Washington State education experts explore Estonian teacher education and educational innovation
On 22 September, Tallinn University’s School of Educational Sciences welcomed guests from Washington State, USA, who came to learn more about the Estonian education system, teacher education and the implementation of educational innovations. The visit was organised in cooperation with Education Estonia.
The visitors were Heather Lewis-Lechner, Education Policy Advisor to the Washington State Senate Democrats, and Tammie Schrader, an education and technology expert. Their main interest was to understand how Estonia has designed and implemented large-scale educational reforms and the role universities have played in supporting research-based development, teacher education and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Focus on teacher education and educational reforms
The guests met with Tiia Õun, Director of the School of Educational Sciences, Heli Kaldas, Head of Studies, and educational psychologist Grete Arro. The discussions focused on teacher education and school leadership in Estonia, as well as the autonomy of educational institutions, curriculum implementation and ways to continuously support teachers’ professional development.
The guests were particularly interested in the lessons Estonia has learned from implementing educational reforms and in the role of research in shaping education policy and practice. The discussions also covered teacher education and professional development, play-based learning, digital pedagogy, and how educational innovations developed through research and at universities make their way into the everyday practices of schools and kindergartens.
Estonia and the US share common challenges in education
The meeting highlighted several issues shared by education systems in Estonia and Washington State. In both contexts, student assessment and the continuous development of teachers’ professional competencies are important areas of focus. Another key issue is ensuring the next generation of teachers and creating opportunities for educators to continuously develop their knowledge and skills.
Exploring the possibilities of technology at the EDUSPACE lab
The visit concluded with a tour of the EDUSPACE lab, where educational technologist Sirly Väät demonstrated ways of integrating technology into everyday teaching and learning in kindergartens and schools. The guests also had the opportunity to explore some of the robotics and digital tools commonly used in education and discuss how technology can support teaching and learning.
The visit provided an opportunity to exchange experiences on current educational issues in Estonia and the United States and to showcase Tallinn University’s role in advancing research-based teacher education and educational innovation.