The IE Award in ICT is a unique qualification designed to reflect the learning styles and habits of a new generation of digital learners. The course is validated by Cambridge International Examinations.

CIE

University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14–19 year olds. It is part of the University of Cambridge and a not-for-profit organisation.

 

Principles behind the course

• ALL students should be able to use ICT with confidence and imagination.
• Many students arrive at school with well developed and sophisticated ICT skills. In most cases no adult has taught them these skills.
• In many cases students are given little opportunity to make use of these skills at school.
• Students are often made to use ICT tools at school that are dull and do little to stimulate their learning.
• Teachers tell students what software to use to solve a problem rather than let them explore for themselves.
• ICT covers a wide range of disciplines. No one can be expected to be expert in all of these.
• Any form of test or examination is more likely to find out what a student cannot do rather than allow them to demonstrate what they can do.
• Students should be allowed to develop their strengths rather than waste time on things they may never be good at.
• Students should take responsibility for their own learning.

How is this achieved?

In the IEAward Diploma in Applied ICT students have to:

• Work on a major project of their own choice.
• Work on a project which should be as 'real' as possible. Higher grades students must work for a real client on a real project.
• Work individually or in groups.
• Demonstrate what they can do.
• Take responsibility for their own learning.
• Reflect on their own work and that of their peers.

What do I have to teach?

• That is entirely up to you.
• There is no examination or test of any kind for which you have to prepare the students so you are free to design your curriculum in a way that suits your interests and skills and those of the students.
• While teachers are free to teach in whatever style they choose, at IEA we encourage use of the Minimally Invasive Education approach to learning which allows students to become risk takers who are more creative and motivated than students taught in more traditional ways.

How are the students assessed?

• The project is the only work the students do that is assessed.
• There is a simple generic rubric which is applied to all projects at all levels.
• Students must carry out a self-assessment in which they must justify the grades they give themselves.
• Those doing group work must carry out peer assessments.

Certification

Foundation level certification is for students who are able to show that they can make use of ICT at a basic level

Standard level certification is for students who are able to show that they can use ICT competently to produce a variety of outcomes

Advanced level certification is for students who can use ICT to a sophisticated level and work collaboratively with the end user to produce a well rounded outcome.

Innovator level certificate rewards students whose work demonstrates a degree of sophistication that would be acceptable to professionals.

 

N.B. students do not have to enter for a particular level, they will be awarded whatever level their work merits.

 

Certificates will be detailed to show what students achieve in the areas of ICT in which they have demonstrated skills..

 

Teachers

All teachers who deliver the course will be required to be accredited by IEA and to have attended the IEA training course.