ICDL Australia

Digital inclusion challenges for Australia

ashleyc — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:41:14 +0000

This paper is published with the permission of the author Don Perlgut. The paper discusses the potentially looming “digital participation gap” in Australia, if concerted efforts are not commenced soon to make certain that poor, remote and vulnerable communities in Australia are not actively included in the fast internet roll-out. It examines the NBN Co roll-out timing and assumptions, analyses the characteristics of “non-adopters” and those at risk of not connecting to broadband internet, reviews two pilot “digital inclusion” initiatives (one in Australia and one in the USA), and makes a number of recommendations that will enhance digital inclusion efforts in Australia. More details on the author can be found at

http://donperlgut.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/digital-inclusion-challenges-for-australia/

To read the full report click here

ICDL Australia attends the annual Digital Literacy ECDL Forum in Dublin, Ireland.

ashleyc — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:34:50 +0000

Over the past 15 years I’ve been fortunate to attend a wide range of conferences in education, technology and Government policy. Nearly all have been have of interest and useful – useful in gaining new information, meeting new people or both. At one conference last year the main speaker talked about going to conferences and focussing on no more than 3 main “takeaways” and that actions and other items would run their natural course. So, having recently attended the international conference on digital literacy run by the European Computer Drivers License Foundation (ECDL-F) in Dublin what where the 3 main takeaways?

Number one, that education and technology provide hope for those that are at the lower end of the education and socio-economic ladder. That education when applied in a flexible and empathetic way with necessary structure to support individuals and delivery organisations can be a catalyst for learning and for improving outcomes.

Second, that the expectations of young adults and those going through the education sector has a mismatch with what is on offer in the traditional and over-audited systems of the current delivery model. This creates a tension that is not going away any time soon. Equally, this tension also provides opportunity for innovation and for nimble organisations to meet this effectively.

Thirdly, that digital literacy in the coming years will be a battle for our identity. By identity this means data and information including our personal and financial history. This will naturally lead to consolidation of suppliers who operate these services in the online space / cloud.

Education and technology is entering what I believe is it’s most important and exciting time. As I head back to the Mindleaders ThirdForce office in Melbourne I feel refreshed and energized to meet these challenges and opportunities head on. Maybe that is the supplemental benefit of going and contributing to a well thought out and well – managed conference: it allows you to regroup and approach the day job with a renewed sense of optimism and purpose.

Theo Teeder

Director, ICDL Australia

ICDL Australia delighted to be sponsoring the ALA conference in Melbourne

ashleyc — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:22:46 +0000

The 51st Annual ALA Conference will be hosted by the Centre for Adult Education, Melbourne on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th of September. ALA Conferences have a strong tradition of bringing together international and national practitioners, stakeholders and researchers in the fields of adult education and lifelong learning to learn, share and celebrate!

We look forward to meeting Adult and Community Colleges at the Conference and launching the ICDL Start programme for the Certifciate of General Education for Adults – CGEA.

ICDL Australia Paper on ICT Skills Development in Australian Schools

ashleyc — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:37:50 +0000

This paper examines essential skills that comprise Digital Literacy and competence and their relevance to primary and high school education in Australia. As well as investigate ICDL Australia’s role in developing appropriate ICT knowledge skills and competences within the Australian school sector. Click here to see the full version of this paper.

ICDL Australia appoints Danika Bakalich as Head of Government and Industry Affairs, ICDL Australia.

ashleyc — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:09:04 +0000

ICDL Australia is delighted to announce that Danika Bakalich will be joining the organisation August 1^st as Head of Government and Industry Affairs, ICDL Australia.

A key component of Danika’s professional experience has been developing and implementing key government, workforce development and industry policy, communications strategies for industry and driving global market outcomes for businesses. These strategies continue to underpin industry development in areas such as skills development in relation to economic growth, workforce development needs and industry awareness of, and preparedness to respond to, policy developments and implementation issues.

Danika’s experience and connections within government and industry will be a major asset for ICDL Australia and its remit to enable proficient use of Information and Communications Technology that empowers individuals, organisations and society, through the development, promotion and delivery of quality certification programmes throughout Australia. Equally, Danika will lead the development of ICDL Australia’s efforts to have digital literacy included as a foundation skill so that the benefits of the digital economy are available to all areas of society.

