Assessing the Effects of ICT in Education

Indicators, Criteria and Benchmarks for International Comparisons

Edited by: Friedrich Scheuermann, Francesc Pedró

Despite the fact that education systems have been heavily investing in technology since the early 1980s, international indicators on technology uptake and use in education are missing. WestEd's Edys Quellmalz contributed a paper to this book, which aims to provide a basis for the design of frameworks, the identification of indicators and existing data sources, as well as gaps in areas needing further research. The contributions stem from an international meeting of experts organized by the Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning, in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, on benchmarking technology use and effects in education.

The contributions clearly demonstrate the need to develop a consensus around approaches, indicators, and methodologies. The book is organized around four blocks: contexts of ICT impact assessment in education, state-of-the-art ICT impact assessment, conceptual frameworks, and case studies.

As technologies and contexts of their use increase, characterizations of 21st century skills have grown beyond operation of computer productivity tools to encompass individuals’ use of the Internet, specialized software, and facility with hand-held and wireless devices. "New literacies" have expanded to refer to expertise in the use of a range of digital media and information and communication technologies exercised in academic and applied settings to solve a range of problems.

Quellmalz's paper addresses:

• Distinguishing features of the multiple frameworks for ICT, 21st century skills, and new literacies.
• Alternative assessment designs and prototype student assessments of new literacies.
• Evidence-centered design methods for establishing technical quality.
• Features of coherent, balanced assessments of new literacies across classroom, district, state, national, and international levels.

A free e-book (PDF) is available at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development website.