SELFIE tools: supporting digital education in Europe’s schools

When used well, digital tools can boost collaboration, support personalised learning and open up new teaching possibilities. Yet concerns persist around issues such as unequal access, data privacy and how AI helps or hinders learning.
For schools and educators, the key is to help pupils to use digital tools in safe, critical and creative ways and ensuring that use of digital technologies aligns with pedagogical goals.
To support this process, the European Commission developed two free self-reflection tools: and . These tools provide structured ways to reflect on current digital practices and plan for improvement.
The SELFIE tools are designed to be flexible and adaptable to any starting point, to support every school’s and teacher’s unique journey. Available in more than 30 languages, the SELFIE tools have already been used by over 7 million learners and teachers.
SELFIE for Schools: supporting whole school planning
SELFIE for Schools gathers input from school leaders, teachers and pupils to assess how digital technologies are used in different areas of school life. It helps schools explore eight dimensions of digital readiness:
- Leadership
- Collaboration and networking
- Infrastructure and equipment
- Continuing professional development
- Pedagogy: supports and resources
- Pedagogy: implementation in the classroom
- Assessment practices
- Ƶers‘ digital competence
Schools can customise the questions in the tool, and once staff and pupils complete the questions, the school receives a detailed, anonymised report showing aggregated data and insights.
This information supports evidence-based planning, helping school teams to identify their strengths, gaps and priorities for action. Schools can also compare changes over time to see progress.
Sample school report: SELFIE for Schools
Since its piloting and launch in 2018, more than 43,000 schools have used SELFIE for Schools. The questions in the self-assessment are fully aligned with the European Commission’s .
For vocational education and training providers, SELFIE for Schools has a . It includes an adapted set of questions tailored to the needs of schools and companies, to ensure that digital strategies support the work-based as well as school-based components of learning.
SELFIE for Teachers: helping educators to boost their digital skills
SELFIE for Teachers was developed as part of the European Commission’s . The tool, aligned with the (DigCompEdu), enables a deeper dive into digital skills and is strongly rooted in teacher practice.
The questions within the tool focus on six core areas:
- Professional engagement
- Finding and creating digital resources
- Teaching and learning practice
- Pupil assessment
- Empowering learners
- Facilitating student digital competences
Digital Competence Framework for Educators
Once teachers have completed the questions (which takes around 30 minutes), they receive an automated feedback report that highlights strengths and suggests areas for growth.
Sample feedback report - SELFIE for Teachers
Focus on context and needs
The tool is not designed to assess performance, but to empower primary and secondary teachers to reflect on their use of digital technologies. Based on their results, teachers can design their learning pathways to develop their digital competence and confidence.
A group feature allows teams of educators to compare anonymised results and identify their collective training needs. School leaders, teacher educators, public authorities or any group of teachers can use this function to inform professional development planning.
Earlier this year, a version of the tool for early childhood education and care settings was launched in all EU languages. Statements, examples and feedback within the tool correspond to the pedagogical practices of the sector, with an emphasis on safe and developmentally appropriate use by early childhood educators.
All educators who have completed the SELFIE for Teachers self-reflection tool can download a certificate or digital badge. To date, over 270,000 teachers have used the tool.
Further reading
Additional information
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Education type:School Education
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Target audience:TeacherStudent TeacherHead Teacher / PrincipalPedagogical AdviserTeacher EducatorResearcher
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Target audience ISCED:Primary education (ISCED 1)Lower secondary education (ISCED 2)