The digital transformation of the educational landscape is an integral part of 21st-century learning, yet not all regions have capitalized on the benefits edtech brings. However, Northern Ireland's (NI's) education system presents a uniquely opportune environment for embracing edtech, acting as a veritable Goldilocks zone--where conditions appear just right for educational technology's successful deployment. This work provides a significant expansion to the range and depth of research into educational technologies in NI and important point of reference for schooling, internationally. Notably, the research reveals an urgent need for a robust teacher competence framework. This framework would focus on developing the digital skills of educators, which would, in turn, enhance their digital capital--the skills, knowledge, and attitudes toward digital technologies that enable meaningful engagement in digital activities. The findings also underscore the critical importance of a strategic vision in the application of digital technology in pedagogy.