Direct from Washington, November 2008

Assessing Technical Knowledge

WestEd, an education research and development organization based in San Francisco, will wade into uncharted waters as the developer of the first national assessment of students’ technological knowledge.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has scheduled the first test of technological literacy for the year 2012. Currently, we have no national requirements and no common definition of technological literacy, and few states have adopted separate tests for it. WestEd will recommend the framework and test specifications for the 2012 NAEP, and the NAEP Governing Board is expected to approve the framework and decide which grade level ro test by the end of 2009.

Collaborating with WestEd on the 18-month project are the Council of Chief State School Officers, the International Technology Education Association, the International Society for Technology in Education, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the State Educational Technology Directors. WestEd plans to establish two committees, one of technology experts, engineers, teachers, scientists and policymakers; another of employers. It also will hold public hearings on the upcoming assessment plans.