National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement - Technology 2016 Key Findings

In 2016, the National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement (NMSSA) assessed student achievement at Year 4 and Year 8 in two learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) - technology and learning languages. This report provides findings on an additional area of research in 2016 – the use of digital technologies for teaching and learning.
Technology
The NZC1 defines the focus of technology to be for 'students to learn to be innovative developers of products and systems and discerning consumers who will make a difference in the world' (p. 17).

The technology learning area comprises three strands: Technological Practice (knowing how to plan for practice, develop a brief and evaluate a range of outcomes); Technological Knowledge (knowing what key concepts underpin technological development and outcomes) and Nature of Technology (knowing why technology is influenced by, and influences, historical, social, environmental and cultural events).

Technological literacy is at the heart of technology education and is developed by exposure to a wide range of relevant learning experiences. Technological literacy enables students to live with, critique and contribute to technological developments that shape their lives.

Study features
NMSSA used a two-step sampling procedure to select 100 schools at each year level and up to 27 students within each school. The nationally representative sample at each year level was made up of about 2,300 students (see Appendix 1, Technical Information 2016 report).