NAEP Technology Assessment 2012

I’ve just found out I’m going to be part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Technology Assessment development (see the E-school News story: On the way: Nation’s first tech-literacy exam: Tech literacy to be added to Nation’s Report Card beginning in 2012).

The recent NAEP developed assessments for science and math have generally been well received, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the effort to create something similar for technology literacy. Of course I’m curious to see how this will play out, since technology literacy is not a subject or a discipline like math or science.

I’m hoping that part of the solution will be to increase opportunities for students to study real engineering, design and programming in K-12. My background as an electrical engineer is no doubt part of that hope.

There are two committees working on these frameworks, a steering committee and a planning committee. I’m on the planning committee. The first meeting is next week in Washington, DC, and I’ll know a lot more after that. One question I will definitely ask is how transparent the process will be. The last NAEP assessment planning was done before blogs became as ubiquitous as they are now. The eschool news story says there will be public input and hearings, and an extensive review process. Let’s hope this extends out as far as the net reaches.

Update – I’ve been asked to remove the names of the committee members for now…

Stay tuned! – Sylvia

6 Replies to “NAEP Technology Assessment 2012”

  1. Congrats, Sylvia. You know, in Texas we are programmed to believe any assessment not created by Pearson has to be faulty. Prove ’em wrong! 😉 Enjoy the group. It looks like you are in for a challenge with a possibly great outcome.

  2. Sylvia,

    What a plus for us all to have you serving on one of the committees!

    I’ll bet many of your readers are working in districts that have already adopted, or are in the process of adopting, ISTE NETS for their district tech plans. I’m in one of those districts. Before the district will officially adopt tech standards (or any standards), the review committee would like to see benchmarks, same as in the content areas. As you have pointed out, technology literacy is not a subject or discipline. But in glancing through the NEAP draft just posted by the Nat’l Assess Governing Board, I really like the three main areas: Technology & Human Society; the Effects of Technology on the Natural World; Effects of Technology on the World of Information and Knowledge – and the rubric provided for each area. The breakdown into grades 4/8/12 with a statement of what students should know AND what they should be able to do, I think, will ensure that the assessment is not limited to computer labs and hopefully fosters integration across the curriculum.

    Very exciting news,
    Gail

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