IT Certification Student
Programs
e-Learning for
the new millennium
Melbourne-based education and
training consultancy Vocational Pathways is conducting a pilot project in ten
Victorian secondary schools. The schools are implementing innovative IT
programs, using world-leading e-learning courseware in enabling students and
teachers to attain internationally recognised IT certifications.
Pilot
Project Rationale Vocational Pathways specializes in providing
consultancy services to schools, industry and the training sector on vocational
education and training in schools initiatives. Since 1997, the majority of our
clients have been secondary schools in Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland. We are currently working directly with over 100 schools. Our close
working relationship with leading IT practitioners in schools has enabled us to
identify two critical issues:
1 The need for a formal
qualification or credential confirming the high level of IT skills, knowledge
and competency that secondary students have developed and acquired.
2 The need for an IT
professional development program which enables teachers to attain widely
recognised certification as evidence of their competence in IT.
These issues highlight the need
for a certification program which is widely recognised as evidence of a persons
IT skills, knowledge and competencies. We also note the need for any IT
training and professional development program to be highly flexible and,
therefore, easily accessible to a range of learners from students and teachers
to members of the broader community.
The
IT Certifications The project involves the delivery of IT training to
over 130 students and 20 members of staff from the pilot schools. Both students
and staff are undertaking training in order to sit for exams for the International Computer Driving Licence
(ICDL). The ICDL is fast becoming the most widely recognised, international
certification in the field of computer literacy and competency. The ICDL is
accepted by industry in over forty-six countries including America, China,
Great Britain and the Asia-Pacific region, thus making it a valued and portable
credential. Those students completing the ICDL will also have the opportunity
to undertake training towards the internationally recognised A+ Computer Technician certification.
Online
e-Learning The project has enabled the schools to explore a
variety of deployment options, including online and web-based delivery.
Students from schools with online delivery capabilities are able to access
their training courseware from anywhere and at anytime. The online delivery
model literally breaks down the walls of the classroom and is timetable neutral.
Schools using this model have established a student tutorial system, where
students are required to attend a one hour session per week. This is mainly to
monitor any difficulties and/or issues students may have.
Administration
of e-Learning Schools that deployed the training courseware using a
LAN or Web-based model are able to have program co-ordinators track and monitor
student progress from a PC using course administrators software. The course
administrators package allows a student's progress to be monitored in detail.
The course administrator is able to check on any students the time and date of
course access, unit completion, and unit test results.
Lessons
from experience One of the most significant outcomes from the pilot
project has been the ability of schools to integrate the IT certification
programs within current curriculum structures and PD programs. No doubt the
success of innovative initiatives such as online delivery will be dependent not
only on a school's technological capacity but also on the school's capacity to
integrate cutting-edge IT teaching and learning systems without compromising
other program areas and initiatives.
The
Pilot Schools The ten schools who participated in the ITVT in Schools Pilot Project were:
·
Ballarat & Clarendon College
·
Girton Grammar School
·
Kardinia International College
·
Kingswood College
·
The Knox School
·
Korowa Anglican Girls' School
·
Mentone Grammar School
·
St Michael's Grammar School
·
Taylors College
·
Yarra Valley Grammar School
Those interested in contacting
the school pilot project co-ordinators or arranging on-site school visits,
should contact Fred Bonaventura (Project Co-ordinator) at Vocational Pathways. info@vocationalpathways.com
Please
email us for further information on the ITVT pilot program, including course
information, implementation and online deployment options, and specialist
e-learning courseware:
© Copyright 2008
Vocational Pathways Pty Ltd