In today’s classroom, digital instructional tools can provide teachers with information to tailor instruction to each student’s strengths, needs, and interests. A new survey from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation of more than 4,600 teachers explores how teachers use digital tools and data to inform instruction. Teachers Know Best: Making Data Work for Teachers and Students finds that virtually all teachers—93 percent—now use some sort of digital tool to guide instruction. From digital gradebooks to online assessments and learning platforms, these tools help teachers meet students where they are. However, teachers also face challenges in using the information from these tools to improve learning. Two-thirds of teachers—67 percent—are not fully satisfied with the effectiveness of the data and the tools they have access to on a regular basis. The report also identifies nine specific needs for the three phases of data-driven instruction: assessing data, analyzing data, and adjusting instruction based on the data. Making Data Work is the latest in a series of reports that bring the perspectives of teachers to product developers who are creating digital tools for the classroom. This information can help product developers create new digital instructional tools—or improve existing ones—to better meet the needs of teachers and students. Learn more.