IT Boost - Systematic support for school development in the digital age

IT Boost (IThoog) is an Estonian school-focused programme that helps to systematize the development of informatics education, the digital competences of students, and AI literacy in schools. The focus of the programme is not on the use of individual digital tools, but on a more holistic view of how to design the curriculum, teaching, teacher collaboration and school leadership in a way that is thoughtful and sustainable in the development of digital skills.

IThoog combines school self-assessment, mentoring, professional development for teachers, practical tools and planning of the school's own development activities. The programme is supported by Tallinn University and the Estonian Education and Youth Board, and each participating school shapes its development path based on its own needs. The school is not given a single ready-made solution that everyone should implement in the same way.

Developments throughout the academic year

The IThoog development programme lasts for one academic year. During this time, the school will analyse its current situation, set goals and plan concrete steps for the development of informatics education and digital competence. The programme is open to schools where informatics education is still developing, as well as those where several solutions are already working, but there is a desire to integrate them better.

The school's own steering group, which includes at least one member of the management team, participates in the programme. Depending on the needs of the school, the team may also include an informatics teacher, an educational technologist and other staff involved in digital competence, curriculum or school development. In this way, the development of digital skills does not remain the responsibility of a single teacher or educational technologist, but is viewed as a joint development of the whole school.

At least four development programme meetings will take place during the academic year. These cover, among others, the Informatics syllabus, the development of digital and informatics competences, in-school roles and responsibilities, learning materials and learning environments, and change management. The aim of the meetings is not only to gain new knowledge, but to find ways to put it into practice in the school.

Self-assessment helps to find the areas for development within the school

At the beginning of the programme, the school will assess its current state of play in the development of informatics education and digital skills. The goal of self-assessment is not to compare schools, but to help each school identify its own strengths and key areas for development.

At the end of the school year, the self-assessment will be re-performed. In this way, the school will be able to see what changes have taken place during the programme and what needs to be further developed.

The mentor supports the school throughout the programme

Each school participating in the programme has its own mentor who supports the school team throughout their development journey. The mentor attends joint meetings of the programme and meets regularly with the school team between them. At least one meeting will take place on-site at the school.

The mentor helps the school to understand the results of the self-assessment, set realistic development goals, plan and implement activities, and find suitable materials and good practices. At the same time, the mentor does not make decisions for the school – developments and activities remain under the school’s own direction.