140

ICT and Education: 

ICT and Education Jaak Anton Ministry of Education and Research IT Adviser With the help of Mrs Mägi, Dr Tammemägi and Dr Reimand

Estonian Education System: 

Estonian Education System 750 schools (general + high) 280000 pupils and students 26000 teachers and lectures the education system has to create conditions and assumptions to guarantee an access to life-long learning to all people in Estonia to achieve new standards of living

Successful uses of ICT at school: 

Successful uses of ICT at school result from interactions and combinations between the use of technologies, teaching methods and organisation of schools More money does not mean automatic better quality, in most EU countries education expenditure per student has risen much faster than average labour productivity growth

How ICT can deliver benefits?: 

How ICT can deliver benefits? Things, that cannot be done without ICT: Learning any time anywhere Mass-education, potential access to learning for everyone Internet access to growing collections of educational resources and services Input for task-based learning and research work Learning on demand Team-work through distance learning

How ICT can deliver benefits?: 

How ICT can deliver benefits? Things, that cannot be done better with ICT: The choice of learning style Customised and personalised learning materials Individualised tracking and recording of learning processes Self-assessment and monitoring of performance Interactive access to educational resources

3 main ICT arms of the Ministry…: 

3 main ICT arms of the Ministry… Tiger Leap Foundation Tiger Leap Programme, ICT in general education Estonian IT Foundation Tiger University Programme, ICT in higher education EENet Internet connection, hosting services, consulting for general and higher education and research institutions

Tiger Leap Program: 

Tiger Leap Program Tiger Leap Programe 1996-2000 with total national budget of 12 mUSD and following results: All schools got computers, 25 pupils per computer on average, 75% of schools got online Internet connection, the others had dial-up connection 64% of teachers trained for basic computer skills Creation of 61 different software (incl. 39 new original) dealing with Estonian language, culture, history, nature

Tiger Leap Plus Program: 

Tiger Leap Plus Program Tiger Leap Plus Program 2001-2005 with total national budget of about 9 mUSD and following priorities: Development of the ICT competencies of graduates, teachers and officials in education Production of electronic educational materials Sustainable development of infrastructure Collaboration between state, local governments, schools, organisations, parents

Investments into infrastructure: 

Investments into infrastructure

Ratio of students per computer in Estonia: 

Ratio of students per computer in Estonia

Ratio of students per computer (2000): 

Ratio of students per computer (2000)

Availability of computers at home: 

Availability of computers at home

The use of ICT in lessons: 

The use of ICT in lessons

Distribution of infrastructure costs: 

Distribution of infrastructure costs 29% computers 26% network 20% computer components 12% video projectors 5% monitors 4% software 4% printers

Computers at school: 

Computers at school 61% in classrooms 19% for teachers 10% in libraries 10% for school management

Internet connection: 

Internet connection 90% of schools have permanent Internet connection 10% of schools have dial-up connection All schools in Tallinn and Tartu have at least 100Mbps Internet connection 93% of all computers in schools have Internet connection

Estonian IT Foundation: 

Estonian IT Foundation is a non-profit organization, which: assists preparing the IT specialists with contemporary higher education supports the ICT related R&D activities in Estonia was founded in 2000 by the Ministry, Universities, Estonian Telecom and Association of IT companies the first task was to set up the IT College

The IT College: 

The IT College Started autumn 2000 Focus on practical knowledge and close cooperation with industry Emphasis on multiple computer and network environments 3 years of diploma studies in IT Systems Development or IT Systems Administration IT Systems Analysis Tuition fee about 2000 Euro per year Enrollment: ~100 students per year

Addressing industrial needs: 

Addressing industrial needs Incorporate established certificate programs to curriculum (Students earn credit points and can get professional certificates): Cisco Network Academy Program (networking) Oracle Academic Initiative (databases) Microsoft Authorised Academic Training Program Public Lectures New concepts and technologies (NCR, Compaq, DoCoMo, Hansapank) Seminars on more technical, practical approach (Everyday.com, Oracle, EMT, Microlink)

Tiger University: 

Tiger University Motivation Activities Cooperation

Tiger University: 

Tiger University National higher education programme (2002-2004) To improve ICT infrastructure in universities, To develop ICT teaching staff and strengthen PhD studies in universities To develop Information Technology College Adopted on January 8, 2002 by government Unfortunately, no financies for 2002 Jan 1, 2003 - the essential start of the programme 2003 from state budget 1.2 mEuro Additional state financing in amount of 0.7 mEuro

Motivation: 

Motivation On regular basis of financing, Estonian universities are not able to invest into ICT as much as needed ICT equipment is expensive and outdates fast ICT teaching staff is subject of overpaying and attracting to work at companies At the same time ICT’s social importance and expectations from future are growing A targeted approach is needed to boost ICT education and ICT in education

Infrastructure background: 

Infrastructure background At public universities: Students per computer 1:35 ICT students per computer 1:16 2/3 computers older than 3 years Local networks mainly at speed 10Mbps Working load of servers at or over limit Software (licences): free, old or missing

Infrastructure support: 

Infrastructure support Targeting public universities Providing computers and servers Upgrading networks Equipping labs Miscellaneous projects

ICT teaching support: 

ICT teaching support Financing of creating of new curricula and tutorial materials Financed materials remain public Acquiring special-purpose software and tutorial materials Publishing support Additional funding of labour costs of ICT teaching staff in universities

eUniversity: background: 

eUniversity: background The Internet-based education may Increase accessibility of education promote life-long learning share resources and enhance cooperation of universities … as well as Strengthen competition between universities Waste resources by creating uncorrelated, nonstandardized variety of materials

The Estonian eUniversity …: 

The Estonian eUniversity … … will coordinate web-based teaching of universities … is a framework of cooperation of universities … is a single entry-point to the Internet based higher education … will be a non-profit organization

eUniversity project: 

eUniversity project launched in 2003 Target group: tertiary education establishments, academic and vocational Will enter into international networks of similar ideas Approaches EU support Minerva Structural funds

Partnering: 

Partnering The Tiger University financing is planned as 70:30 (state vs. other sources) We are actively searching for partners As supporters to the whole Tiger University Program As supporters to the Tiger University projects

EENet: 

EENet Created in 1993 to develop Internet in Estonia Member of GEANT 100Mbps international connection Hosting of school websites Renting fiber from telcos EU support

ICT for monitoring: 

ICT for monitoring Educated people are the main Estonian resource Development of this resource has to be well monitored Web-based infosystem for monitoring the educational data under development Information about pupils/students, teachers/lectures, school infrastructure, curriculum and certificates Not only for the Ministry, but…

Key objectives of EU strategy: 

Key objectives of EU strategy Heads of EU States in Lisbon in 2000: Improve the quality and effectiveness of education and training systems Facilitate the access of all to education and training systems Open education and training systems up to the world around them

Slide33: 

ICT is nothing more than an expensive and powerful tool in education. We have to combine it with traditional methods of teaching and learning and get better efficiency by using it.

Thank you!: 

Thank you!