Transcript Slide 0

Global Learning Metrics:
Can we measure learning at a globally
comparative level?
Kate Anderson Simons
Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution
Quality-Inequality Quandary:
Transacting Learning Relevance & Teacher Education in South Asia
SAFED Regional Seminar, Lahore, Pakistan, April 4-5 2012
Outline
•
•
•
•
•
Overview of the Global Compact on Learning
Why Global Learning Metrics?
Process to develop Global Learning Metrics
Discussion
Next Steps
What is the Global Compact on Learning?
•
•
•
•
•
Policy agenda with concrete steps for action
Unites education community
Broadens base of support with new actors
Provides various pathways for engagement
Flexible, nimble structure to take advantage
of opportunities
What do we hope GCL will contribute
by 2015?
• Raise profile of education/learning on global
development agenda
• Focus on access plus learning
• Bring together range of actors
• Increase resources and use more effectively
• Expand knowledge base to improve practice
• IMPACT  more children learning
Global Learning Metrics
A small set of internationally comparable
indicators for learning at the early childhood,
primary, and post-primary levels.
Why Global Learning Metrics?
•
•
•
•
Inform post-2015 development agenda
Streamline data collection and analysis
Facilitate comparative data on learning
Improve country-level learning assessment
Why now?
•Expiration of MDGs and plans for what’s next
•Expiration of EFA Goals in 2015
•UNSG’s education initiative
•Increase in capacity and demand for metrics
Global Learning Metrics are:
• Learning outcomes in aggregate
• Developed through a consultative process
• A standard setting/consensus building
exercise
• Intended to look across the child’s life (early
childhood through post-primary)
Global Learning Metrics are not:
• Comprehensive of every aspect of learning
and development
• Used for high-stakes purposes such as
teacher hiring and firing or school closures
• Meant to displace current assessment
measures and efforts
No systematic
measurement
Optimal measurement
Counter-productive
measurement
Results difficult to
interpret
Appropriate length for
reliable and valid results
Too long=fatigue
Too short=invalid
No understanding of
who is learning
Authentically measures
knowledge, skills and
abilities
No sampling strategy Measures learning for
school-age children
Measures ability to take
tests; abilities in LOI only
Inability to pinpoint
problem areas
Used to identify gaps and
improve policies and
programs
Heavy focus on one or
two content areas results
in narrowing curriculum
No accountability
Used to identify and
provide support to
struggling education
systems
High-stakes decisions;
used to punish; fear;
cheating
Measures learning only
for children in school
Current efforts demonstrate will and
capacity to measure learning but…
•Do not cover all countries
•No consensus on standards
•Differences in populations assessed
•Are not conducted across the lifespan
•Primarily focus on literacy and numeracy
Can we measure learning at a globally
comparative level?
Online
Task
Force
Process
In-Person
Consultations
Interviews
Best Practice
Review
Task Force Structure
Co-Chairs
Civil Society, Multilateral, Private Sector
Task Force
Regional Representatives; Multilaterals; Bilateral Donors;
Civil Society
Standards
Working Group
Measures and
Methods Working
Group
Secretariat
Implementation
Working Group
Standards
Early Childhood
Primary
Post-Primary
Working Groups
Measures and Methods
Early Childhood
Primary
Post-Primary
Implementation
Cultural/linguistic
Data
Political buy-in
Discussion
• What other efforts are you aware of to develop
standards and/or compare learning at the
international or regional levels?
• What issues will the Task Force need to address to
develop global learning standards and metrics at the:
• Early childhood
• Primary
• Post-primary levels?
Next steps
• Task Force Meeting #1
• Recruit Working Groups
• Consultative process—online,
consultations, interviews, best practices
• Issue briefs: Global Assessment Mapping
and Outlining Poles of Debate
Get involved
•Working Groups
•Host in-person consultations
•Online consultation (end of April):
www.globalcompactonlearning.org
Contact: [email protected]