ACER has undertaken national and international assessments in the area of Information and Communications Technology and Information Literacy, including the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS), and Australia's National Assessment Program for ICT Literacy (NAP-ICT).
International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS)
ICILS was designed to respond to a question of critical interest today: how well are students prepared for study, work, and life in a digital world? The study measures international differences in students’ computer and information literacy (CIL) – an individual’s ability to use computers to investigate, create and communicate, in order to participate effectively at home, at school, in the workplace and in the community.
ICILS assesses CIL and computer use in students in Grade 8 (or its national equivalent), and participating countries have the option to also assess computational thinking. The study also collects rich contextual information at the student, school and system level in which CIL is developed, providing education systems and policymakers with valuable information about the efficacy of CIL education programs. Participating countries also have an option for their students to complete an assessment of computational thinking (CT) and approaches to writing software programs and applications.
The Australian Council for Educational Research designed and implemented two cycles of the study in 2013 and 2018 for the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). IEA ICILS website
National Assessment Program for ICT Literacy (NAP-ICT)
Under Australia's National Assessment Program, the ICT Literacy sample assessment is administered to a representative sample of Year 6 and Year 10 students. The NAP–ICT Literacy assessment instrument requires students to apply the processes of using digital tools in real-world contexts. ACARA NAP ICT Literacy website
Submissions from 2023
National Assessment Program: ICT Literacy 2022: Public report, Tim Friedman, Kate O'Malley, Zachary Watts, Kristy Osborne, Louise Ockwell, and Laila Helou
National Assessment Program: ICT Literacy 2022: Technical Report, Dominique Hall, Kate O'Malley, Renee Kwong, Emma Camus, Tim Friedman, Kristy Osborne, Zachary Watts, and Dulce Lay
Submissions from 2019
IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 Assessment Framework, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Daniel Duckworth, and Tim Friedman
Preparing for life in a digital world: the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 International Report, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, and Daniel Duckworth
Gender Differences in Computer and Information Literacy: An In-depth Analysis of Data from ICILS, Eveline Gebhardt, Sue Thomson, John Ainley, and Kylie Hillman
Submissions from 2018
NAP sample assessment ICT literacy: years 6 and 10., Julian Fraillon, Eveline Gebhardt, Tim Friedman, Daniel Duckworth, Kate O'Malley, and Kim Vernon
Submissions from 2016
A global measure of digital and ICT literacy skills, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, and Julian Fraillon
Submissions from 2015
ICILS 2013: Australian School data [SAS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Australian School data [SPSS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Australian Student data [SAS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Australian Student data [SPSS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Australian Teacher data [SAS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Australian Teacher data [SPSS], Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ICILS 2013: Information about the Australian data files, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
International Computer and Information Literacy Study: ICILS 2013: Technical Report, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, John Ainley, and Eveline Gebhardt
National Assessment Program : ICT Literacy Years 6 & 10 Report 2014, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Eveline Gebhardt, and John Ainley
Submissions from 2014
ICILS International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2013: At a glance: Highlights from the full Australian report – Australian students’ readiness for study, work and life in the digital age, Lisa De Bortoli, Sarah Buckley, Catherine Underwood, Elizabeth O'Grady, and Eveline Gebhardt
International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2013: Australian students’ readiness for study, work and life in the digital age, Lisa De Bortoli, Sarah Buckley, Catherine Underwood, Elizabeth O'Grady, and Eveline Gebhardt
Preparing for Life in a Digital Age: the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2013 International Report, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, and Eveline Gebhardt
Submissions from 2013
International Computer and Information Literacy Study: Assessment Framework, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, and John Ainley
Submissions from 2012
National Assessment Program : ICT Literacy Years 6 and 10 report 2011, John Ainley, Julian Fraillon, Eveline Gebhardt, and Wolfram Schulz
National Assessment Program : ICT literacy 2011 : Year 6 and Year 10 : technical report, Eveline Gebhardt, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Kate O'Malley, Chris Freeman, Martin Murphy, and John Ainley
Submissions from 2010
National assessment program : ICT literacy years 6 & 10 report 2008, John Ainley; Julian Fraillon; Chris Freeman; and Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA)
Submissions from 2008
National Assessment Program : Information Communication and Technology Literacy : year 6 and year 10 : technical report 2005, John Ainley, Julian Fraillon, Chris Freeman, and Martin Murphy
Submissions from 2007
National assessment program : ICT literacy years 6 & 10 report 2005, John Ainley; Julian Fraillon; Chris Freeman; and Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)