Experts from various research institutions were invited to the workshop at the beginning of October, with whom the initial considerations on conceptualization, on setting priorities, and on the first examples of test items for a computer-based competency test were discussed. The embedding in the overall survey program of the NEPS as well as the discussion about relevant and complementary constructs (e.g., perspective of parents, teachers, schools) were also topics of the exchange between the LIfBi representatives and the five external experts.

The question of how the definition and measurement of digital competencies can meaningfully complement the construct of ICT literacy, which is already used in NEPS to record and measure information-, computer- and technology-related competencies, was discussed intensively. It was also important to the workshop participants to consider the construct of digital competencies from a cross-life span perspective.

The proposals developed will now be incorporated into further conceptualization and item development. The group is to be established as an expert group for the NEPS (competence development pillar) for the next few years, thus continuing the fruitful exchange on the conceptualization of digital competence in the NEPS.

Members of the expert group „Digital Competencies“:
•    Prof. Dr. Birgit Eickelmann (Universität Paderborn; AG Schulpädagogik)
•    Dr. Martin Senkbeil (Leibniz Institut für Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik, Kiel)
•    Prof. Dr. Katharina Scheiter (Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, Tübingen; AG Multiple Repräsentationen)
•    Prof. Dr. Olga Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia (Johannes Gutenberg Uni Mainz; Wirtschaftspädagogik)
•    Prof. Dr. Marc Stadtler (Ruhr-Universität Bochum; Kompetenzentwicklung und Kompetenzmodellierung)