How a Texas District Put Teachers at the Center of Instructional Tech Consolidation

Navigating the complexity of too many tools

In a district with 77 schools and over 56,000 students, managing too many tech tools can be overwhelming.

Just ask Steve Simpson, Director of Technology Integration and Innovation (TI²) for Arlington Independent School District in Texas.

Mr. Simpson and the 10-person TI² team noticed the challenges for teaching and learning caused by tech clutter. They carefully reviewed all the district's instructional technology, deciding they would need to stop using several tools– including two notable formative assessment apps–and instead find one new platform to replace them.

Listening to teachers: When less (tech) is more (student impact)

While district tech decisions are made in an office, their actual impact is felt in the classroom.

Arlington ISD’s TI² team, comprised of former teachers, understands this well. Their goal was to find an engaging instructional platform that saves teachers time and reduces the need for multiple tools.

“We determined that Quizizz provided more of what we needed, in one platform, than other apps did separately,” Mr. Simpson explained.

The Quizizz transformation - From gamified learning to rigorous instructional platform 

New Quizizz features that drove Arlington ISD’s consolidation decision:

1. Interactive Video
2. 20+ media and question types
3. AI-powered generation and data analysis
4. Library of standards-aligned resources
5. Automated standards-alignment and reporting
6. Detailed data reports on student performance and progress

Smoothing the tech transition for teachers

Many Arlington ISD teachers already used Quizizz, but even new users find something to love. To showcase the benefits, Technology Integration Specialist Jim Holland created a comprehensive list of 'Quizizz Five-Star Features' for every student and teacher.

Mr. Holland chose features that support Arlington ISD’s focus on best practices in assessment, feedback, and standards alignment, making all three easier to complete.

 “Quizizz will empower teachers’ daily assessment of students' learning progress and next steps to address gaps and misconceptions,” Mr. Simpson said.

Mr. Holland developed a staff professional development activity with a deck of 'Did you know…' questions to highlight how teachers could use Quizizz’s top fifty impact-aligned features.

For tech transitions, a thoughtful roll-out is essential. Quizizz is grateful to support Arlington ISD teachers alongside their team.