Serving an ACE

[plakboek]

Last year, the Australian Government commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to investigate and report on models for an Australian Certificate of Education. The 224 page ACE investigation report is now available for download.

Page 100 of the report lists the MCEETYA PMRT definition of ICT Literacy. A considerable amount of work has been undertaken in recent years to conceptualise and define some basic ICT Literacy skills. I helped contribute to some ICT focus groups run by the VCAA last year.

The report recommends the introduction of a national, generic testing of four key capabilities including:

• Reading Literacy
• Mathematical Literacy
• Written English
• ICT Literacy

I have a concern that evaluating ICT skills to access, manage and evaluate information might only consider the student as a passive ICT consumer and not as an interactive user, active builder and innovative team contributor. We have responsibility to ensure that all our students have mastered an adequate level of ICT literacy and functional technology skills. Using Google, e-mail, Word and PowerPoint alone is not sufficient for working in the new, interactive world powered by the Web 2.

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.