Are you interested in advancing digital education and exploring the use of the EU self-reflection tool SELFIE in Armenia? If so, this post is for you!
ETF has recently published a working paper that offers insights into policy developments in digital education and provides detailed information on the pilot of SELFIE in Armenia available at this page: SELFIE in Armenia | Open Space (europa.eu)
The paper also features a set of policy messages aimed at advancing SELFIE towards broader implementation and regular use in the country.
In brief, the pilot has been successfully conducted in Armenia, involving more 2000 users across 9 regions in a set of pre-tertiary education schools, boosting a positive attitude to digital education among the participating institutions.
|
Education Level |
School Leaders |
Teachers |
Students |
|
Primary School |
33 |
152 |
1034 |
|
Secondary School |
6 |
59 |
386 |
|
High School |
12 |
127 |
568 |
|
Total |
51 |
338 |
1988 |
The quantitative analysis of anonymised aggregated data revealed positive results, except the area of ‘Assessment Practice’, which received the lowest rating at 3.96 (equivalent to 79.3%). All other areas scored above the average, with ratings ranging between 4.0 (equivalent to 81.3%) and 4.3 (equivalent to 85%). Notably, the field of continuous professional development received the highest rating at 4.3, equivalent to 87%. The report also provides interesting insights on positive and negative positive and negative factors, for example, in relation to blended learning.
The qualitative analysis, based on a series of focus groups, involving all the three user groups, stressed a positive attuite and interest in the use of self-reflection tools to stimulate ownership and a can-do attitude towards an integration of digital technologies in education.
When interpreting the results, you need to remember that the schools participating in the pilot of SELFIE are part of a Mentor Schools project, providing distance education to rural schools facing a shortage of STEM teachers. As such, these schools possess a good control of digital education. Another important point to consider when reading the report is that self-reflection methods may introduce personal bias. However, compared to traditional statistics, self-reflection can help capture elements such as personal attitudes and unrevealed needs or challenges. In this respect, SELFIE ensures total anonymity for participants.
In March, I will visit Yerevan with the aim of gearing up for a new phase, with the country increasingly taking ownership and seeking international partnerships to build upon the successful conclusion of the pilot project.
You can download and read the report following this link
SELFIE in Armenia | Open Space (europa.eu)
Alessandro