AIR's Ed Tech Download podcast series explores why research is a critical part of technology development, and what developers should be aware of as they begin using research to evaluate and improve their products.

These three episodes explore the U.S. Department of Education's National Education Technology Plan, which shares new technology advances and research on how technology and digital resources can enhance teaching and learning. AIR experts wrote the plan for an audience of educators, researchers, policymakers, technology innovators, community-based leaders, students and their families. In the podcasts, AIR's Tracy Gray and Larry Friedman discuss the plan with Bart Epstein of Jefferson Education Accelerator.

This second episode looks at promising examples of learning technology that promote "active use" -- directly engaging students and pushing them to another level in their cognitive development.