Driving Informed EdTech Quality Decisionmaking: A Research-Practice Partnership-Based Solution for Diverse Stakeholders' Needs

Abstract

In the educational technology (EdTech) ecosystem, stakeholders such as government decision-makers, entrepreneurs, parents and teachers face challenges in making informed decisions about the quality of EdTech products that meet their varied needs. While numerous frameworks exist that address diverse stakeholders, there is a lack of customizable frameworks that cater to each of the stakeholders' requirements, especially in lower-middle-income countries. This paper presents the EdTech Tulna initiative, a Research-Practice Partnership (RPP) aimed at building a shared understanding of what constitutes 'good' quality EdTech. This partnership between the research group, non-profit organization and diverse stakeholders presents a unique solution for varied needs and purposes. An analysis of the EdTech Tulna initiative's key offering is provided, which is the robust Tulna framework that supports stakeholders in making informed decisions about the quality of EdTech. The paper examines the design of the Tulna framework and presents case studies on how the framework has been customized to support diverse stakeholders' EdTech quality decision-making. This paper contributes to understanding an RPP's dynamics. It also promotes the discourse on the usefulness of research-based frameworks to drive EdTech Quality decision-making for diverse stakeholders' needs.