1. Teachers' ICT competencies have been defined and assessed in Estonia since the 1990s through national curriculum standards and sample-based testing of students. 2. More recently, models have been developed to define educational technology competencies for teachers, including a common standard based on the ISTE CNETS framework. 3. Projects are underway to develop self-assessment tools for teachers to evaluate their own educational technology competencies based on models like the common HTPM standard.

1. Teachers’ ICT competencies Mart Laanpere Head of the Centre for Educational Technology, Tallinn University [email_address]

2. Competencies Defined as “ personal characteristics (e.g. skills, knowledge, attitudes) that an individual possesses or needs to acquire, in order to perform an activity within a specific context, whereas performance may range from the basic level of proficiency to the highest levels of excellence ” (Sampson & Fytros) Highly context-bound Should not be broken down to “atomic level” Used for: outcome-based education, quality assurance of training programmes, accreditation of prior learning and experience

3. ICT competencies in curriculum Until 1992 computer science was a compulsory subject in Estonian schools 1997 national curriculum: informatics as an elective subject, IT as cross-curricular theme 2002 national curriculum introduced ICT as a compulsory cross-curricular theme, defined by 11 competencies National sample-based testing of ICT competencies in grade 9 in 2002-2005

4. ICT competencies in grade 9 Operates hard- and software Manages files Uses correct ICT terminology Follows legal & ethical aspects of ICT use Creates effective and aesthetical presentations Uses ICT tools to find information and communicate with others Understands the needs for critical evaluation of Internet information Collects and analyses data with ICT tools

5. National test on ICT competencies Alternative to ECDL exams Written test, 13 multiple-choice questions (30 min) Keyboard, computer misuse Op.system: user interface, file types Word processing and WWW mistakes Computer viruses, error messages What is not allowed (copyrights, personal) Practical task (60 min) Find, rename, edit and save text file Find additional information on WWW Design a booklet

6. New trends No more testing Our study 2008: few schools were concerned with teaching and assessing cross-curricular themes Curriculum 2011: informatics as elective subject in grades 6, 8 and 10. Portfolio-based assessment of students’ ICT competencies – legitimised by the new national curriculum

7. Teachers’ ed.tech. competencies Educational technology competency standard for teachers in Estonia 2002 (based on ISTE): Three levels: basic user, advanced user, expert Six domains: the use of ICT, designing the learning environment, e-learning in curriculum development, assessment in e-learning, ICT in professional development, social and technical aspects of technology use at school No audience, no legitimisation, were used only for developing/assessing training programmes

8. Competency models for teachers Until 2006: the teacher education framework and teachers’ accreditation requirements 2006: professional qualification standard for teachers: 8 domains: planning and leadership, designing the learning environment, facilitating learning, motivating the learners, collaboration, communication, analysing and assessing the learning, self-directed professional development Not fully compatible with de facto standards: teacher education curricula and teacher accreditation requirements

10. Teachers’ e-portfolio 2006 Competency Manager: our self-developed add-in module for Plone CMS Two views to competency model: Global view: publicly accessible, can be edited by admin and commented by registered member of the portal Personal view: used for organising learning goals, reflections and other evidences Several parallel competency models: teachers’ PQS, ed.technology competencies, mentor etc

13. Teacher training in ICT Initial teacher education: Compulsory ICT skills, those who do not pass the test (80%) have to take a course “Computer as a tool” Compulsory subject “Learning environment” Elective subject “ICT in school” Subject-specific ICT courses for student teachers In-service teacher education in ed.tech.: mainly provided by Tiger Leap Foundation for free. 10 000 teachers were trained 2002-2005 on 40 hrs Intel course TTF

14. ISTE CNETS for Teachers 2008 See http://cnets.iste.org Four ed.tech. competency domains: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments Model Digital-Age Work and Learning Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

15. Current situation A common ed.tech. competency model HTPM (based on ISTE CNETS 2008) for teachers in primary, secondary and vocational schools as well as for university staff – one A4 page Two detailed assessment rubrics for: Teachers University lecturers Not yet legitimised, might end up as appendix to new PQS for teachers Plans: teachers’ portfolio at Koolielu.ee

16. DigiMe project 2011 Self-assessment of teachers’ ed.tech. competencies, based on HTPM Web-based tool, automatically graded responses, based on authentic cases (video or slideshow scenarios) Used for ICT competency audit, training needs analysis, forming more homogenous training groups etc.

17. Discussion and conclusions E-portfolio seems to be a suitable tool/approach for assessment of teachers’ ICT competencies Legitimisation is needed (both for HTPM competency standard and portfolio tool) Future: e-portfolio as a state-provided free service in citizen’s portal eesti.ee?