I.C.T. Qualifications for
21st Century Learners
FAQ
Who is the course designed for?
The course was originally designed for use in secondary schools but with the range of levels available it would be suitable for adults as well.
What levels can we expect students to achieve?
We would expect the average 16 year old to be able to achieve standard level and 18 year olds to achieve advanced level. However, there will be 16 year olds who are well able to achieve advanced level.
Is the course suitable for all students?
All students should be able to achieve at least the Foundation level and so the course could be made available to all students or offered as an option.
Is the course appropriate for special needs students?
Students are free to submit work in virtually any way they wish which makes it particularly appropriate for special needs students.
Do we have to be an IB school to run the course?
No. The course provides an excellent preparation for 6th form and university level working practices. It is appropriate for MYP but can be run successfully regardless of other courses being run in the school.
Who can achieve innovator level?
Innovator level has been included to allow for the small number of students whose ICT ability is such that they can work at a near professional level, maybe writing software, using databases, creating graphics, etc. This is for the very exceptional student and we would not expect to issue this award very often.
How much time do I need to teach the course?
This will depend on the organisation of your centre, how much prior experience your students have had of using ICT and how much use is made of ICT in everyday teaching. We suggest that the course be taught over 2 years with at least 60 hours of lessons but other models may be adopted.
Do we have to have discrete ICT lessons?
This depends on your centre, how much prior experience your students have had of using ICT and how much use is made of ICT in everyday teaching and how much access students have to appropriate hardware and software.
Can anyone teach the course?
No. Only IEA accredited teachers may teach the course. This is because the course, assessment and teaching methodology are quite different from that previously experienced by most teachers.
Can students do group work?
Generally group work offers a greater degree of realism than individual work when it comes to projects and project management. Students must submit individual work and make it clear what they did and what other group members did towards the project.
What hardware and software must the centre provide?
We would expect students to have access to computers that are reasonably up-to-date, connect to the Internet and have a range of software installed. A centre that is not able to offer the latest in hardware and software is not prohibited from offering the course if students have access elsewhere, such as at home or a library.
Work needs to be submitted as an Acrobat portfolio. to do this students, or the school, will need to have access to Adobe Acrobat 9 or later. NB, Acrobat Reader can not be used for this purpose.
Should students aiming at different levels be put in different classes?
This is not necessary. Students are responsible for their own learning. A class can be made up of students of different abilities and motivation or even different ages.
Can a student submit a project that they have done for another subject?
Definitely! This is something that should be encouraged. It puts ICT in context, makes it relevant to the student and reduces student workload.
Can a student work through each level of the course from Foundation to Advanced?
There is no reason why a student should not do this although you would have to think carefully about how you can keep the course fresh, maintaining interest and enthusiasm.
Do students have to be a certain age to tackle each level?
No, although it is likely that 14 year old students may not be mature enough to cope with taking on the responsibility for their own learning.
What happens if a student loses their work?
Students should upload their work to the IEA student website on a regular basis. Students should also keep a log of what they do on the website. The IEA site will be backed up regularly so the chances of all the work of a reasonably conscientious student being lost are small.