International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2028 - Phase 1

ongoing

ICILS was designed to respond to a question of critical interest: How well are students prepared for study, work, and life in a digital world? ICILS measures international differences in students’ computer and information literacy. This type of literacy refers to students’ ability to use computers to investigate, create, and communicate effectively at home, at school, in the workplace, and in the community. ICILS 2028 (the fourth cycle of ICILS following from 2013, 2018, and 2023) will help countries to assess trends and understand how digital literacy is being planned, resourced, and implemented in schools and classrooms across subject areas and how contextual factors influence and relate to student learning. ICILS is the only international large-scale assessment that focuses solely on digital literacy education and provides measures that can be used to monitor changes in students’ digital literacy achievement over time. It assesses student achievement of eighth graders in the critical areas of computer and information literacy (CIL) as well as computational thinking (CT) skills. In addition, the study collects a rich array of contextual data on students' home and school environments. ICILS provides education systems and policymakers with an important data source on the contexts and outcomes of computer and information literacy-related education programs. After completion of all phases of ICILS, the resulting reports and data are publicly released to allow for continued use of all ICILS outputs in policy analysis and research. ICILS contributes to the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021−2027) to reduce the proportion of eighth-grade students with CIL below Level 2 to less than 15% by 2030. It also helps countries to monitor their own national targets regarding students’ digital competences and provides a solid evidence base for researchers, educators, and policymakers for monitoring progress toward the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.