[vicsireland] ICS Skills targets new digital divide in jobs market

From: Joan Ann Brosnan <kerrygirl18@xxxxxxxxx>
To: vicsireland <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 10:36:34 +0000
ICS Skills targets new digital divide in jobs market

Version 6 will offer professional modules

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is to undergo a radical
overhaul this year as it seeks to address the digital divide in the
workforce and the classroom.

Speaking at the 15th National IT Training Conference at Dublin's
Crowne Plaza Hotel last Friday, ICS CEO Skills chief executive officer
Jim Friars said Ireland was "facing a difficult time as far as
employability is concerned" and that the ECDL represented an
opportunity to address that issue.

Addressing the assembled audience of ECDL trainers from throughout
Ireland, deputy ECO Mary Cleary spoke about the progress ICS Skills
has made since its formation in 1997, specifically the awarding of its
500,000th ECDL cert. Cleary also noted the past year alone had seen
30,000 ECDL course registrations,
21,000 certificates issued and 10,000 registrations in additional
programmes like ChooseIT, F1 in Schools and Scratch aimed at secondary
schools. A new campaign, Come back to ECDL, will invite certificate
holder from previous years to come up to speed with current trends. A
non-certified Get into IT programme will act as an introductory course
for people with no previous experience of using a computer.

The issue of teaching ECDL in secondary schools in addition to a
separate subject of computer science at Junior Cert level was also
discussed, with the difference between the applied and abstract nature
of IT recognised as required entirely different skill sets, both of
which are required by the jobs market.


Cleary said second level education had to reflect young people's
familiarity with IT outside school and integrate it into the
classroom, instead of as a standalone subject. "Students who use
technology as part of the learning process perform better in school,
are more motivated and enjoy learning more."

Also unveiled at the event was a proposed version six of the ECDL
syllabus. As with previous iterations, the course will require
students to complete seven modules from a choice of 14. A revised set
of modules will include three core subjects to which students will be
require to add one module from either a professional subject like
project management or an application like online collaboration tools,
before taking a further three subjects of their choice.

The role of IT in the classroom at second and third level was further
explored by Eoin McDonnell of Queen Mary University, London in his
discussion of lecture capturing technology; and Gwen Noone of ICS
Skills and mark Melia of Enovation on ICS Grid, a virtual learning
environment and repository of educational material for secondary
schools.

Developments in social media were discussed by Conor Lynch of
Socialmedia.ie, while Andrew Keogh of Aristo.ie spoke on the topic of
business pitching skills.

The finalised syllabus for ECDL Version 6 will be published later this year.

TechCentral Reporters

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[vicsireland] ICS Skills targets new digital divide in jobs market

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