Research centered on student experience is prompting product and program shifts: a study profiling student usability in edtech found learners prioritize clean, intuitive interfaces, useful feedback and accessibility. Designers and district purchasers are being urged to co‑design with students rather than rely on adult procurement preferences. Colleges are also expanding nonacademic supports: the University of Mary Washington launched a four‑week first‑year program teaching executive‑function skills—time management, scheduling and tech tools—to help new students persist. Administrators say pairing better digital designs with classroom‑adjacent supports can improve retention and close equity gaps.