Some preliminary info about the ETS ICT Literacy Assessment

I attended a general webinar session about the new Information and Communication Technology Assessment test from Educational Testing Service. Here are some of my notes and observations about the webinar and the product.

On their website, there is a fancy set up that illustrates some sample questions. My initial reaction was that it was geared much more towards technology literacy and less focused on information stuff. However, since these were only sample questions I'm not sure how everything comes out in the end. Some of the sample questions included using boolean (and other) operators to search a database and the ability to evaluate web pages returned from a search.

The test was developed to utilize ACRL standards, and tests several different types of "ICT literacy" including "Define, Access, Manage, integrate, Evaluate, Create, Communicate." The test uses simulated software versions of spreadsheets, databases, email programs and search engines.

The test consists of several 3-5 minute tasks and one 15 minute task. Because the questions aren't multiple choice, the scoring looks at how the students accomplish the tasks they are set. One advantage that an online test would have is the ability to evaluate and record the steps a student takes. It doesn't rely on the answers to multiple choice questions.

The test must be used in a proctored setting, so students couldn't take the test on their own. The questions tried to ask questions based on academic questions, workplace questions, and other "real-life" situations.