ICT IN ESTONIAN EDUCATION

Business Ideas for the Future3-th meeting

Croatia 2011

Estonia is not rich on natural resources, so the future depends on human/intellectual capital. This is one of the reasons why developments in the field of ICT have been highly prioritized not only by politicians and companies, but also by ordinary people – parents, public administrators, teachers etc.

THE FUTURE ESTONIAN RESOURCES

e-government (paperless document management and groupware system for government)

e-citizen’s portal (for services, discussions and suggestions on legislation)

e-municipality program e-elections both national and local e- education database ( students control, e- school journal mobile communications and computing (m-services: m-

parking, m-tickets in public transportation, m-payments, m-banking, e-banking etc.)

e-insurance Wide fee WiFi coverage area

EVERY DAY WE USE E-SERVICES!!!

Nowadays, everything e-oriented is „hot“ in

Estonia

ICT has been high priority also in the field of primary, secondary and higher education. 

 14 years ago, the President of Estonia announced an ambitious Tiger Leap Foundation program, which aimed to equip all schools with computers, Internet connections and software. During the Tiger Leap program, more than 65% of all teachers in Estonia passed locally arranged (and centrally financed) courses on basic computer literacy skills. The follow-up national strategy for ICT in Estonian schools 2001-201.. (called Tiger Leap) http://www.tiigrihype.ee/eng/tiiger_pluss/strateegia.html)

ICT IN EDUCATION

Every school has to find its own way to integrate ICT in different subjects at different grade levels, and guarantee the mastering of standardized ICT competencies by all students ( in primary, secondary, higher education)

From the year 2002, National Examination and Qualification Centre carries out a annual national standardized tests to assess ICT competencies. All schools can participate on voluntary basis.

ICT in the National Curriculum

Tomorrow’s Information Society needs to be a learning society, a society which invests in knowledge, a society in which each individual will build up his or her own qualifications on a basis of life-long learning.

The Tiger Leap program is a national specific program launched by the Estonian Government with an aim to improve Estonian school education quality using modern information and communication technology. The program is funded from the national budget via the Ministry of Education.

Focus of the Learning Tiger development plan 2006-2009 is mainly on e-learning and various e-learning related content services development. The main objective of this development plan is to increase curriculum quality and effectiveness using ICT and to introduce e-learning as a part of the daily curriculum.

TIGER LEAP FOUNDATION PROGRAM

Training of teachers Education materials (e-learning environments, e-

portfolio,   learning software and evaluation of web-pages, self-controlling tests, blogs)

School computer system (computers and accessory equipment, special equipment: LCD-projectors, video projectors, computer software, operational system, web browser, mail recipient and office software etc.)

THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS

In 2010 the school has purchased new computers and new software ( each teacher have PC in classroom)

school staff actively take courses to enhance skills in ICT ( in 5y. period it must be 160 hours- different professional courses also include ICT)

Most of the teachers have created their own subject blogs

Teachers support distance learning ( e-learning) Teachers and students use e-learning environment

VIKO ( time table, marks, exams dates, connecting with subject teachers)

Vana-Kalamaja High School for Adults in ICT environment /strengths

EHIS (Estonian Education Information System- admission only for school admin). EHIS under control of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research. EHIS – database of students, employees, state exams, diplomas-certificates)

E-signature of the school administrative documents (ID-card)

KIS ( database of the school documents/ e-archive, all administrative documents)

E-STAT ( employee database, employees’ salary)

E-INSIURANCE- Estonian Health Insurance Fund ( school admin. provide registration of health insurance and services for the employees)

THE SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION AND ICT

School does not have WiFi (Internet is only in the teacher’s room and the computer labs)

Not all teachers have learned the course in ICT (age and motivation is a factor, it is expensive for school).

No high-quality info technology staff ( good info technology employees are expensive)

the cost of staff training  and purchase new operating systems, software, school WiFi coverage directly depends of the financing (support) of the of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research).

THE SCHOOL'S WEAKNESS IN ICT

Installation of a powerful network router for WiFi coverage (all classrooms with internet connection).

ICT training for teachers (upgrade the skills in ICT, software, e-learning system).

Strategic allocation of finance for the purchase of new equipment and software.

Development/ upgrade/ refresh of new educational materials for e-learning, blogs.

THE SCHOOL'S OPPORTURNITIES IN ICT

Not motivated staff (ICT equipment is expensive and is quickly outdated and new stuff has to be learnt, the teaching staff is underpaid and are not interested in keeping their jobs in the sector, as the private sector calls).

Estonia’s unstable economic position, making investment hard.

Estonian legislation, always changing.

SCHOOL'S TREATS IN ICT

ICT is an expensive but powerful tool in education.

We have to combine it with traditional methods of teaching and learning and get better efficiency by using it!!!

SCHOOL'S CONCLUSION

Thank you for your attention !!!

Vana-Kalamaja High School for AdultsTallinn 2011