Can Digital Literacy be measured? ETS (Educational Testing Service) says 'yes' and has developed an assessment called 'The Information and Communication Technology Literacy Assessment'. Then of course, there are others who don't think literacy can be measured with a standardized test. As for me, it all depends on what has been taught/learned, what is being tested and most importantly, what's the objective of the test? Really, there's a big difference between knowing how to create/send emails and sorting information to write a research paper.
Anyway, enjoy this article from The New York Times. Looks like there're many more tests ahead of us!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dear Brenda
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed mandatory to include IT into our curriculum. MOE feels that the inclusion of IT will enhance the multi-faceted aspect of education. IT allows the unique contemporary environment and opportunity to engage students in real time. Via IT engagement, Moe hopes that we could mould our students to be independent, discerning and critical recipients of information, at least at this stage. At the more advance level, it is hoped that the pupils can synthesize new knowledge and information and have the capacity to apply them in order to strive and tackle present issues and challenges in today's highly globalised arena. On the part of educators, the inclusion of IT in the most pervasive manner in the curriculum could indeed prove to be a daunting task for many. The IT sphere is constantly in the state of flux and hence educators have to augment their repertoire of IT skills in order to engage with their students who undoubtedly are more IT savvy. Non-adherence to IT is not a choice anymore as any digression from this prescribed root is now being construed as being outmoded, inefficient and downright banal.
The challenge is how do we all these and still be able to maintain our private domains without intrusion from cyberspace. Furthermore, how do we educate students to discern and distillate proper information from the seemingly unlimited avalanche of sources that they may be able to gain access through the internet?
Dear Brenda
ReplyDeleteFurther to what I have just said:
Literacy can be measured but competency may not be easily assessed. Literacy could be gauged through the various certifications that a person has acquired through workshop trainings or undertaking courses. However, if you do not have enough opportunity to apply your skills, your ability to apply your skills in practical situations may diminish. Gauging your competencies may not be clear cut as assessment could be perception driven at times. For example, if you are required to create a website with basic features, some of your team members may consider you competent if you have simply completed that in the stipulated time. However, if your created website is riddled with problems upon assessing it real time through no fault of your own, any inconvenience cause to any of your team members may colour their perception of you in an adverse manner.
The point is the real test of a person’s proficiency or competency comes into play through the feedback he gets from his involvement in his projects from his team members. Ultimately, everyone’s sense of competency and ability are always subjected to external validation.