WS E: No way out? Researching the digital divide with the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS)

The primary objective of this workshop is to explore how data from IEA’s International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) can be used for research on how well students are prepared for study, work, and life in a digital world. The workshop will put emphasis on how data related to computer and information literacy could provide further insights for policy and practice. 

This course will introduce participants to ICILS 2023. Its database is publicly available and provides a rich source for research related to students’ capabilities to engage with nowadays opportunities and challenges of the digital world. In 2023, 27 European education systems participated in the study. As ICILS 2023 was the third cycle of the study since its start in 2013, there is also potential to look into trends over time.

The course will include an overview of ICILS, covering background, conceptual framework, design and some key findings. Participants will be introduced to the survey instruments, database, access paths to data sources, technical documentation, analysis guides, and software tools. They will also learn about available variables such as students’ computer and information literacy, their computational thinking capabilities, opportunities to learn about the digital world at school, the students’ home context, as well as class- and school-level learning contexts.

With this information, participants will formulate and discuss research questions that can be addressed with ICILS data. The instructors will be available to mentor the development of research ideas and design as well as to answer data related and technical questions. Research questions from individual attendants will be presented to all participants to provide opportunities to share ideas. 

No prior knowledge about ICILS or any international large-scale assessments is required. Basic knowledge about statistical analysis is not required but is an advantage. A laptop with the IEA IDB Analyzer and statistical software (SPSS or R/RStudio) installed is required if participants want to work on the analyses in the hands-on part of the workshop.

Draft Agenda as PDF