There are ICT courses for beginners and advanced users, specific ICT skills or a broad range of them, as well as GCSE, A-level and vocational studies.

Things to consider:

* the content - is it relevant and up-to-date?

* how balanced it is - is the course mostly theory or mainly practical? z how flexible it is - can you mix and match modules for example? Some courses allow work to be sent to the examiner via computer, which can save time.

Despite the New Opportunities Fund ICT training initiative and the fact that all newly qualified teachers now have to have basic ICT skills, many teachers still want to take an ICT course. If you’re planning to do a course of your own, check what materials are used (books? CD-Roms? The internet?), how much it costs (the total package, not just the enrolment or training fees) and the amount of tutorial support available - does it include telephone or email support for example? And last but not least, how much time are you going to need to complete it?

The examination consortium OCR (Oxford Cambridge RSA) offers the CLAIT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology) scheme, which comprises several levels, outlined here. More than 300,000 students enrol for CLAIT each year.

“Student ages range from eight to 80, and some primary and secondary schools are using CLAIT both for teachers and students,” says Mary Bennett, OCR’s associate director of vocational assessment.

OCR level 1 certificate for IT users (New CLAIT)

This is run in conjunction with the BBC as part of a scheme called Becoming WebWise and is an update of RSA Clait stage 1. Units include using a computer, word processing, electronic communication, spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing, computer art, web pages, presentation graphics.

www.ocr.org.ukschemesitwebwisewebwise.htm

OCR level 2 certificate for IT users (CLAIT Plus)

Units include creating, managing and integrating files, electronic communication, spreadsheets, databases, desktop publishing, computer art, web pages, presentation graphics.

OCR level 3 certificate for IT users (CLAIT Advanced)

Starts this September. Units include understanding IT, managing IT resources, creating IT solutions, advanced document production, advanced spreadsheets, advanced databases.

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is designed for people who wish to gain a basic qualification in computing to help them with their job, develop their IT skills or enhance their career prospects.

Over 300,000 candidates in the UK have either completed or are studying ECDL, and there are 1,800 test centres. The EDCL qualification is recognised by 60 countries and in the UK is administered by the British Computer Society.

The ECDL syllabus aims to cover the key concepts of computing, its practical applications and their use in the workplace and society. The syllabus consists of seven modules covering basic concepts of IT, using the computer and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, information and communication.

Robert May, ECDL’s brand manager, says most students are from industry, although a growing number are coming from education. Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and the University of Gloucestershire, for example, use ECDL to improve staff skills.

Les Watson, GCU’s pro vice-chancellor, learning and information services, says: “With the increasing use of ICT in the workplace, I think schools have a duty to consider using schemes such as CLAIT and EDCL to ensure that their pupils are technologically literate and therefore stand a better chance of gaining employment.”

However, there is no such thing as the perfect course, and Watson is concerned that ICT courses tend to focus on developing skills rather than an intuitive knowledge of using ICT: “It’s like driving a car. If you understand a little about what’s going on under the bonnet that helps you handle the car better. You really need an experiential learning process to achieve this in ICT.”

Other courses available are:

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)

GCE

Advanced subsidiary and A2 units

Advanced subsidiary VCE and advanced VCE

GCSE

Foundation and higher tier

Short course, foundation and higher

GNVQ

Part one foundation and foundation GNVQ

Part one intermediate and intermediate GNVQ

Edexcel

GCE (AS and A2 levels) in ICT

Both courses are concerned with systems administration, management, the generation of applications and the responsible use of computer-stored information.

GCSE in ICT (including short course option)

Edexcel provides a number of ideas for coursework projects covering areas such as spreadsheet and database works, word processing, desktop publishing, data logging and control, website publishing, multimedia and programming.

Edexcel also offers free in-service training consisting of half-day courses to focus on models of delivery for the new ICT specification (11853185), and sharing good practice in preparing candidates for practical project work. Training in ICT skills for teachers and classroom assistants is also available.

There is also a range of BTEC qualifications from the Nationals in ICT through Firsts and up to Higher National Diploma in ICT and computing.

Oxford Cambridge RSA (OCR)

AS-level

Information and communication technology

Computing

A-level

Information and communication technology

Computing

GCSE

Information and communication technology A

Information and communication technology B

Information and communication technology A (short course)

Information and communication technology B (short course)

Vocational GCSE (starts this September)

GCSE in applied ICT

Entry level certificate

Information and communication technology

GNVQ

ICT - foundation

ICT - intermediate

AS VCE

Information and communication technology

AVCE

Information and communication technology

AVCE (double award)

Information and communication technology

NVQ

Using IT levels 1, 2 and 3

Using IT for teleworking level 2

Managing IT for teleworking level 3

Operating IT systems levels 2 and 3

Installing and supporting IT systems levels 2 and 3

Developing IT programs level 2

Developing IT systems levels 3 and 4

Managing IT systems level 4

OCR “own brand” qualifications

Clait (see above)

Basic skills

Using information and communication technology

Key skills levels 1-4

IT teachertrainer qualifications

Certificate in ICT for teachers and trainers

Diploma in ICT for teachers and trainers

Integrated business technology stage II (IBT II)

Integrated business technology stage III (IBT III)

Cambridge certificate in information technology (CIT)

Cambridge diploma in information technology (DIT)

Internet technologies - level 1

Computer maintenance and installation (A+) level 2

www.aqa.org.uk

www.clait.co.uk

www.ecdl.co.uk

www.edexcel.org.uk www.edexcel.org.uk

www.ocr.org.uk

George Cole