Thousands of EdTech tools flood the market, making it essential for educational publishers to vet solutions and rely on research to achieve genuine impact for learners. To meet this need, independent researchers from the International Centre for EdTech Impact WiKIT (ICEI) have helped Ludenso refine its first building block in the evidence portfolio. As a result, Ludenso has been awarded the EduEvidence Bronze badge for Efficacy.
In this blog post, you can learn why impact certification matters, how evidence-based practices drive results at Ludenso, what approaches are used to prove efficacy, and the next steps in maximizing student impact.
Imagine learners scanning a biology diagram and instantly interacting with a 3D heart model: zooming into arteries or clicking on different sections of the heart to read more. Integrating Ludenso’s AR technology into textbooks transforms each page into a dynamic learning moment that reinforces comprehension, ignites motivation, and supports long-term knowledge retention.
The EduEvidence Bronze certification guarantees that this learning approach isn’t just enjoyable. It has also passed a rigorous, international evaluation. For publishing partners, this seal of approval provides a clear, step-by-step framework for converting traditional textbooks into dynamic, interactive experiences. The result? Greater student motivation and participation, deeper comprehension of the material, and better long-term memory retention.
In partnership with ICEI, Ludenso refined a detailed Logic Model and a Theory of Change. These evidence-backed tools outline how expert-vetted textbooks paired with curated AR content generate measurable improvements in student outcomes.
To ensure independent validation, Danial Ahmad, Kawla Alhamad, and Professor Natalia Kucirkova from ICEI WiKIT evaluated the scientific basis of these frameworks. Their conclusion:
At Ludenso, impact data is collected through student surveys, teacher interviews, direct observations in classrooms, as well as through conversations with editors and authors. In addition, we are proud to share independent feedback from the academic analysis from the ICEI, industry experts, and clients.
1. Academic Analysis
The ICEI literature review confirms:
"Ludenso’s offerings are grounded in a solid body of literature on the benefits of augmented reality in education, demonstrating its potential to enhance student engagement, comprehension, and long-term retention." Review by Danial Ahmad, Kawla Alhamad & Professor N Kucirkova (2023)
2. Research Partnerships
Ongoing partnerships with the University of Oslo (UiO), University of Stavanger (UiS), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUPA) ensure that Ludenso’s platform remains rooted in cutting-edge academic research. This enables publishing partners to benefit from AR technology that is vetted by leading scholars and aligned with best practices.
3. Industry Reviews
Industry awards are another mechanism for independent evaluation of products, with judges typically being highly-experienced and experts in the field (no marketing slogans will fool these people!)
The most competitive EdTech Awards are the BETT Awards, which the publisher PG Online entered with their Ludenso AR enhanced textbooks in 2023, winning “Secondary – Free Digital Content, App or Open Educational Resource”. Other honors giving independent evaluation of the Ludenso technologies include ASU GSV (2 years in a row!) and HolonIQ (3 years in a row!).
4. Customer Reviews
Independent customer reviews offer powerful validation: honest feedback from educators and publishers highlights the tangible, real-world impact of the solution.
“When digital learning is at its best, it provides an enrichment of learners’ experiences, better retention in memory of vital knowledge, and develops both understanding and skill in all learners. The Ludenso team has done something very special; it is digital learning at its very best." - Tim Oates, Group Director of the Assessment Research and Development at Cambridge University Press & Assessment
"We are utilizing Ludenso for various book titles within the nurses’ educational program. Illustrations play a crucial role in these books, and now we can add medical 3D models, videos, sound files, and web links to improve student outcomes. As an editor, adding or removing AR elements is easy – even after the book is printed." – Martine Hareide, Editor of Academic Literature at Gyldendal
As we continue to bring learning to life, we are excited to share how our latest product: the Ludenso AI Assistant (LAIA for short), will help personalize the textbook experience. LAIA is a curriculum-aligned AI assistant built to bring textbooks to life. Live now in the UK and Scotland, it delivers citation-based answers within a secure, IP-safe environment. It lets students ask questions and see exactly which passages in their textbook provide the answer. Ongoing partnerships in Greece, Germany, and Norway are set to expand its reach further. As LAIA continues to evolve, you can expect more updates on new pilots, deeper impact studies, and ongoing research collaboration with the ICEI team to build EdTech tools that center on efficacy.
Want to know if your learning materials really work? Team up with the ICEI team and learn more on their site here.
We connected thanks to our impact-focused investor, Ferd, and we can not thank them enough for their guidance and support. Curious about how they measure social impact or what they achieved last year? Check out their latest report here.
