The Higher School of Economics (HSE) and Skillbox, an educational platform, have begun work on the first multi-component model in Russia for assessing the quality of digital learning products. The aim of this strategic project is to establish a standard for quality in online courses for the Russian education technology (EdTech) industry. The first stage of the project, which involved studying existing practices and approaches to assessing educational products, was showcased at the Moscow International Education Salon (MMSO) in 2024. It is planned that the model will be finalized by the end of 2024.
A multi-component model for assessing the quality of online courses will thoroughly evaluate the product, from the business processes at the company that creates it to the outcomes of students. This approach will enable learners to choose programs that best meet their needs, and course developers to create relevant programs that satisfy these requests. The working group responsible for developing the model includes representatives from Skillbox’s product and methodology teams, as well as researchers from HSE.
Stages of Development:
The Research Team has identified four primary stages of project implementation:
- Investigationof global The results of this stage will form the theoretical foundation and prototype for the model.
- Creation ofa multi-component This model will describe key indicators that can be used to assess the quality of educational products. Evaluation criteria will be developed for each indicator. Leading experts in the Russian online education sector will be involved to validate the model.
- Testing and adjustmentof the model. Three digital educational products will undergo a quality test.
- Presentationof the model.
The structure of the model will consist of four main blocks: the organization of business processes, product development, product implementation and its market positioning.
Product quality indicators will be defined and formulated in close collaboration with leading experts in the education market. For instance, the “Product Development” section is planned to include such aspects as the formulation of learning objectives, assessment methods and frequency, learning environment and activities, flexibility, and planning of educational pathways, accessibility, and inclusivity. “Market positioning” will involve monitoring the dynamics of career trajectories, the economic model of the product, its positioning, and external information surrounding the product.
