Patricia Wastiau, Principal Adviser for Studies and Development, was the public speaker for European Schoolnet at the forum, taking part of the panel “21st century education policy and research”. Her speech addressed the knowledge we have through research to inspire 21 century education, and particularly the use of ICT to boost innovation in education.

She first referred to two reports about the results of  international studies: 1. we know from PISA that actualeducation systems do not perform outstandingly in teaching what is considered as 21st century key competences, i.e. problem solving, learning to learn, decision taking, etc.. 2. We also know from SITES 2006 (Second Information Technology in Education Study) that equipping schools with hardware and software doesn't correlate with the use if ICT in the teaching and learning process and that the best positive predictor of the use of ICT in this process is the pedagogical ICT skills of the teachers.

She then analized the recent research about ICT potential to inspire the re-design of 21st century education systems, and particularly their three pillars, i.e. the curriculum, the assessment and the teaching. ICT-based curriculum in each subject would contribute to implement needed individualisation of the learning process and provide opportunities to the learner to apply its theoretical knowledge to real world situations. An ICT-based assessment, that should measure ICT skills as such, would make possible to reflect the curriculum approach in terms of individualisation, and offer large feed back information on the cognitive process of the pupils being evaluated. The ICT-oriented teaching process should be supported by a systemic approach combining teacher training schemes providing role models and concrete examples of use of ICT in pedagogical activities, schools level vision about the use of ICT in schools and clear general policy framework also providing flexibility for the change to happen.

The speech concluded with the underlining of the fact that education systems have been largely reformed during the two last decades. Large teacher training programmes, important investment in ICT hardware and software equipment, and - perhaps most importantly - profound curriculum reforms nowadays more and more defined in terms of skills rather than content, as well as autonomy given to the local and institutional levels are four main domains where reforms have been numerous in many countries. All these reforms have substantially changed the educational landscape throughout Europe, even at slow pace. It nevertheless testifies that education systems are able to evolve, and that even if the journey to 21st century education systems will be long, conditions are in place for it to happen.

The forum was an opportunity for public and private bodies to approach each other and exchange ideas on how to face the challenge, and possibly create partnerships to enforce the promotion of a 21st Century education as global as possible.

This get-together is one of the biggest educational technology events world wide. During the course of the briefing there were demonstrations on how technology is a tool for teaching and learning, the latest uses of technologies for this purpose, and proof of the experienced results.

To read more about the event: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/jan09/01-12MSEduJanPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases
About European Schoolnet: European Schoolnet (www.europeanschoolnet.org) is a unique not-for-profit consortium of 31 ministries of education in Europe created in 1997. It provides major European education portals for teaching, learning and collaboration and leads the way in bringing about change in schooling through the use of new technology.