Ontario students scored among the highest in computer literacy, in an international test. Last year, they were part of the 60,000 grade 8 students, young people of 13 or 14 years of age, in 20 countries that took part in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study.
ListenThe students were tested on basic skills, such as saving and copying a document, creating and modifying text and using several applications at once. They also had to answer a questionnaire, as did their teachers, principals and technology co-ordinators. Principals and teachers were also queried on their attitudes to technology in the classroom.
In Canada, only Ontario and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador participated in the test. Ontario tied statistically for the top spot with both Australia and the Czech Republic.
“Students are being engaged in more appropriate ways”
Bruce Rodrigues, CEO of the Education Quality and Accountability Office, said the results suggest the effort to integrate technology into the classroom are a success.
“The reason that’s important is that as we move into looking at some of the global competencies in innovation… students will need to be able to be nimble with the use of computers to compete in the global economy.”
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