(Critical) Media Literacy in International Large Scale Assessment

International Large Scale Assessments like, for example, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) or the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS), assess students’ competencies, attitudes, and context of learning around the globe. Results of International Large Scale Assessments are used for monitoring and reporting on the progress of educational systems. Their data guides educational policies, funding, and development programs. Indicators which are being measured by these assessments thus play an important role in shaping the school system of the future.

Lately, LSA have been including constructs of competencies which address 21^st century skills, such as problem solving, global competence, and aspects of media usage. These studies also provide so called context indicators on teaching and learning settings alongside beliefs and attitudes of students, which help analysing the role of schools and teachers in supporting students’ competencies.

This presentation will discuss if, and how, the aspect of critical medial literacy can be found in the assessment frameworks of these studies. Moreover, differences in students’ performance between educational systems based on the current results will be highlighted.