What this OECD E&A review has already achieved :

Key messages…Synergies for Better Learning: An International Perspective on Evaluation and AssessmentOECD Review on Evaluation and Assessment Frameworks for Improving School OutcomesOslo, Norway, 11-12 April 2013Gábor Halász ELTE University Budapest - NIPE

What this OECD E&A review has already achieved: • The review process has already started to have serious impact in several member countries • Now we have new „encyclopaedia” of E&A policies and practices in the OECD community and this may have long-lasting effects

Achievements so far (continued) • A global „E&A community” seems to emerge whose members • have often been only weakly connected to each other at national level • share a number of basic professional common values • have an increasing influence on many aspects of national school policies

The outcomes of this conference • Systemic approach • Parallel patterns • Balancing functions • Focus on learning • The role of partnership • Areas demanding further reflection and exploration 

Systemic approach • We do not see E&A any more as a simple technical function but as an emerging sub-system of modern education systems • This has several implications

Implications/1 The effective operation and the development of E&A systems require Coherent specific polices that link its components together and become a major ingredient of modern education sector policies Specialised professional knowledge and human/organisational competences Specific mechanisms of social dialogue

Implications/2 There is a need for a continuous refection on E&A policies and practices in the education sector: there has already emerged a growing body of relevant knowledge this has become a kind of specific new knowledge area…(as illustrated well by Graham’s Donaldson lecture) …but more knowledge is needed

Parallel patterns E&A systems are strongly influenced by national administrative and governance cultures (e.g. the specificities of multilevel/multiactor systems, the existence of a good education media, the presence of public sector evaluation reforms etc.) E&A systems are at different stages of development There is no „one size fits all” policy for developing national E&A systems A great potential for mutual learning

Balancing functions E.g. accountability/development There might be one further balance: The direct, immediate impact of E&A on effectiveness/efficiency E&A enhancing the self-regulation capacity for education systems for higher effectiveness/efficiency E&A systems are making education systems more intelligent

E&A creates systemintelligence E&A as knowledge creation and knowledge management Fading borderlines between educational research and E&A (E&A conceived as applied educational research at the intersection of theory, policy and practice) This is more than simple feedback: it creates „double loop learning” (Chris Argyris) in education systems

Focus on learning No one challenged the consensus: everything has to be subordinated to the goal of improving learning outcomes This is absolutely important because the logic of learning determines the logic of E&A systemsLearning centred E&A systems are fundamentally different from E&A systems focussing on other (legal, financial, social etc.) aspects

The role of partnership Working together with social partners in this politically sensitive area at all levels is a must The crucial role of trust Every assessment/evaluation needs a collective interpretation Social partners are source of knowledge and intelligence

Further areas for reflection and possible follow up areas Areas for further reflection and exploration Linkages with other current and future OECD activities

Further areas for exploration Curriculum evaluation Evaluation of study programs Evaluation of textbooks, teaching materials Policy evaluation Impact evaluation of regulatory measures Impact evaluation of development interventions Sustainability and implementation How to make E&A systems more effective and better managed How to make E&A systems develop in time

Linkages with other current and future OECDactivities Skills strategy(going beyond schools – E&A in advanced skills systems) Innovation strategy (E&A for innovation and innovation within E&A systems) NAEC (e.g. micro-data, actor based analysis, strategic state, trust building…) Governing complex education systems(using E&A as a governance tool) Work on efficiency and effectiveness

Thank you for all the thoughts shared! Gábor Halász www.halaszg.ofi.hu

What this OECD E&A review has already achieved :