Digital literacy strong in Irish youths

IRISH TEENAGERS are above average at reading digital and online texts, according to an educational study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The latest volume of the organisation’s Programme for International Student Assessment measured the ability of 15-year-old students to read, understand and apply digital texts, including e-mails and websites.

It found Irish teenagers ranked seventh out of 16 OECD states – behind South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Japan but ahead of countries such as Belgium, Norway and France.

The above-average result contrasts with the poor performance of Irish students in traditional paper-based literacy tests, published by the OECD last year.

A striking feature of the latest study was that fewer students (12 per cent) across all participating countries had difficulties in digital reading compared with those who struggled in the traditional paper-based test (17 per cent). Ireland’s average score on the digital reading assessment, at 509 points, was 13 points higher than its average score of 496 points on the paper-based test.

While girls performed better than boys in every OECD country, the digital-reading difference was less than in paper-based reading.

Girls scored an average of 24 points more than boys in digital reading, compared to 39 points more in print, equal to one year of schooling. In Ireland, the difference between boys and girls decreased from 39 points for paper to 31 points for digital. “Harnessing boys’ relatively strong digital-reading performance may be a way to improve their overall reading ability and engagement,” the report recommended.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn cautiously welcomed the results. “While it is reassuring to see that Irish students compare very well with their OECD counterparts in this study, there is clearly no room for complacency about reading standards in our schools.”

Sheila Nunan of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said: “Contrary to what was claimed by many commentators last year when the results of the print-reading tests were announced, there is no meltdown in Irish educational standards.”

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland representative Pat King said the report indicated that Irish schools and students had embraced new technology and “teachers are steadily weaving technology into the fabric of second-level education”.

The report indicated that the percentage of students using computers in Irish schools, at 62.9, was significantly lower than the OECD average of 74.2 per cent.

Head of education policy at employers’ group Ibec Tony Donohoe said: “Ireland’s ability to remain a leading provider of technology-based goods and services is dependent on digital literacy levels. These figures demonstrate the gap that we have to close.”

DIGITAL READING WHAT IS IT?:ACCORDING TO the OECD, the assessment of digital reading measures the new competencies useful in the 21st century.

These range from online job applications to filling in tax forms and buying train tickets. Knowing how to navigate through and read digital texts is essential for anyone who wants to participate fully in the information-based society.

This assessment is the first international assessment of digital reading. It is conducted according to the same quality criteria used for other assessments in print reading, maths and science.

These criteria are internationally recognised for their high levels of reliability.