Digital Decision Support Tools in EdTech Testing and Evaluation for Developing Countries

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are essential for integrating Educational Technologies (EdTech) into modern classrooms, but many developing countries lack the ICT infrastructure necessary to support these tools. Current EdTech testing and evaluation methods often rely on costly physical testbeds, which are not feasible for resource-constrained educational systems. Meanwhile, the networking community has developed sophisticated digital decision support tools (DDSTs) in the form of simulators and emulators capable of realistically testing network hardware, software, and applications before deployment. These tools provide a cost-effective alternative for education departments in developing countries to assess the suitability of various technologies for their schools. We find that many of the types of EdTech deployed in public schools have features and attributes that can be tested in a virtual environment. However, human behavior related aspects such as durability, overall user satisfaction and technical support cannot be tested effectively in such environments, requiring the reliance on qualitative data. This paper aims to facilitate the use of these tools by reviewing ICT devices commonly deployed in public schools, focusing on the features and functionalities that can be effectively tested using DDSTs.