner is left behind.
• Provides a framework for adaptive teaching, where instruction is constantly refined based on up-to-date evidence.

2. Personalised Learning

• Offers the chance to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum by tailoring learning paths to each student’s pace and needs.
• Learning analytics and digital platforms enable custom content delivery, potentially increasing engagement and mastery.
• Empowers your students to take ownership of their learning by engaging with material that aligns with their current level and style.

3. Growth Mindset as a Policy Mandate

• Encourages resilience and lifelong learning by embedding a belief in self-improvement and effort.
• Helps cultivate learners who are more motivated, confident, and capable of navigating challenges.
• Aligns with social-emotional learning goals, which are increasingly seen as essential to holistic education.

The paper also highlights how these technologies align with global trends and reflect a shared aspiration to modernise schooling for the 21st century.

Conclusions

• Technology can be a powerful enabler of educational reform when guided by clear goals like continuous growth, personalisation, and student empowerment.
• Embracing these innovations offers a chance to modernise curriculum and assessment models, moving toward more responsive and individualised education.
• These strategies provide a potential solution to long-standing challenges in the system, helping to unify diverse education sectors across Australia with common tools and benchmarks.
• The report’s vision aligns with international best practices and positions Australia to participate in a globally competitive, tech-forward education landscape.

Study: Integrating digital technology in mathematics education: a Swedish case study

Link to study

Hypothesis

The study investigates how digital technology can be effectively integrated into upper secondary mathematics education. It explores the conditions under which mathematics edtech applications can enhance student learning and engagement in classroom settings.

Methods and Research

This qualitative case study was conducted with 68 students (aged 17–18) and three educators across three Swedish upper secondary schools. Researchers analysed classroom practices involving a mathematics education technology tool through observations, interviews, and review of teaching materials. The goal was to understand how digital tools are implemented in real educational contexts and the factors that affect their success.

Conclusions

• The integration of digital technology in mathematics education is most effective when supported by three interrelated factors:
  1. The pedagogical design of the learning activities and tasks.
  2. Your role in guiding and facilitating the use of digital tools.
  3. The broader educational context, including curriculum requirements and institutional support.
• When these elements align, mathematics edtech applications can enhance student motivation, support differentiated instruction, and foster more personalised learning experiences.
• You are central to the success of technology integration, with your instructional strategies and beliefs influencing how the technology is used and perceived in the classroom.
• The study underscores the importance of professional development and systemic support to help you effectively incorporate technology into your teaching practices.

This case study contributes valuable insights into the real-world integration of digital tools in mathematics education and provides guidance for you and policymakers aiming to leverage edtech to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Shared Findings and Conclusion

Every study showed improved student engagement, increased skills and understanding, as well as a stronger sense of differentiation and personalisation in the classroom.

However, this was all underpinned with proper implementation and development.

Like all resources, maths edtech is a tool, and a tool is only as good as the person using it.

Next Steps

So if you’re thinking about which maths edtech is right for you and your class, you’ll also want to think about how you’re going to use it, and learn to use it to the best of your ability. To assist Heads of Mathematics in considering a math edtech solution, Education Perfect has created  this checklist to help consider all aspects of the decision.

To learn more about Education Perfect Maths, feel free to book a demo or start your free trial today.