Computer Competency Testing and Training

Competency Placement Testing 1.One in three students will attempt a basic skills course in their academic career at a California community college. 2.In any given semester, 20 percent of students are enrolled in at least one basic skills course. 3.Approximately 88 percent of students assessed in math do not place into transfer-level math. 4.Approximately 75 percent of students assessed in English do not place into transfer-level English. Board of Governors California Community Colleges January 13-14, 2003

Computer Skills Mandate 1.Like Math and English, Computer skills are necessary to thrive in today’s academic and economic environments. 2.The Board of Governors issued a policy statement in The New Basic Agenda: Policy Directions for Student Success (1996) that “students must learn how to acquire, manage, and analyze large quantities of information.

In 1996, former President Clinton introduced the Technology Literacy Challenge for schools. He said: "Every single child must have access to a computer, must understand it, must have access to good software and good teachers and to the Internet, so that every person will have the opportunity to make the most of his or her own life“. Computer Skills Mandate

1.Concepts of Information Technology 2.Using a Computer and Managing Files 3.Word processing 4.Spreadsheets 5.Databases 6.Presentations 7.Information and Communication 8.Social Impacts and Ethics (our addition to the international modules) Necessary Competencies

However! 1.Most students graduating from our high schools do not demonstrate appropriate Computer skills. 2.Many barely know how to type 3.They often don’t know what spreadsheets, or databases are. 4.Few students have the training needed to take full advantage of the information processing tools they need.

1.To promote and encourage computer literacy for all. 2.To ensure an understanding of best practices and the advantages of efficient computer use. 3.To provide a uniform, global certification for all participants, irrespective of nationality, residence, education, age or sex. Objectives

1.The International Standard of Basic Computer Competence. 2.The ICDL is a certificate that verifies competence in computer use across most commercial software platforms (Microsoft, Apple, Unix, etc). 3.Designed to help people in their everyday computing tasks ICDL

IC3 1.Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³) 2.Provides core skills and knowledge necessary to use computer applications and the Internet. 3.Effectively tests computing knowledge and skills to ensure mastery is achieved. 4.Provides the necessary foundations to enhance productivity and marketability.

Other Options 1.Skill Check or other testing and training systems. 2.Building, evaluating, and getting approval for our own tests and courses. 3.Requiring all students to take introductory courses.

ICDL as an Example 1.An ICDL candidate must successfully show competency in ALL 7 modules before the ICDL is awarded. 2.An ICDL test is a maximum duration of 45 minutes. 3.The pass rate for all 7 modules is 75%. 4.We will include Social Impacts and Ethics as an 8 th module.

The Skills Card

The Licence

The ICDL Start Certificate 1. Issued once a candidate shows competency in AT LEAST 4 modules. 2. Recognizes efforts along the way. 3. Provides motivation.

1.Provide a simple and reliable means of identifying the computer competencies of existing staff and/or students. 2.Assist in performance benchmarking. 3.Assures that students are prepared to succeed academically, and in the job market. What can the ICDL do for your staff/students?

What can the ICDL do for your institution? 1.Aids in the use of technology in the classroom. 2.Reduce computer-user support costs. 3.Provide an alignment with international standards of basic computer competence.international

How can your school implement the ICDL? 1.Apply for ICDL Test Centre accreditation from the ACS. 2.Evaluate and select ICDL-specific learning material for delivery i.e. e-learning, hardcopy courseware, text books, etc. 3.Evaluate automated-testing options for ICDL assessment. 4.Pilot phase. 5.Deployment phase.

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