On World Teachers Day, the European Commission is launching an online tool to help teachers to review and get feedback on how they are currently using digital tools and technologies. The tool, ‘SELFIEforTEACHERS’ is designed to support primary and secondary teachers to understand their current situation regarding how they use digital technology in their work. Results from the review can help teachers identify where they need further training and support.
The tool was launched in Ljubljana, Slovenia in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the EU. Initially in English, French, German and Slovenian, versions of the tool in all official EU languages will be made available over the coming weeks.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel said:
Like all professionals, teachers need to understand how, where and when digital tools and technologies can help them in their work. The public health crisis has given teachers a new understanding of the potential, benefits and challenges of using technology. They are keen to keep on improving and to help their students to use technology in critical and creative ways. The tool we are launching today, on World Teachers Day, can help teachers to take a snapshot, a ‘selfie’ of where they stand with technology use and get feedback and advice on levelling up.
How does the new tool work?
Any primary and secondary teacher can sign-up to use the tool. To use the tool teachers will need to create an EU Login account.
Once registered on EU Login, the teachers can then use SELFIEforTEACHERS. They answer a series of reflective statements on how they are using technology which takes around 25 minutes to complete. Questions and statements are in six different areas where technology can potentially be used:
- teaching and learning
- finding, using and creating digital resources
- personalising learning and engaging students with hands-on learning
- assessment and student feedback
- communication and collaboration with students, families and colleagues
- developing student digital skills
The teacher then receives an automated report with their results (from ‘beginner’ to ‘innovator’) with suggestions on how they could level up.
Using the tool can be a good first step to identify strengths and to pinpoint where further professional development and support is needed. All teachers completing their self-reflection can receive a certificate and digital badge for taking part.
Personal or team reflection
Teachers can use the tool either individually or as part of a team, for example with a group of teachers within their school or with a team of subject teachers in their region or country. This can help planning within a school, network of schools, teacher education institution or local education authority.
All responses to SELFIEforTEACHERS are anonymous and no personal data is shared. The data is not designed to rank or assess teacher performance but to empower teachers to learn how they can use technology effectively in their work and how they can foster digital skills of their students.
Reviews so far
A pilot version of SELFIEforTEACHERS was tested with more than 4,000 teachers in 5 countries (Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania and Portugal) in spring 2021. Feedback was highly positive and teachers found the tool to be of high value and relevance to them.
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