ICT Skills for Life (SfL)
NIACE played an active part in the work to develop the ICT SfL standards. The ICT SfL Curriculum document offered important messages about ensuring good quality learning experiences for new ICT users. There was considerable interest in embedding ICT with other SfL subjects, like literacy and numeracy, in order to assist learners to achieve both standards.
ICT is a powerful motivator for many hard-to-reach learners and linking the subjects encourages learners to participate. NIACE developed materials for delivering ICT SfL embedded with literacy and numeracy - these can be downloaded from the ICT SfL website - www.ictsfl.org.uk
ICT Functional Skills
During the development of ICT as a SfL, NIACE closely monitored progress of the ICT Functional Skill qualification. At the time, there was some debate about whether this should replace the ICT SfL curriculum and standards for adults, meaning practitioners would have to revisit their skills and qualifications over a period of time. This would also have implications for SfL practitioners and the other literacy, numeracy and language curricula and standards and their replacement with English and Maths Functional Skills.
ICT user skills of the workforce
The workforce of the lifelong learning sector continues to be diverse and varied. Providers include large FE colleges, offender learning and skills, sixth form colleges, community-based learning delivered through local authorities, work-based learning and third sector organisations.
NIACE workforce development to date aimed to address the needs of teachers, tutors and trainers in all settings, with some provision aimed at leaders and managers and support staff.
ITQ and ITQ for Life
Old established IT user qualifications were replaced with a new suite of qualifications. These included the ITQ at levels 1, 2 and 3 (replacing the NVQ in IT user skills) and the ITQ for Life, which mapped literacy and numeracy with ICT and delivered embedded qualifications.
NIACE was represented on the steering group throughout the development of the ITQ for Life and was involved in several ITQ projects with adult and community learning providers, including the development of the ITQ Learning and Skills for practitioners.
ICT Skills