For more information please contact Danika at Danika@icdl.com.au

VITTA ICT & Careers Expo

ashleyc — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:01:06 +0000

ICDL Australia is attending the Annual Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association (VITTA) ICT and Careers Expo. The event is held at Federation Square on Wednesday the 27th of July. The Expo hosts a range of representatives from Universities, TAFEs and industry to provide information for students and teachers to discuss future pathways for studying IT.

This is a public event so please join us at Federation Square between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday the 27th of July.

For more information about this event go to http://www.ictweek.vitta.org.au/

How much is digital illiteracy costing? (The ALBA Study)

ashleyc — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:07:06 +0000

Up to now, we haven’t been sure just how much digital illiteracy is costing, and that’s one of the central questions addressed in a recent study from the Applied Research and Innovation Department of the ALBA Graduate Business School in Greece.

The ALBA study looked at IT practice in 44 companies across the spectrum of industry sectors, with manufacturing, services, retail and banking being the best represented. The study is aimed to measure the cost of ‘IT ignorance’.

To see the full report click here.

MCIT Empowering 1,000,000 citizens through ICT

ashleyc — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:30:44 +0000

Egypt has successfully mainstreamed information and communication technology (ICT) as part of its national development strategy over the last decade. The Eqyptian government formulated an ‘ICT Master Plan’ in 2000 to ensure the effective deployment and use of ICT for the benefit of its citizens and enterprises. The ECDL Foundation, UNESCO Cairo Office (the ICDL national operator in Egypt), and the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in cooperation with Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Administrative Development, launched a programme to certify 1,000,000 Egyptians in ICDL over a five-year period.

To achieve these goals, the government required a training and certification programme to eradicate computer illiteracy.The ICDL programme was considered the best option as it is an international indicator of competency designed in line with global ICT standards and covering key concepts and practical application.

By December 2010, more than 700,000 candidates had been enrolled in this project. MCIT commissioned experts to devise and implement an impact assessment study focusing on one particular target group – recently graduated students.

An extract from that study: “Overall, the ICDL programme contributed directly to the employment or enhancement of employment, of 35% of all beneficiaries [within a period of no less than five months after certification].”

To see the full case study click here.

Teachers in Kosovo

ashleyc — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:09:23 +0000

The Ministry of Education Kosovo (MEST) have defined the development and promotion of ICT skills at a national level as a special priority. In relation to this priority, the goal has been set that all teachers become equipped with necessary competences to operate successfully within their profession and to enable personal development through an improved skills set.

The ECDL programme was chosen by the Government of Kosovo to address the ICT skills deficit of the country’s teachers, under the name of the ‘ECDL for Teachers’ project. The ECDL programme suited the needs of Kosovo’s government in its aim to substantially improve the ICT skills of its educators as they harness technology and prepare today’s school-goers for the job market of tomorrow.

More than 70% of the targeted group have achieved ECDL Start certification (4 Modules), with more than 50% gaining full ECDL certification. The ‘ECDL for Teachers’ programme in Kosovo is being implemented by the American University of Kosovo (AUK), and by the date of its completion (2012), more than 27,000 will have completed the certification.

To view the full case study click here.

Senator Conroy’s Digital Economy Announcement

ashleyc — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:57:50 +0000

In June 2011 the Australian goverrment announced a series of Digital Econmoy goals to achieve by 2020. As a apart of this initative Australian schools, TAFEs, universities and higher education institutions will have the connectivity to develop and collaborate on innovative and flexible
educational services and resources to extend online learning resources to the home and workplace; and the facilities to offer students and learners, who cannot access courses via traditional means, the opportunity for online virtual learning.

Australia requires people with high-quality skills to maintain its long-term economic and social prosperity. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has set qualifications targets to reduce gaps in skill levels and substantially deepen Australia’s skills base. Skills Australia has also outlined the need to increase tertiary sector enrolments (which include vocational education and training (VET)) by at least 3 per cent a year over the next 15 years.

For more information on this topic click here.