OECD Conference Educating for Innovative Societies on 26 April 2012 - Session 5: Assessments for Skills in Thinking and Creativity - OECD International Assessment of Problem Solving Skills by Michael Davidson

1. OECD International assessment
of problem solving skills
Educating for Innovative Societies
26 April 2012
Michael Davidson
OECD Directorate for Education

2. The story so far….
• PISA 2003
– Problem solving (paper based)
• PIAAC
– Problem solving in technology‐rich environments
(computer based)
• PISA 2012
– Dynamic problem solving (computer based)
• PISA 2015
– Collaborative problem solving (computer based)

3. PISA 2003 problem solving
• Problem solving is an individual’s ability to use
cognitive processes to confront and resolve real,
cross-disciplinary situations where the solution
path is not immediately obvious and where the
literacy domains or curricular areas that might
be applicable are not within a single domain of
mathematics, science or reading.

4. PISA 2003 problem solving

5. The PISA 2012 definition of problem
solving competency
• problem solving competency is an individual’s
capacity to engage in cognitive processing to
understand and resolve problem situations
where a method of solution is not immediately
obvious. It includes the willingness to engage
with such situations in order to achieve one’s
potential as a constructive and reflective
citizen.

7. PISA 2015 Collaborative problem
solving- challenges
• Group or individual?
• Integration of problem solving skills with student
dispositions towards social interaction?
• Practicalities
– Sampling
– Computer capabilities
– Scoring
• Human-computer approach valid?
– Interactive rather than collaborative?

8. The PISA 2015 definition of
collaborative problem solving (draft)
• Collaborative problem solving competency is
the capacity of an individual to effectively
engage in a process whereby two or more
agents attempt to solve a problem by sharing
the understanding and effort required to come
to a solution.

9. PISA 2015 CPS (draft)
Establishing Taking Establishing
understanding action organisation
Exploring and Understanding
Representing and Formulating
Planning and Executing
Monitoring and Reflecting

10. Thank you.
www.pisa.oecd.org
Sample computer based items: http://erasq.acer.edu.au/