Scottish schools are at a pivotal moment in their journey toward meaningful technology integration. At a recent leadership event in Edinburgh, education leaders explored the insights provided by SMART Technologies’ EdTech Assessment Tool. Designed to evaluate and align technology practices with global best practices, this tool helps schools identify strengths, gaps, and actionable pathways to improve outcomes. It’s backed by global research frameworks, including those from the OECD, UNESCO, and the European Commission.

The focus areas uncovered for Scotland—teacher participation in tech planning, student involvement in decision-making, approaches to new technologies, and evaluating tech effectiveness—resonated deeply with the audience. Here’s how the event unfolded and what’s next for Scottish schools.

Reflecting on current practices

The EdTech Assessment Tool invites schools to reflect on their practices through a guided survey that asks about development across 25 global best practices in areas like strategic planning, infrastructure, and professional development. Scotland schools are performing really well in areas like Cyber Security and Data Privacy, along with assessment of student progress.it also identified key areas for focus.

Leaders shared how the process not only helped them identify areas of strength but also opened new conversations.

One attendee remarked: "When I saw the results, I realised we’ve done well to bring students into conversations about classroom tech. But the data showed us where we could do better—particularly in how we evaluate the long-term effectiveness of our tools."

Charlie Love,  Quality Improvement Officer – Digital at Aberdeen City Council noted: "Completing the SMART EdTech Assessment Tool, reflecting on Aberdeen City's Education Transformation Programme, was an invaluable opportunity to consider the progress we’ve made and identify the next steps in our journey. Engaging in the discussion at the SMART Event provided a broader perspective, allowing us to see our efforts in the context of other local authorities. This not only highlighted our strengths but also shed light on areas for further development, reinforcing our commitment to continuous improvement in delivering impactful education through technology." 

Four key areas: a roadmap for growth

The tool pinpointed critical areas for Scottish schools to focus on – these areas are highly important to outcomes, and currently have a lot of room for improvement based on the aggregated survey results.

• Teacher Participation in Tech Planning
  Effective tech use starts with teachers. While many schools have strong tech champions, the data revealed that a system-wide approach, where all staff feel equipped and empowered at all points in the tech journey, is essential.
• Student Involvement in Decision-Making
  Engaging students in technology planning ensures solutions are both relevant and impactful. Schools with student tech councils were recognised as role models in this area.
• Approach to New and Emerging Technologies
  The assessment underscored a cautious but curious attitude toward emerging tech like AI and AR. Leaders recognised the need for professional learning to build confidence in piloting these tools.
• Evaluating Tech Effectiveness
  Measuring the impact of technology on learning outcomes remains a challenge. Several schools shared a desire for frameworks that go beyond anecdotal evidence to truly gauge what’s working.

Sharing the insights

At the event, SMART facilitated a collaborative session where leaders discussed their data with peers.

For many, it was a powerful moment of reflection. Jim McLean, Education Support Officer, Digital Pedagogy for Aberdeenshire Council says: "The SMART Ed Tech Assessment Tool, when used by individual schools, allows our Head Teachers to prioritise the individual elements, so it could be seen if more professional learning is required for teachers to support deeper student learning, and the head teachers can use the results as a roadmap to enhance all aspects of learning and teaching."

Another noted that "Hearing that others face similar challenges reassured me. The SMART tool helped us see ourselves clearly and gave us actionable next steps."

What’s next for Scottish Schools?

The session concluded with a shared commitment to act on the findings in ways that work for each individual school and system. Here’s how some of the schools who attended plan to move forward:

• Professional Development for Teachers
  Schools will invest in targeted CPD programs to broaden teacher participation in tech planning and implementation.
• Student Tech Councils
  More schools intend to formalise student roles in tech decision-making, ensuring their voices shape the future of digital learning.
• Pilot Projects for Emerging Tech
  Schools expressed interest in running small-scale pilots for AI and AR tools, using a structured evaluation process to track impact.
• Impact Measurement Frameworks
  Leaders will explore tools and resources to evaluate the effectiveness of their technology investments, sharing best practices across networks.

Final thoughts

The SMART EdTech Assessment Tool is more than a survey; it’s a mirror that reflects where schools stand and a compass that points them toward strategic growth. As Gemma Sanderson, Education Support Officer, Digital Learning at Fife Council put it:

“It was great to see the survey data for Scotland and where our strengths and areas for development lie. It’s helped for us as a local authority to reflect on our priorities and to make connections with others in Scotland so that we can work together.”

The commitment from Scotland’s education leaders is inspiring, and SMART is pleased to support this journey. Tune in to the upcoming new season of Bett’s ‘EdTech Unwrapped’ podcast to hear more leaders chat about their current challenges, their reflections on completing the EdTech Assessment Tool, and what’s next for their schools.

Learn more about the EdTech Assessment Tool, and get started with it for yourself today. Try the Assessment Tool here!