At the Learning and Technology World Forum in London, Cisco, Intel and Microsoft unveiled plans to underwrite a research project to develop new assessment approaches, methods and technologies for measuring the success of teaching and learning in classrooms around the world.
“In the global economy, it is the world’s best performing education systems, not simply improvement by national standards, that have become the yardstick for educational success,” said Andreas Schleicher, Head of Education Indicators and Analysis, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
To compare education systems across the globe, technology-based assessments will be critical. This project brings together key partners that can help make this happen.
The three companies appointed Barry McGaw to head the project. McGaw has served as the director for Education at OECD. He was involved with international education assessments in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA),
McGaw will oversee an executive committee, project lead team, and up to 50 leading experts and innovators in academia and government, to collaborate on the research and assist in influencing the development of future international and national assessments.
The three companies called for educational leaders, governments and other corporations to join in the effort.
For more information about getting involved in the project, contact Barry McGaw bmcgaw@unimelb.edu.au.
Source:
Learning and Technology World Forum, January 12-14, 2009
Cisco, Intel and Microsoft Lead Collaboration to Improve Global Education Assessments
Related Research: Transforming Education: Assessing and Teaching the Skills Needed in the 21st Century: A Call to Action. Intel, Microsoft and Cisco Education Taskforce, September 1, 2008.