This year’s ALW theme is ‘Digital Literacy: Connecting and Learning through Technology’.

In our rapidly changing society, digital literacy skills are essential, but there are large numbers of Australians – especially adults – who feel increasingly lost when it comes to technology. Educational organisations including TAFEs, universities and community education and training providers, have taken the opportunity to organise events, activities and celebrations of lifelong learning, skills development, digital literacy and much more.

This year’s funding has been provided for activities that include updating the ALW website and the calendar of events, creating a Facebook group, running a national short story competition, and developing a series of community service announcements for community radio stations. ICDL Australia is proud to be a sponsor of Adult Learners Week 2012 and is also lead partner for the social media aspect of the campaign.

Below you will see 3 instalments of a video campaign that was launched to promote Adult Learners’ Week and the importance of gaining digital literacy within the context of 21^st century employability skills. Enjoy!

• Adult Learners Week 2012
• Update on the syllabus 6 ICDL structure planned for release in 2013
• Mapping ICDL to the new Australian national training package, ICA 11
• News from ICDL colleagues around the world
• Case study featuring St Mary’s Catholic High School in NSW
• Meet the team: a conversation with Theo Teeder, Director of ICDL Australia
• Upcoming conferences

To view the latest newsletter click here!

Ms Sian Lewis, General Manager ACFE said that this pilot program will help bring essential computer skills to 1,000 learners. “Computer skills are important for learners – not just for studying but also for finding and securing employment. For many learners this program will not just improve their skills but increase their work opportunities” Ms Lewis said.

ICDL Australia director Mr Theo Teeder also commented, “The parent body of ICDL Australia, the ECDL Foundation, is committed to the delivery of digital literacy across all communities and all adults regardless of background. To be able to do this in Victoria is a very positive and important step in allowing adults here to gain access to a globally recognised standard as well as best-in-class learning and assessment tools”.

About ACFE

The Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board is a statutory authority under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. Its role is to plan and promote adult learning, allocate resources, develop policies, and advise the Minister for Higher Education and Skills on matters related to adult education in Victoria.

Through the Board, the Victorian Government provides funding to community-based organisations, known as Learn Local organisations, and two adult education institutions, the CAE and AMES, for delivery of education and training programs to a broad range of Victorians over compulsory school-leaving age – young people, older people, people with special needs, people from diverse cultural backgrounds – with a special focus on people who have had limited prior access to education.

Programs are designed to be flexible to meet learners’ needs and support them to return to study, improve their literacy and numeracy skills, gain a qualification, broaden their employment options and learn new skills. As part of the wider Vocational Education and Training sector, Learn Local organisations deliver programs in a range of industry sectors and across the spectrum of qualification levels.

For more information about Learn Local and Adult, Community and Further Education please visit www.acfe.vic.gov.au

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

To read the full report click here

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

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.

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

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/

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.