Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

National Assessment Program – ICT Literacy Years 6 & 10.

This report provides the results of 10,562 Australian students by state, territory and student sub-groups and provides details of their achievement on the most recent test of ICT literacy. In addition to the test of ICT knowledge and skills, students were surveyed about their ICT perceptions and their use of ICT in schools and at home. While the survey results clearly confirm the general belief that Australian students are frequent users of computer technology and continue to express interest and enjoyment when working with computers, this report shows a significant decline in their ICT literacy performance when compared to previous cycles. In 2014, the mean performance of Year 6 compared to those who participated in the last assessment in 2011 was significantly lower. Similarly, the mean performance of Year 10 students was significantly lower than the Year 10 mean performance in all previous NAP – ICT literacy assessments. Also declining was the percentage of students in Year 6 and Year 10 meeting the NAP – ICT literacy proficient standards. These declines in performance are concerning and warrant serious attention.