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ECDL for Educators, Research
An evaluation of ICT skills training in context
Margaret Danby and Christina Preston, MirandaNet
overview
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report
Governments across the world are introducing computers in schools for a range of reasons which include increasing the numbers of knowledge workers, creating an Information Technology literate workforce, transforming learning opportunities and improving democratic participation. Each government has to decide, therefore, how to introduce computers in a meaningful way.
As
a consequence of these government initiatives, teachers are being required to
make changes to their professional practice.
Even today few initial teacher training programmes cover the use of
computers in classrooms adequately. In
cases where training institutions are up to date, teachers still require regular
top up training during their service. In
recognition of these issues in the UK, teachers were engaged on the New
Opportunities Fund (NOF) ICT training for Teachers and School Librarians from
1999-2003. This national training
programme promoted the use of computers in the classroom.
The most recent evaluation suggests that some teachers were unable to
take effective advantage of this offer to concentrate on pedagogy because their
basic ICT skills level was not high enough.
(Preston 2004)
This
evaluation focuses on “ECDL for
Educators: ICT skills training in context”, a course which can be applied
internationally to raise computer skills levels by using contextual exercises
that are of relevance to the teachers. The
course provides teachers, teaching assistants and other educators with an
internationally recognised accreditation of their ICT competency.
The syllabus is mapped against version 3 and version 4 of the European
Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), which is an internationally recognised computer
skills qualification. Another version of this course used outside Europe is
called the International Computer Driving Licence.
The
“ECDL Foundation” is the global governing body for ECDL and ICDL member
countries. The British Computer Society, is the appointed ECDL licensee
for the UK. This evaluation, which will be published in September 2004,
was commissioned by Aston Swann with the support of the British Computer
Society. The current interim report, December 2003 (attached), explores early
training issues and defines the areas to be researched in depth and will
shortly be made available on the www.educatorsecdl.com,
www.mirandanet.ac.uk and www1.bcs.org.uk
web sites (exact URLs to be advised).
The
interim report is available in PDF format,
for your consideration.
“The
ECDL for Educators courseware is an adaptation specifically for teachers”
“The
paper-based materials give easy to follow step-by-step guidance on the
techniques and routines required to fulfil the ECDL syllabus…
“The
focus is entirely on the computer skills and what they enable the user to do,
but the exemplar files are customised to present activities that educators would
readily recognise as being relevant to their work. Whilst many of the activities
focus on administrative tasks such as those addressed by the DfES Workforce
Remodelling initiative, others are included to show educators how they might
develop teaching resources.”
“The
ECDL for Educators courseware is of good quality and should enable participants
to successfully develop the skills specified in the ECDL syllabus. In relation
to the criteria for effective ICT training, it is relevant to the tasks teachers
need to do”
It
throws up some unexpected observations:
“Women
outnumber men by more than 2:1 but are less likely than men to claim high levels
of experience or confidence in using ICT.”
“[Existing
users] have less experience of preparing automated presentations or of
undertaking the kind of investigations and analyses that spreadsheets and
databases now enable them to do and it is in these new areas that their
confidence is weakest.”
“That
so many of the participants claim high levels of ICT confidence at the outset of
the course is somewhat surprising given that the ECDL for Educators is a course
in essential ICT skills. This suggests that, for some at least, boosting their
ICT skills is not the main reason for undertaking training.”
Debbie
Skyrme
Aston
Swann, Coach House, Highfield,
Hampton
Bishop, Hereford, HR1 4JN, UK
T:
+44(0) 1432 341 344
F:
+44(0) 1432 272 806